The family had planned a weeklong family vacation in the Midwest right after camp. They got a good deal on a rented house, packed up the car, and drove up. Pulling into the driveway close to sunset, everyone began unloading the car and bringing suitcases inside. Once inside, though, they discovered that there was no electricity in the house! That meant no light, no heat, and no running water! After trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with the owner of the house, the family had to decide what to do. Normally, this situation would send everyone back into the car to find a motel for the night until everything was worked out over at the house. But that’s not the way the oldest kids in the family, 3 boys fresh out of a month in Yagilu (one a counselor, one a JC, and one a first-year camper), saw it. To them, this was an exciting challenge that they were more than equipped to handle! They whipped out their headlamps and pocketknives and got to work. In no time, they had a fire going in the fireplace with a nice-sized woodpile to keep it going and some water drawn for hand-washing from a stream in the area. By the next morning, the electricity was taken care of, and the vacation continued without a hitch.

The parents pointed out something really special. As with every family, siblings are sometimes prone to fighting. In this situation, though, the parents noticed a really special sense of teamwork.  Everyone worked together and contributed to what needed to get done. That’s amazing!

To me, what stood out was the confidence these teens had when attacking a difficult problem. They recognized that they had the skills to tackle the challenge, and really rose to the occasion to help their family!

Any story that involves fire and knives on the one hand, and teamwork, problem-solving, and camaraderie on the other, is one for the history books. Thanks so much for sharing!

Does your family have a similar story? What would you have done if this had happened to you? We love hearing from you-be in touch!