Árdís - 01.01.1966, Blaðsíða 24

22
ÁRDÍS
The leaders bore this idea in their minds, and later that summer
a thought kindled fire in the hearts of Mrs. Olafsson and Mrs.
Henrickson following separate visits to the Canadian Sunday
School Mission Camp two miles north of Gimli. Which one thought
of the project, a Leadership Training Course at a summer camp,
first is not clear and will probably never be known for certain,
but the fire in their hearts and the enthusiasn in their manner for
this project met with an affirmative response from the rest of the
officers and members of the executive. However, the people at
large did not show any interest and nothing was done in 1937.
The executive did not give up the idea in spite of the dis-
interest shown and decided to launch a training program the
following summer if a camp would be available. Upon making
enquiries Mrs. Henrickson was informed that the C. S. S. M. Camp
woUld be available for ten days in August, 1938. Before taking
this important step, the executive decided to consult the ministers
of the Synod, to bring the matter up at their Synodical Convention
and also at the Convention of the Young People’s organizations
from the different parishes, both to be held that spring.
The ministers were in favor of the proposed project and pro-
mised their co-operation. At the Synodical Convention, the idea
was received with understanding, some interest but no enthusiasm.
At the Young People’s Convention, no interest was shown nor any
understanding of the ideal involved in the project. This disappoint-
ing attitude and various other factors led to the decision to post-
pone the project for yet another year.
The matter was put before the Convention of the Lutheran
Women’s League in 1938 for consideration. In her report as presi-
dent Mrs. Olafsson briefed the convention on the activities óf the
executive during the year in connection with the proposed project
and expressed their ideals as follows: “Our organization would rent
a camp for a short period during the summer for the purpose of
holding there a course in Leadership Training, where recreation,
relaxation as well as religious teaching could be combined. The
teachers and leaders would be the ministers of the Synod and
others. We would attempt to have the spiritual atmosphere such
that it would be inducive to high ideals and that it might be an
inspiration to our young people in carrying on their leadership
activities in their own churches.”