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!