Deep Connection, Deep Faith
Morgan, Jesse, Reed, & Jacqueline Haid during their private rental
Even as a pastor’s kid, Jacqueline Haid felt awkward talking about her relationship with God. There was one space that was an exception. Her parents, Pr. Keith and Karen Kolstad, tell of the first time that Jacqueline experienced the waters of Fortune Lake. The young family had just relocated to the U. P. for Pr. Keith’s first call, and four month old Jacqueline was stuffed into a lifejacket and taken on a canoe ride. Prior to forming her own memories, the waters of this place of grace seemed to have worked their way into Jacqueline’s soul, and this Holy Spirit work continues to this day.
As a child Jacqueline recalls being Fortune Lake with her dad while he served as camp pastor. The lodges were not yet built, so they tent camped in the field. A severe thunderstorm rolled in, eliciting strong fears for both father and daughter. Keith assessed the situation and determined that they were better off to ride out the storm in their tiny canvas tent than to run for cover to an already full building. Despite their fears, they made it through the night by fervently praying. They awoke a sense of gratitude to deep puddles and a great story to tell.
Fast forward to 2020. As a mother parenting two young children through the storm of the pandemic, Jacqueline longed to get her family outside in a safe place where they could build new memories and experience many of the things that they’d missed due to safety precautions. She jumped at the chance to do a private family rental. It was in those same waters of Fortune Lake where their son Reid swam for the first time and their daughter Morgan had her first pontoon ride. There was such joy in those initial encounters with God’s good creation.
Thanks to early exposure encouraged by her parents and congregations, Jacqueline’s connection to camp runs deep. Now she seeks to provide similar experiences for her own family in a place where it’s easy to explore one’s faith, try new things, and feel wrapped up in the immense love of God. The Haid family looks forward to an entire week of intergenerational camp – a step-up that was much advocated for after the half-week last summer – where the tradition continues, new stories are being built, faith conversations are the norm, and the deeply rooted connection comes full circle.
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