Dear Prayer Coordinators,
On Sunday, June 8th, this year’s 11 summer staff team members moved into Camp
Alandale and shared our first meal together. Training began that Sunday night
and ended the next Friday. We have 4 returning staff and 7 new team members—2
coming from out of state!
The feel of the week was remarkably
similar to a campers’ typical week. At
first, some of us were hesitant to assert ourselves in the group. “I’m usually
pretty shy, but by Saturday I stopped clapping with my elbows by my sides and
really got into the hand motions,” says Gallagher (now warmly known as
Galla-GRR and Sir Gallahad). Some felt the opposite pressure of needing to join
in on everything. Like in the campers’ experience, these worries faded in the
midst of all the love and fun that happens here.
By Wednesday, we were not only
comfortable with the camp songs but also with screaming and dancing to Disney
songs on the bus ride down to our beach day. We began having fun outside of
camp together through playing board games, cheering on the directors’ son’s
T-ball game, hiking at sunset and more. We also each shared our testimonies,
prayed together and encouraged one another throughout the week. “I really love
this group; God has given us similar passions for Him and His children,” says
one of our worship leaders, Ellie.
The directors encouraged us on a
spiritual level and in the performance of our daily camp duties as well. Each
day, we had ‘break out’ sessions on anything from teaching archery or kitchen
craft to purity agreements and social style information. All of these things
and many more served to remind us of how to glorify God in ourselves, as a
team, and in this ministry. Jessica, who came to California for her first time
for training, “especially loved the social styles and love language talk to
help understand who she was with and how to care for them.”
I (Jasmine) am so grateful for the
training week we had. The time to prepare our hearts for the summer was
essential, laying down anything we brought up the mountain for what Jesus has
prepared for us now. Overcome with the goodness of Jesus and the people
surrounding me, I look to Hebrews 12 this summer,
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so
closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
I
am honored and excited to learn how to serve with this incredible team the rest
of the summer. Your prayers as we strive to do so are appreciated more than
words can express.
In
Christ,
Jasmine
Summer
Staff 2014
