Merry Mailers: The Story Behind the Stamp

Opening your mailbox to find a piece of mail can feel like magic – especially when you receive the Green Lake News! While it might seem like your camp newspaper just shows up, a lot of care goes into making sure that you get an update of what is happening at Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. It starts with a cup of egg coffee.

Five or six times a year, the Merry Mailers gather in the Chrysalis House Dining Hall at Green Lake Bible Camp, around 9:00 AM. Friends greet each other with pats on the shoulder and side hugs as they hang up their coats. They pick a seat at a table full of mailing supplies and select a quilt to sit on. As they settle in for the day’s mailing project, the egg coffee is poured. The volunteers soon get to work collating, folding, stuffing, sealing, stamping and labeling thousands of pieces of mail. Staff flow in and out of the tables, joining in to label a few newspapers, fill coffee cups, or pass out cookies. As more and more volunteers arrive and begin helping, the room starts to hum like a well-oiled machine.

Oftentimes, the Merry Mailers only see each other on mailing days, but have formed a caring and fun community. As they stick on labels or fold letters, small talk turns into deep conversation, catching up on life updates and current news stories. They celebrate each other’s joy and join each other in their troubles. The group reminisces on old memories of Spicer, rehashes Bonanza episodes, shares recent photos of grandchildren, and laughs at well-timed jokes. You can probably guess some of the recurring jokes:

• “How many are we sending today? 6,000? Okay, so I’ll do 10 and you’ll do the rest?”
• “If I put this whole sheet of labels on this newspaper, the mailman will figure it out, right?”
• “I’ll just put two envelopes in each newspaper so we’re done sooner.”

Amidst the jokes and cups of egg coffee, the Merry Mailers accomplish an incredible amount. Over the course of three hours or so, this small-but-mighty group performs a big act of service. They generously give us a few hours of their time, sometimes skipping Bible study and quilting days at church, to make a monumental task fly by. They bring joy and laughter to a relatively dull, repetitive project, and care for one another in the process. They work hard to make it clear and share the word: there are ways for everyone to get involved at camp. God has saved a spot for you here and you’re welcome here, as you are.

As you read your latest copy of the Green Lake News, know that you’re welcome to join them next time, or any time, at camp. And please pardon any small coffee stains you might find! 

We will need more volunteers this upcoming fall and winter, at events like the Dinner Theater! To volunteer, contact Kirsten at 320-796-2181 or [email protected]!