The Last...Or is it?

As I write this tears of sadness and joy would be coming to my eyes but I’m in the airport so I really don’t want a bunch of people seeing me cry while sitting in a coroner by myself. The summer brought a group of unknown people together for one purpose and we left as a family with the same purpose, sharing Christ to the nations. It was a summer I hope I never forget, one full of lessons and trials, tears and laughter, growth and brokenness. God moved , He’s still moving, He will never stop moving! My heart is so on fire right now and I just want to quit school and go share the word of God to the unknownJ not the smartest idea considering I have one more year left, Lord willing. I need to remember that The whole world is the mission field, not just the crazy places that are hard to pronounce.

It was hard to focus on this last week of campers knowing that we were leaving in less than ten days. I really just wanted to hang out with the other counselors and share last minute memories with them. I had to continue to tell myself that my reason for being there was not to make friends, but to fill these kids with the knowledge of Christ and His sacrifice for their lives. The theme for this last week was team U-Knighted. We dressed up as knights, evil step mothers, princesses, and court jesters. It was a really fun week. Brit and I put googly eyes all over Dick Todd’s tools in his tool shed. It’s amazing how many little faces you can make out of drills, tape measurers, and oil cans. Dick really enjoyed what we did and his wife took some googly eyes and put them on his deodorant and in their bathroom. Many of the counselors had things that needed to get done for the school year coming up and were getting a little stressed out about things. Prayer for this school year would be wonderful for each of the counselors. It’s going to be weird getting back into society and life outside of camp. We went through a debriefing process this last weekend just to kind of prepare us for the transition into the real world. It was hard to think about the fact that we were leaving soon. I wanted this past weekend to last forever. Saturday night the sky was very clear so a group of us hung out on the sports field and watched the stars. But then a bunch of them left and Michael, Tyler, and I were left to enjoy the awesomeness of God shown to us in the many shooting stars and crazy large moon. It was really great getting to talk to them just the three of us and get to know them on a deeper level.

Our last chapel service was really good. Josh talked about Matthew 17 and how the disciples went up on a mountain with Jesus and encountered God. He related it to the idea that we were on a mountain at camp and we were experiencing God and He was showing Himself to us. Mountains give you a new perspective on things when you are on top of them and we were able to get a new perspective of God while at camp and see Him move in the lives of the kids as well as our own lives. But the disciples could not stay on the mountain forever just like we can’t stay at camp forever. We have to come down and share our experiences with others. But the cool thing is that Jesus went down the mountain with the disciples, He didn’t just send them off and leave them to be. He climbed down with them. The experience of this summer will go with us forever and so is Christ. He is never going to leave my side. The troubles I am going through and the fears I have about the future will not have to be tackled alone. God will be there every step of the way to guide me and give me new strength for each day.

The last day at camp was full of craziness as everyone tried to get everything together. We boated out of camp and went into town for the rest of the day. Saying goodbye to the staff was super hard, but it was great to hear their encouraging words as we left. We walked around downtown and just spent time together. Then for supper the owner of the Subway in Juneau said they would provide all of us with food which was amazing of them. It was cool to see their generosity and experience the love of Christ among believers. Then we went back to the dorms and played games and watched highlight videos from the summer. A group of people went to the Waffle Company but I decided to stay and we watched Mega Mind. Brit and I slept for about an hour while some of the guys watched Indiana Jones movies. We had to be at the airport at four so most people didn’t sleep much. Then we packed up and went to the airport to catch our flight to Seattle.

Week 9

This past week I was on work staff which I was a little bummed about because I had not counseled Jr. High camp before and that’s what last week was, but it was nice to have a break from counseling. The group on work staff this week was super fun and we worked really well together. It’s still a weird feeling being on work staff while everyone else is counseling and you have no interaction with the kids except during meals which isn’t much at all. I had to keep reminding myself that I was still serving Christ even though I was not directly with the kids. The work staff splits into two smaller groups for cleaning up after meals and our group renamed ourselves the A Team and we were total boss. We were quick and efficient and yet had a super large amount of fun. Our group consisted of Kimberly Oyler (DJ for the week and mischief master mind), Ethan Aldefer (hunting extraordinaire and pots and pans king), and Laurie Hildebrand (dishwasher destroyer and floor fighter). Our boss for work staff’s name is Leah and she was super great this week. We had some free time each day after getting all our work done which was super nice.

Three of the counselors left this past week which was really hard for all of us. We know the summer is coming to an end, but seeing others leave just makes that end seem so much closer. Kimberly left on Wednesday a while after supper and it was sad to not have her on our work staff group anymore. We hung out a lot the last few days and did some funtivities. We went on a walk to see the “glorious spot” and the “wedding location,” and one day we thought it would be super fun to create a poop log to put in the bathrooms of the boy’s and girl’s dorms. There are different columns to be filled out which consist of: date, color, shape, amount, plunger or not, and kernels or not. The log has been filling out nicely (and I won’t forget to show it to you sometime Kim!!!!). The night that Kim left she thought it would be a wonderful idea to put packing peanuts in my bed and in each of my drawers, such a great friend you are KimJ

The rest of the week went well and camp finished up strong. On the weekend Bethany and I decided it would be fun to clean out the program office and so we did. It took a while but it was well worth it and it looks a lot cleaner and neater than it did before. Friday I rode the bus in with the little tykes and then we ate Chinese and headed back to camp. That night we had a barn party (but it was in the loft not the barn) and we played Texas holdem’ while listening to Country music. We all had on plaid, cowboy hats, and extra tuffs. Saturday morning Ethan, Laurie, Brittany and I thought it would be fun to give the full time staff members breakfast in bed so we made coffee cake and had fruit and yogurt to go with it. It was cool to be able to serve the staff after they have been serving and taking care of us all summer. After lunch Kathleen and I wanted to make knitting needles so Ethan helped us. We made them out of spruce wood from arrow shafts that were left over from when the boys were making arrows. I’m almost finished making mine but we still have to put a finish on them. After that all the counselors and Nick and Matt went across the bay/ocean to a beach/creek called Antler Creek. It was such a beautiful place. The beach had fine white sand and there were mountains surrounding us. We ran around barefoot and took a bunch of fun pictures. Then we played ultimate frisbee in the sand, but the tide was coming in so we had to quit the game once the water started covering one of the end zones. Then we made a fire and roasted brats and hotdogs for supper. We just hung out for a while and then rode back over to camp. When we got back a few of us started the movie “True Grit” but were super tired so we didn’t watch all of it till Sunday.

Sunday we talked about being one body with many parts. It was interesting to think about because I had just been on work staff and was feeling a little out of the loop with those that were counseling and felt like my job was not as important as theirs because I wasn’t on the front line with the kids. But I was reminded that every job is important and the without the hard work or work staff the bathrooms would not get cleaned, laundry would not get done, food would not be prepared, and other jobs would not get done to make camp run more smoothly. The Bible says we should be working so closely as a group of believers that when one suffers we all suffer and when one rejoices we rejoice with them and not feel sorry for myself that I did not have something good happen to me. It also says that God has arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as He wanted them to be so we should not complain about the gifts and abilities we have or those that we lack because God has given them to us for a reason and only He knows why. Later that night Brit and Laurie and I slept outside under the pavilion on the beach. It was really fun to do that with them and talk with them about different things and grow closer together.

This next week is the last week of camp which is really sad to think about, but yet it will be good to go home and get back into the swing of things. Thanks again for all your prayers and support this summer and throughout my whole life!!!

I Love Christmas

This past week we had colt camp and I was able to counsel with one of the girls who I’ve grown very close with throughout the summer; we had wanted to counsel together for a very long time and it finally happened. We had a great cabin of nine very fun and well behaved girls. Some of the cabins weren’t so blessed. One cabin had a very misbehaved and disrespectful girl who acted like she was 13 but really she was only 9 or 10. She would not listen to anything the counselors said and called them ugly and stupid many times. It was a tough four days for them, but God gave them the strength to make it trough and gave them help from others at the camp who were willing to spend time with this young girl so the counselors did not have to focus all their attention on her and could focus on the rest of the girls in their cabin.

Brittany (the girl I counseled with) and I had a great time with our cabin. We made a scavenger hunt for them to do the first day which they really enjoyed, and I did too, maybe more than they did at timesJ We also had a camp fire with another cabin and read them a story and sang songs. Brit knows how to play the guitar so that was really nice to put the girls to bed by playing the guitar and singing to them. Each day for colt and bronco camp the kids have cabin clean up time and then each cabin is judged on their cabin cleanliness as well as decorations. Sometimes cabins challenge each other to see who can get the higher score between the two of them and this week Brit and I challenged one of the guy’s cabins. We had done a great job and felt really good about our cabin, but then it turns out that the counselors from the other cabin put horse poop on our cabin stoop, toilet paper in the trees around our cabin, and trash in our trash can which made us loose by a lot. But the fact that he broke some of the camp rules by doing those things he had to take the punishment instead of Brit and I which happened to be a few things: thrown into the ocean, pie in the face, and eating his dinner without his hands. He also had to walk around for the afternoon with a puppet on his hand and used it to talk. Then during supper our program director, Nick, said that he was going to take Peter’s (the guy counselor who did the pranking) punishments from him because he cared about him and had a relationship with him. It was neat to see the sacrifice of someone right before your eyes and think about God and His sacrifice for our lives. Nick ate his supper without using his hands, Brit and I threw a pie in his face and then we dropped him into the ocean. I’m not sure if the campers really understood everything, but I know many of the counselors, especially Peter, learned something from Nick’s example. It reminded me of God’s unconditional love and despite the fact that He knew we were going to sin and cause Him grief He was still willing to die on the cross for us. He allowed His son to be put to death. He turned His back on His own son for me, someone who half the time I’m turning my back on God. If you have never read the book called Crazy Love you should because it’s so good.

So after all of that, the next day the same boy’s cabin asked us if we wanted to have a rematch with no pranking to see who the true winner was. We decided to take them up on that challenge, and another boys and girls cabin was also challenging each other. We decided to change up the punishments for this round. If the girls lost the boys would be allowed to write on their faces with maker and if the boys lost the girls would be allowed to put makeup on their faces and paint their finger nails. So, our cabin worked very hard and made sure everything was super neat and our decorations were amazing (it was Christmas morning so we had snowflakes and cookies out for Santa). And guess who won…both girl cabins. So we got to put makeup on three of the four boys and paint all of their finger nails. The one boy who did not want makeup on had to walk backwards for the whole afternoon. The week was a lot of fun and we were able to share God’s love with the kids in a fun and creative way.

The week was shorter so we had a lot of time to do fun things over the weekend as counselors. One of those fun things consisted of four of us putting all of our clothes that we brought to camp on at the same time. It was super hard getting them on, but well worth the trouble. We walked around camp and showed off our added pounds. Then Brit and I slept outside in a super amazingly awesome place (you’ll have to ask me about it in person). It was a wonderful night and the stares were out. The only problem was that we got a little cold and the sun comes up early so we woke up super early, but it was ok cause we were able to have God time and get some things done even before a lot of people were up. That whole day was a very relaxing day and Brit and I just hung out in hammocks and read and talked. Then the next morning Brit, Laurie and I went for a hike to the point around 7. It was a lot of fun, but we had a little trouble with the water getting there, but we made it. When there we read Proverbs 31 and talked about what it means to be a true women of God. We also talked about what we had learned throughout the summer and things we were struggling with or worrying about as our summer comes to a close. It was so nice to just be able to sit with them and be real. I love both of them so much and am so thankful to God for allowing us to meet each other and grow so close. Brit and I also did some baking. We made buckeyes, cookies, and popsicles. They all turned out really yummy, but the process was interesting. I accidently put salt in the cookies instead of sugar so those were interesting at first, but we started over so that worked out fine. Then for the buckeyes, the recipe was not very good so we just kind of added some peanut butter, vanilla, and butter to the powdered sugar till it tasted good to us. They were super super super yummy I might add.

I’m on work staff this week again and it’s been a lot of fun. Keep praying for focus as our summer comes to a close. God has been doing some amazing things up here and I don’t want us to miss out on any of it because we are thinking about going back home.

Blessings From The Lord

This past week was such an amazing week for me!!! God blessed me with a great cabin of eleven high school girls. It was great getting to know each of them and build close friendships with some of them in such a short time. All of them had already accepted Christ into their lives or knew who God was, but was still trying to figure out what they really believed. I had some great talks with a few of them and we were able to just enjoy God’s majesty as we watched the sunsets and sat by the ocean. One girl in particular has been going through some rough times in life and made some wrong choices. She knows she needs to change, but is having a hard time actually changing. I told her that God wants her to ask for forgiveness and turn from her ways, but if she’s not ready to do that I don’t want to force her into it. It needs to be sincere and something she’s ready to do because she knows she needs to and is ready to, not because I told her to. She understood and said that no one had said that to her before and people had just before made her feel bad about herself and were trying to force her to confess and repent; she was very thankful for our listening ears and caring hearts. We asked her if there was anything we could do for her besides pray and she said she really needed a Bible because she lost the one she had before. We were so happy to get her one. One of the other girls is such an amazing woman of God and I can tell she wants to know more about God and grow in her relationship with Him. Talking with her and hearing her questions was great and I enjoyed getting to spend time with her. A group of the kids from Juneau really want some of us counselors to come out and see them sometime before we head home for the winter and I pray that we are able to do that and continue to pour into them God’s truth.

Our cabin was very competitive and loved being active, which made me super happy. We went on a hike as a cabin and hung out on the beach for devotions several times. We were also a little mischievous and pulled pranks on a few cabins. We put canoes full of water in front of one of the cabins doors so they could not open the one door and the other they had to somehow get over the canoe full of cold water in order to get out the door. Then one of the boy cabins was sleeping out on the beach and a few of the girls in my cabin and I woke up early and poured water on them while they were sleeping. We had a really great time, but then the boys slung shot hard boiled eggs at our cabin and mentally pranked us; we weren’t really scared, we just weren’t sure what they were going to do back to us. By the end of the week I was really tired, but each experience brought our cabin closer together so it was awesome.

The speaker for this week did a really great job of sharing God’s word with the kids. He pretty much went through the Bible, hitting on the basic points. He talked about Israel and how God continually steps in and puts His hand in the world and in our lives to help us, but we continue to turn our backs on Him and then when things go crappy we blame God and get angry at Him asking, “Where are you?!” but he’s been there all along, we just weren’t looking for Him. He went over the old Testament sacrificing and how that relates so much to Jesus dying on the cross and taking away our sins. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus had to die on the cross in order to completely take away not just cover our sins. Matthew 27:25 says, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” It was the crowd yelling about crucifying Jesus. Little did they know that this was what was going to happen and it is what they needed, the blood of Christ to cover over us and wash our sins away. They led Jesus out of the city just like the scapegoat was taken out of the town or village and sent away with their sins. I love reading Hebrews 9:14, “How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death (or useless rituals), so that we may serve the living God!” Verse 12 says, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” That’s just so cool!!!!! It’s always good to learn about the traditions of the past and how they have been changed through Jesus Christ coming to this earth and being put to death because He loves me so much and wants me to be able to one day spend eternity with Him. Praise God!!!

I’m really looking forward to this next week because I’m going to be counseling with Brittany Voth!!!! Which is going to be amazingly fun. It’s colt camp (younger kids) and then we only have two more camps left. It’s crazy to think that we are almost finished with our summer. One of the counselors, who was scheduled to leave all along, left last night for home. It was really sad to see him go and it’s just a reminder that we are all going to be leaving soon which is a horribly sad thought. I pray that we continue to stay in touch throughout our lives and Lord willing see each other in the future.

Patience...Yeah It's Hard

This week was a little stressful at times, but we made it through alright and things went well. I had a young girl in my cabin with CP and her twin sister was also in my cabin and she had ADHD. At first I thought the girl with CP was going to be a huge challenge, but she had an aide with her and she was not as needy as I thought she would be. She could pretty much do everything on her own she just needed help with getting dressed and cleaning up after meals. She was a very sweet girl and a lot of fun to be with. Her sister on the other hand was an interesting one. We had a lot of issues with bed wetting and also wetting her pants throughout the day. She said she knew when she had to go to the bathroom she just spaced out at times and forgot to go and then went in her pants. I had a hard time understanding this and having compassion for her as well as patience. We had to wash her sleeping bag three times and change her clothes two or three times during the week. As a camper she wasn’t a bad girl, she just had trouble remembering when we told her to do things and she had trouble focusing, but other than that she was fine. At times I thought maybe she was just trying to get attention and that’s why she wet her pants often, but I’m not really sure. Her home life didn’t sound too great and having a sister with CP would be hard if her parents were always dealing with her. There was also another girl in our cabin who I spent a lot of time talking with about different things. She was very quiet at the beginning of camp during devotions and such so I asked her if anything was wrong or if she had any questions. We started talking about God and His love and she said that she didn’t feel like God was really there and didn’t think He listened to her prayers. I talked with her about that and then the next day when we were talking about salvation and accepting Jesus into your heart, she started getting quiet again. I talked with her afterward and she said she was really confused about things. She had been baptized as an infant and thought that was her way into heaven, but after hearing us talk she was confused. It was hard and sad for me to tell her that she needed to make the decision herself and that this whole time she had not truly been saved. She said she understood that and I could tell that she seemed very down about what we told her. She didn’t really talk about spiritual things for the rest of the week with me or the other counselor, but I know God has been working in her heart and will continue to. It would be great if you could pray for her as well as all the kids who are dealing with divorced parents and having to go through that at such a young age. It’s sad to see the hurt in the kids’ lives and see that they have not been shown what love really is and then they are confused about God’s love for them and they don’t understand the awesomeness of it all.

I was reminded of God’s amazing power and provision this week as I was struggling with feeling His presence in my life. I felt empty at the beginning of the week and continued to pray for God to fill me with life and as the week went on I felt His hand working on my heart for my campers and it was just neat to see and feel a new strength and love in my life pour out to the kids. I read in Job about God’s response to Job’s friends’ comments and was once again in awe of how amazing and incredible our God is. Job 38 says: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? Who shut the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?” I love reading about God’s creation and thinking about it because I can see it around me and feel it. How can I not know that God loves and cares for me when I see how much care and time He put into making everything around me? The beautiful colors He placed in a sunset is nothing compared to the beauty He placed in each of us.

Desert Song

This past week was a great week, but full of many struggles and pain. The first day started out great and the kids were super excited to be at camp and were ready to start playing soccer. The coach, Tom, was an amazing guy who had a heart full of love from God for each of the kids. Then during the night I got sick and spent the night in the nurse’s station. Upon waking up I felt a little better, but after checking my temperature, I realized I had a low grade fever and stayed in bed till after lunch. Then my temperature increased a little and even after supper increased a little more. I slept almost the entire day and felt like I didn’t want to eat much. I kept asking God why He was taking me out of the day and what it was that He wanted to do in the kids’ lives without me, but then I began to realize that maybe it wasn’t the kids’ lives that He wanted to impact but my own. While I was in the nurse’s station one of the staff members came in to see how I was and asked if I wanted to read a book. She came back with the book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I had heard many great things about the book but never read it for myself so I figured I would give it a shot. I love it!! I’m not that far into it yet, but it’s giving me a new look on love and the significance of how much God loves me and desires me to love Him and others. Once back with my cabin for the rest of the week I tried to stay focused on God and remind myself each day of His presence and how much He loves me and the kids.

Our week ended out really well and many of the staff and counselors were able to go into town to watch a “magic show” with a Christian guy. He did illusions and different tricks for the first half of the show and then stopped to tell people that they could leave if they wanted to, but he was going to tell them his testimony if they wanted to stay and listen to what he had to say. It was really great to be there and hear his story. The show is called MAZE.

Saturday was a very laid back day and the girl counselors had a hair cutting party at one of the staff’s house and we watched Mulan. It was great just being able to hand out with all the girls and talk with each other and grow closer. Then later in the day a group of us went out to the wilderness camp and went fishing for salmon and had a camp fire. I learned how to fly fish and how to fillet a fish. It was a lot of fun and very tasty. Sunday was such a beautiful day and we spent most of the afternoon outside just talking and enjoying the wonderful weather. Then in the evening we had praise and prayer with everyone. During the prayer part we had a lot of people share things that were going on at home and the pain they were feeling as they were not at home to be with loved ones. We also have a few people here at camp dealing with different things that greatly need prayer. Satan knows God’s moving in the lives of these Alaskan kids and he doesn’t like it. Please pray for strength and focus as we start the next half of our summer. Pray for God’s mighty hand to intervene where He sees fit. I myself have been feeling a little empty and far from God. I just have this empty feeling in my heart and I don’t know what it is. My time alone with God has not been as meaningful as it has been or as I would like it to be. Pray for God to fill me with His spirit and desire to continue to grow in Him. We start a new week of camp with Bronco kids. I’m looking forward to what God has in store for us and the kids. Thanks for your continued prayers!!!

Freedom In Christ

I know this is a little later than usual, but we were in town this week so I did not have internet service. But I did have cell phone service so I was able to call my parents and brothers which was great. We went to town for the 4^th of July and watch fireworks and walk in the parade in down town Juneau. It was so much fun to be away from camp and see people in town. We were also able to see the different shops and buy a few things. We had a wonderful time.

This past week I was on work staff which was a lot of fun, but at times a struggle. I love working and cleaning so helping out with meals and cleaning up bath houses was not hard for me to do or enjoy. The group of us on work staff was a lot of fun as well which made it so much better. We were able to grow closer together and learn how to work as a team and get over our differences. I did have trouble with one of the guys in the group and truly loving him as God would. He is just one of those people who gets annoying and has a hard time socializing with others and always makes things very awkward. I would start getting mad at him for stupid little things in my head and then I would get a little angry in how I acted toward him. Throughout the week as I did my devotions I kept reading about loving others and accepting them for who they are and I knew God was trying to tell me that I need to love this guy because God loves him no matter what. And the fact that God loves me even though I disobey Him time after time gives me an even better reason why I need to love this guy for who he is. By the end of the week I would continuously pray for strength and patience as I worked with this specific guy and to not get angry at him but to love him for who he is and truly care about him. God really helped me show him love and work with him better than I had been at the beginning of the week.

On Sunday we talked about our true freedom we have in Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:23 says, “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” Christ gave Himself for us and we are bond servants of His. We should be “slaves” of Christ not slaves to sin or man. Romans 6:15-19 talks about that as well. We cannot be face Christians and cover up our sins and cause them to nag at us and then become even bigger sins and we become slaves to them. We cannot be proud and think just because we are Christians we won’t sin, we are still human, but we need to be spending time with God and in His word and trying to live our lives for Him. We will still mess up yes, but we need to confess our sins and be set free from their bondage.

This coming week we start soccer camp which I am super pumped about!!! I will be one of the four other girl counselors so I feel very privileged to be able to counsel. Please continue to pray for strength and God’s love to fill our hearts for these kids as we work with them and pray for the kids’ hearts that God will open them to His truth and that they will hear what we have to say and take it to heart.

God's Strength

This week we counseled colt campers from Monday to Thursday. I was glad it was a shorter week because the senior high camp had been a longer one. I had eleven 7-10 year olds in my cabin. They were a lot of fun to have, but also it was hard to get them to listen and obey. I had to repeat myself several times before they knew what was going on and they continuously asked what we were doing even after telling them 5 minutes before. My patience was tested and I wouldn’t say I failed, but I came pretty close. My physical strength was stretched greatly this week as well, but with God’s faithful help I made it through still loving each of the girls in my cabin. It was tough loving them with God’s love when I was annoyed with their questions and disobedience, but as I thought about it, that’s how we are with God. We ask Him tons of questions and disobey Him every day but He still loves us just the same. How can I do any less for each child He places in my path?

It was also tough because I wasn’t sure how to present the gospel to them because a lot of them had never heard of God, and the fact that they are younger and don’t know bigger words makes it complicated. I did my best to explain things to them, but they really didn’t seem to be interested. By the end of the week I felt like I had not done much to help the girls spiritually, but I know that they were able to hear to gospel and that’s what matters. We were able to teach them songs about God and how much He loves us and what He did for us and as they sing them maybe they will question what the songs mean and hunger for more.

Friday (the 24^th) we were able to go canoeing and kayaking as a group of counselors. It was so much fun. We went across the bay/ocean to a cove and it took us about an hour to get there. We then walked to see a waterfall. It was beautiful. The water was super cold and we had to cross the river and climb up some rocks to get a good view of the waterfall, but it was well worth the trouble. I’m always in awe of God’s creation and how beautiful it all is. It makes me think of how amazing heaven is going to be. On our way back we ran into a little problem, the wind was picking up and the waves were getting too big to canoe back. We had to call the camp to have the boat pick us up and take the canoes in the boat. We left the kayaks there and went to get them Saturday morning. I was fortunate to be able to go with the group that went back to get the kayaks and kayak back to camp. It was a lot of work but it was so much fun.

This next week I will be on work staff, just helping get food ready and cleaning up bath houses and other things. I’m glad that I am on work staff because I am getting very tired physically and spiritually working with kids three weeks in a row. I enjoy cleaning things and helping out behind the sense, so it shouldn’t be hard for me to enjoy myself even though I won’t be with kids and everyone else.

I read the hymn How Great Thou Art this morning and read the verse: When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the tree. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze, How great thou art!! I love that song so much, and reading that verse just reminded me of what I’ve been seeing and hearing this whole summer. I also read Acts 13:47, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” God has called me here to Alaska to be a light for these kids (Gentiles) who have not heard the truth or have not grown in truth they have already heard. We are spreading the word one child at a time to affect the nations.

We too may doubt our own abilities and potential. But let us never doubt what God can do with us when we trust and obey Him.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s day!!!!!! I want to start out by saying thank you so much to my earthly father for being a great example of Christ to me and even at times when he wasn’t, I still grew closer to God through him. He loves me so much and provides for our family. I love you so much dad!!!!! Also, thank you to all you other dads reading this, you have influenced my life in some way and have helped me grow into the woman I am today. But more importantly I want to say thank you to my Heavenly Father. I have been blessed beyond measure with the wonderful group of strong Christian people around me to encourage me and help me get through tough times. Our camp pastor talked today from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. He started out by saying that we may know what we want, but God, our Heavenly Father, knows what we need. 1 Corinthians 1 talks about how the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom; Christ sending his one and only son to die for all of us, those who hated him and didn’t even want him, can be seen as “foolish” to us because we can’t even understand that kind of love. God knew what we needed even though to us it looks foolish. God also chooses the foolish, the weak, the lowly, and the unqualified (aka all of us) to use to build his kingdom. He did this so no one could boast in their own awesomeness, for without Christ we can do nothing. Christ is the only one who can take a foolish person to show himself through them and to “shame the wise.” All the glory goes to God.

This past week of camp was a little difficult and challenging. It was the first week of Sr. High camp and so different than the younger kids. The beginning of the week’s devotional and discussion time started out with the other counselor and me asking the girls what they thought of chapel and what they got out of it and them just sitting there asking what we were doing next. I was hurt by that a lot and thought that this week was going to be the worst thing ever. They would not open up and I felt like they didn’t want us there talking with them about the Bible and Christ. I started doubting that I could talk with them, but ultimately I started doubting that God could open their hearts to what he wants us to share with them. The next day Kim (the other counselor) and I gave our testimony to the girls in our cabin and we asked if they had questions for us, but once again I felt like they didn’t even care that we had just told them our struggles and pains in life. The next day the speaker for chapel talked about sin and confession. That night one of the girls wanted to talk one-on-one with Kim and I and she opened up to us and talked about some things she had done in the past that she wanted to confess to God and break down the wall she was building up around her heart. We prayed with her and I rejoiced that she was opening up to us. The next day during staff devotions one of the other counselors reminded us that we cannot save these kids, no matter how nicely we present the gospel to them; only God has the power to move in their hearts and save them. I thank God for reminding me of that and asked him to forgive me for doubting that he could save these girls. The last two days with our girls were so great. They opened up so much and we had great discussions with them. They asked a ton of questions about things Kim and I didn’t even fully understand. There were still a few girls that I worried about, but I continued to pray for them and kept reminding myself that God has a plan for them and I am just here to plant a seed in their life and let God do the growing.

I was continuously reminded of God’s greatness and amazing love this week. One night when we were playing Mission Impossible (you can ask me about this when I get home) another counselor and I were walking outside in the sports field talking about things we missed from home. I said I just really wanted to see a star in the sky, just one. As I said this I pointed up to the sky and as I did a star shone bright for both of us to see. It was just one of the many times God has shone through simple things how much he truly does love me.

We were able to go canoeing down the river and crabbing this weekend. We had so much fun just getting to spend time as a family without having to worry about kids for the weekend. We have Colt camp this coming week from Monday to Thursday. There are over 120 seven to nine year olds coming. It’s going to be a crazy but wonderful week for us. Please pray for strength and patience as many of us, me included, will be going into our third week of counseling we little sleep; not only for physical strength, but spiritual strength. It has been amazing to see how God works through someone like me, someone who messes up all the time, stumbles over her words, fails at loving others as I should, and worries more than I should. He uses me to share his love with these kids and I pray that I continue to shine for him and that these kids would see a difference in my life and wonder why and want that in their lives as well.

Just an encouraging passage my parents sent me for you to read:

Isaiah 55 6-13

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
”As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

First of Many to Come

We just finished the first week with campers and I feel like things went really well, but then again not really. I was blessed to have a cabin full of well behaved and knowledgeable girls who were willing to talk about things and truly wanted to learn more about God. I continued to pray that God would give me the words to say for them and I could tell He was filling my heart with things to say to the girls. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for my parents and the church and all I have learned through them and also my Bible study leaders; I could not have answered many of the girls’ questions without God placing each of you in my life. I knew the girls would be asking some tough questions but I didn’t think they would start with them on the first night. They kind of took Lauren (the other counselor in our cabin) and me by surprise. One girl asked about loving God and hating their parents and another asked many questions about heaven and what it will be like. I prayed my mind out and answered them as best I could. God truly does answer prayers. Later in the week we were talking with the girls about accepting Christ into their lives and one of them said that she was worried because she wasn’t sure Jesus was still in her life. She had prayed and accepted him into her life a few years ago, but felt like he wasn’t there anymore. My heart went out to her because as a young girl I wondered the same thing and felt the same way, as I’m sure many of us have. We tried to explain to her that once you accept the gift he offers us and you truly believe in him and live your life for him, he will never leave your side. Later in the night she was crying and I took her outside to talk one on one. Seeing her in tears and fearing that God left her broke my heart. I couldn’t help but cry with her. I told her that we just need to have faith and trust that he will never leave us like he says in the Bible. I told her that she just needs to look around at the mountains and the beautiful creation and she can see God there. Also, just the wonderful family he blessed her with is proof enough that God is with her. I also told her that she can tell if Christ is truly the center of her life by the way she treats others. She understood what I was telling her and we prayed and then went to bed. We had two girls accept Christ into their lives for the first time in our cabin and many others throughout the whole camp did as well.

Our guy counselors had trouble with a few of their boys this week. Three in particular were very disrespectful and fought with each other all the time. We tried to show grace and give them second chances but things started to get out of hand so we had to lay down the law and take away a few things from them. I tried talking with one of the boys about how he was treating everyone and that even though someone makes fun of them or hits them doesn’t mean they can do it back. I told him that our sin hurts God so much more than anyone can hurt us, but yet he forgives us and shows us love. He seemed like he was kind of listening, but I could tell there was still a wall up in his heart. It was hard to see the kids leave, especially the boys that I talked to a bit. I wanted them to understand how much God loves them and that He’s the only thing missing in their lives. I continue to pray for them each day and ask God to send someone that can continue to plant seeds in their lives.

We start Sr. High camp this coming week. I’m a little nervous just because I know how I was in high school and how many of the girls/boys were. Please pray for strength and grace as we begin our week and that we can show God’s love to each of them. Also, pray for the campers as they come and that their hearts will be softened and open to what we have to share with them. Thanks for your prayers and for taking the time to read thisJ Hope you all have a great week.

Romans 5:3-5

Oh by the way, my address here at camp is:

Echo Ranch Bible Camp

Care of Joanna Suter

P.O. Box 210608

Auke Bay, AK 99821

Sea Glass

First day of camp begins tomorrow (Monday); supper excited about the kids coming but also a little nervous. Will I have the right words to say? How do I strike up conversation with them? I know you are with me always Lord and I can see that in the beauty that's around me. The sky is a beautiful blue with clouds, the tree covered moutains are glorious. The breeze blows gently by as the birds sing your praise. How can I not trust you, the creator and sustainor of all things, with my every moment? One of the staff members gave us sea glass, which is glass that fell in the ocean and as the water washed over it and weather effected it, it became smooth and the rough and sharp edges were no more. She talked about how we go through life starting out like a piece of glass with sharp edges and rough spots, but God takes us through the struggles and hardships and joys of life and smooths out the rough and sharp edges so we are smooth and beautiful. He takes all the crap and pain and hate and anger in our lives and uses that to smooth us out to be useful for His glory. I still have a lot of rough spots that I am trying to hand over to God to smooth out, but at times it's kind of hard. Lord, you are still working in my life each and every day and I thank you for your faithfulness. I've been reading in Romans and chapter 1 verse 20 says, "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse." We are without excuse of God's awesome power and existence. Just looking around at the mighty mountains, the beautiful trees, the glorious ocean, and the awesome wildlife, I can see His hand through it all. I have seen His eternal power and divine nature moving in my own life in how He pushed me in the direction of coming to camp. He has pieced together my body in an intricate way and made every little part work together as it should! I was also reading in Revelations chapter 4 verse 8 and Psalm chapter 47 wehre it talks about Christ being the only one worthy of praise and we should be showing that praise in everything we do each and every day. Holy holy holy is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come. psalm 31:14-15 says, " But I turst in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me." The very God who controls the sun, moon, and stars; the tide, the earth's rotation; the rain, He knows where every lightning bolt will strike, He loves me more than the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth. His love for me is what kept Him hanging on the cross, of course He deserves my praise and honor and obedience. We are almost through our first week of being at camp. We just finished up training and the campers will be here tomorrow. I'm very excited for them to come, but at the same time I have fears and worries. Please pray for each of us as we prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for these coming weeks. We need God to be the center of everything we do and we need to spend time with Him in His word daily. Pray for wisdom and God's spirit to fill me with the words to say as kids ask tough questions and we have conversations about their lives and about God. I want to be able to relate to them in a way that they will understand, but that it won't be so watered down that it means nothing to them. I continue to pray for each of you as you go about your summer activities and jobs. Thank you again for your prayers and support. Love each of you so much!

Faith Within the Storm

Less than 12 hours from take off and I'm worrying about the storm outside instead of my plane ride. It's been a crazy day of tornado warning after tornado warning, but I think we are finally in the clear...for now. Watching the sky change from beautiful peaceful blue to an angry shade of gray and black reminded me of when Jesus and His disciples were caught in a storm and Jesus calmed the storm with just His voice. If Christ can calm the ragging storms of the sea with only His voice, how much more can He calm the storms in my life with the power of His hand and the might of His voice? I have nothing to fear is this world with my Father by my side. Matthew 6 says, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Christ has many plans for me this summer and I am super excited to find out what they are. God is watching over me as I drive, fly, and wait; I would be insulting Him if I worried about my trip. Continue to pray for safety and timeliness none the less:) I've been reading and working with 1 Corinthians 12 as I prepare to train with my fellow councelors. Pray for cooperation, teamwork, and fellowship as we work together to share God's love to the kids.

May 4, 2011

It's less than a month before we leave for Alaska and I still don't feel mentally ready. Many questions have been running through my head, such as: how is this summer going to go, will I be able to show God's love with the kids each day, am I strong enough to make it to the end, and what in the world do I need to pack? Answers? Who cares, God's got control of everything and I don't need to worry about it. I've been reading through Psalm the past few weeks and love every bit of it. Psalm 1 says, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tress planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." I have planted my heart in the will of the Lord and am trusting in Him with each day. My questions are many and complex, but my Lord and Savior will never leave my side; I have nothing to worry about.