All-night Vigil, Alone in the Wilderness
CAMP WILDERNESS, Waupaca, WI – October 2016
Staying awake all night on a comfy couch with snacks and a game consul is hard enough, but have you ever tried praying from dusk to dawn… alone in the wilderness… in the fall… with nothing but limited primitive gear to sustain you. This Vigil is the final requirement towards becoming a Wilderness Member – the highest advancement level in Frontiersman Camping Fellowship (FCF).
For Caleb “Buffalo Tooth” Laux (15), this was an adventure to look forward to! Just a few years after he started Rangers in Kindergarten, he already set his sights on the Academy Saber. He picked the Frontier Adventure as one of his optional Academy camps but it wasn’t until his Uncle and cousins invited him to join them at Fall Trace, that the FCF bug bit him – and it bit him hard!
When asked what motivated him to take on his Wilderness Vigil, Caleb provided great insight.
“I worked diligently to earn my GMA and my Saber, but I felt I needed to spend more time with God, building a relationship where I am comfortable to be with Him, like I am with a close friend. I love attending FCF services where we pray together as men, and I’m filled more than ever! At camps we share so many common experiences that we’ve formed a very close brotherhood; and I want that kind of relationship with God.”
After a rigorous afternoon of skills testing and preparation, the staff gave him the go-ahead to start his trek to the spot where he would spend an entire night praying and drawing closer to God. “The hardest thing was staying awake…and the coyotes! I’d hear a rustle in the bushes, but would take comfort in knowing that God was with me.” Caleb said with
a chuckle.
Caleb’s uncle Jaymz “Running Wolf” Touchstone and cousins Isaac “Feather Trader” Touchstone and Ian “Neon Mocks” Touchstone also completed their Wilderness Vigil at the same time. “These are the men that encouraged me to join FCF in the first place, which is what made this and exceptional experience, and I want to do the same. I want to encourage others that if they want to grow in the Lord, the FCF brotherhood is great at teaching you how to strengthen your relationship with God.”
All-night Vigil, Alone in the WildernessFor Caleb, FCF has become a family affair. He recently convinced his dad to join the fellowship and his whole family joins in on the fun at FCF Family Camp. If you are interested in joining, visit the FCF page.
