Another week over

WOW...what a week!

Our campers left this afternoon, we had a staff debriefing and prayer time, and now I can sit down and share some stories of the week with you.

It was a large group here and that did not leave me much opportunity to leave the kitchen and make it to the chapel services. I did go one morning and the speaker was giving a great message about self-worth. He reminded the junior high kids (and staff as well) that we are God's workmanship, created in His image; we are chosen by God and adopted as His own; we are a new creation because of His loving sacrifice; and other great things! Image is something almost everyone struggles with so it was encouraging to once again hear how special we are to God. Let's pray everyday that Satan will not fill our heads with any negative junk.

For evening fireside time, the speakers ("retired" missionaries Jerome and Harriet Jackson) have been encouraging everyone to surrender all to God and make ourselves wholly available to Him and be willing to do whatever He asks us no matter the cost. Quite a challenge!

They have been telling stories of different missionary organizations (Samaritan's Purse, Mission Aviation Fellowship, etc) to show how God can use us no matter what our skills and interests are. He created each of us with the ability to serve Him in a unique way. Hmm...sounds a lot like what we were learning in the morning.

One night for fireside, our camp director and his wife (Jim and Andrea Hawthorne) shared a bit of their personal history. It's pretty cool. Jim's mom's brother was Jim Elliott, the missionary. Andrea's dad's sister was Elizabeth Howard Elliott. They told the story and showed some video of their 2006 trip to Ecuador to commerate the 50th anniversary of when Jim Elliott and 4 other missionaries were killed by the Waodani tribe there. This is the event that the movie "End of the Spear" was based on. There's great examples of reconciliaton by the widows (Elizabeth Elliott later went to live among that tribe) and children who lost their dads (Steve Saint showed mercy to his dad's killer). Another example of God's power to heal hearts and change lives. If you have never read the story or seen the movie I would have to recommend it.

There were lots of sweet God moments throughout the week as staff encouraged the campers and one another. Several of our staff members have left for the Summer. Please pray for them and for those who are still here and missing them. In such a short time we have become like family and it will be hard to have our new brothers and sisters away from us.

Last night was our traditional Thursday night surprise for the campers. Counselors got them settled into their cabins at bedtime, then we rang the "you need to be somewhere" bell. After the usual confusion, everyone was led to the dining hall for party time.

The treat was a 40-foot ice cream sundae!

Might be hard to see in the picture, but on these tables is 4o feet of gutter (which I personally cleaned and sanitized before use) filled with bananas, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles.

You might have noticed that there were no bowls out.

Oh yea, all 75+ people got to eat from the gutter with spoons.

Very messy and unsanitary but it was a great time!

Makes me thankful that I am not a big fan of ice cream. Although I did manage to steal a spoonful of Jim's later in the evening. It came right from the freezer and had m&ms in it.

Of course, things got a little bit out of control, as they often do when you mix kids plus sugar.

The guys came up with a creative way to help clean up.

I'm guessing that chugging ice cream is something they probably don't get to do at home.

By the end of the night we were all worn out and ready for a good sleep. There sure were lots of tired faces at breakfast this morning!

I am officially off-duty until Sunday afternoon. Please pray that it will be a time of physical, emotional, and spiritual refreshment. I certainly need them all.

God is good.