Staff Thank You Letters

Dear Jo-El,

Here are some photographs I thought you might like. I must have had trouble holding the camera steady in all of the excitement of the camp. I can’t wait to try again with a better camera. Thank you very much for the pretty journal. It’s perfect for me – I would probably fill up a journal in a week if I wrote as much as I wanted to.

I can’t tell you enough what a great experience volunteering at Scottie’s Place was for me. Throughout my travels and education over the last few years, I have been in constant search of life’s lessons (as many young adults are, I suppose).  I decided that the keys to health and happiness are respecting and taking care of nature as well as being kind and helping others, especially those less fortunate. When I read about your camp last year, I thought that it was the perfect combination of those two values.

The peaceful feeling I had at Scottie’s Place and the closeness to God I felt after I left, showed me that I was right. Meeting your family and seeing what you do gave me encouragement that there are at least some kind, compassionate, giving people in this country.

I hope I can make Scottie’s Place a part of my life in some way, no matter if it’s big or small. I would like to visit in August for a couple days to introduce you to Dave so we can see if being counselors next summer is an option. Just let me know which Thursday and Friday will be best during August session.

Tell everyone I said hi and ask Abram if he remembered to pick up any books by Deepak Chopra.

Love, Megan

Dear Paul and Jo-El,

I just wanted to write and thank you for making my experience this past week absolutely incredible. I left Scottie’s Place on Friday feeling alive and ready to conquer the world! I was just so inspired by everything you all have accomplished and are reaching for. I have never felt like one place, organization, group of people, family could manifest the things I believe and cherish as much as y’all do. A lot of times we all get so caught up in the greatness of all our problems and challenges that we overlook the good we can do. I love that Scottie’s Place is simple: simple setting, simple goal, and simple agenda. Like Jo-El was telling me the other day about how y’all are glad you didn’t know all the challenges of opening something like Scottie’s Place before you started – but that you have taken each bump in the road as you have reached them. By not being overwhelmed and “overly” rational you have done so much. It was such a joy to be surrounded by that spirit and the love I see in your family for our short stay. Hopefully I will be able to come volunteer with you all soon! Thank you so much for inspiring me and all of the Bonners who were with y’all this week!

Sincerely,
Ingrid

Paul & Jo-El,

Thank you so much for another wonderful summer. It means so much to be able to come back here year after year and be welcomed as a valuable member of such a vibrant community.

I bought this card years ago and just “refound” it. It seems appropriate – the title is “The Road Home”. Whenever I turn off 460 and head up the mountain I feel a sense of coming home. While my purpose here is to serve the kids, I am always astounded at how much my time here benefits me. I go an entire month without thinking about my appearance and yet this is where I feel the most beautiful; I go to bed exhausted and yet this is where I am most rested; my feet are covered with cuts and they kill but I never feel tougher than when I have thorns sticking out of my heels; it’s a wonderful chaos here in which I feel calm.

So…… Thank you for all that we have been through and for including me in the wonderful adventure that is Scottie’s Place.

With much love,
Anna Mae