I'd like to fill you guys in on as much as I can, so we'll start with staff training!...
STAFF TRAINING
Week 1 consisted of role preparation (as a staff member), getting to know our coast team (Southeast), and lots of prayer for the weeks to come. As we pulled into Oklahoma Wesleyan's campus, I stepped off the van and was overwhelmed by the first glance - I was looking into the faces of those who I would be serving alongside this summer. ..I felt so undeserving! It was during that moment that I realized how much of an impact the Worldview Academy team would have on students all across America. What a grace it is to be part of the ministry!
The list of things that had to be done was quite large and it was awesome seeing everyone work together, and having the honor of being apart of it. As staff training progressed, the Lord gave me a clear focus for the job I was given and helped me prepare for the weeks ahead. Brandon Booth, our camp director, gave a lecture on Wednesday morning on the book of Galatians... it pretty much wrapped up what I had been feeling days before -- the fact that I am completely inadequate to do a job like this. It's only by God's grace that I am able to serve with Worldview Academy. My strength will get me no where. During a typical week of camp, the students go out witnessing on Wednesday. As staff, we were able to have our own Evangelism Practicum in downtown Bartlesville. I'm thankful we were given the opportunity, since our role at camp is mainly watching over the students during the time of evangelism.
Friday morning our week came to a close. Saying goodbye to the other teams was extremely difficult and included many tears... but we knew that those farewells were necessary and the excitement of getting to do the work of His kingdom in other places was truly overwhelming.
Over the weekend, it was a little different for our team. The West and Northeast teams were on the road to their first camp, but our Southeast team stayed put... Our first camp was at Oklahoma Wesleyan so we had the weekend to relax and prepare. On Friday evening we had a picnic at a nearby lake and played some Ultimate Frisbee. It was awesome getting to know everyone a little better... in fact, our bonding happened extremely fast and it was so encouraging to see the bond each of us had through Christ. Saturday night, the vice president of Oklahoma Wesleyan graciously invited us over to his house to have dinner with his family. It was absolutely beautiful and being in a home was truly refreshing!
The list of things that had to be done was quite large and it was awesome seeing everyone work together, and having the honor of being apart of it. As staff training progressed, the Lord gave me a clear focus for the job I was given and helped me prepare for the weeks ahead. Brandon Booth, our camp director, gave a lecture on Wednesday morning on the book of Galatians... it pretty much wrapped up what I had been feeling days before -- the fact that I am completely inadequate to do a job like this. It's only by God's grace that I am able to serve with Worldview Academy. My strength will get me no where. During a typical week of camp, the students go out witnessing on Wednesday. As staff, we were able to have our own Evangelism Practicum in downtown Bartlesville. I'm thankful we were given the opportunity, since our role at camp is mainly watching over the students during the time of evangelism.
Friday morning our week came to a close. Saying goodbye to the other teams was extremely difficult and included many tears... but we knew that those farewells were necessary and the excitement of getting to do the work of His kingdom in other places was truly overwhelming.
Over the weekend, it was a little different for our team. The West and Northeast teams were on the road to their first camp, but our Southeast team stayed put... Our first camp was at Oklahoma Wesleyan so we had the weekend to relax and prepare. On Friday evening we had a picnic at a nearby lake and played some Ultimate Frisbee. It was awesome getting to know everyone a little better... in fact, our bonding happened extremely fast and it was so encouraging to see the bond each of us had through Christ. Saturday night, the vice president of Oklahoma Wesleyan graciously invited us over to his house to have dinner with his family. It was absolutely beautiful and being in a home was truly refreshing!
CAMP #1
"WELCOME TO THE BEST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE!!" ...this greeting is found in the front of every student notebook and it is our job as staff to fulfill this challenging promise. Each of us receive jobs at the beginning of the summer, and my job is registration! This entails checking students in, assigning color teams, and making their first 2 minutes of "intro to camp" absolutely amazing! ...what an honor!!
After meeting my girls that afternoon, I was SO excited for what God had in store. I had a group of 5 seventeen-year-old girls, which is relatively small compared to a normal camp. Throughout the week, our small group/t-times were filled with lots of deep discussion and great questions. It was evident that each of them were growing in the Lord and desired more of what they were learning. My one-on-ones were also incredible and treasured blessings... during that time I was able to get to know each of them on a deeper level and understand how I can pray for them specifically. Listening to what each of them were going through during that point in their life was encouraging. In fact, I noticed a recurring theme - trusting, desiring, and waiting patiently for God's will! What a blessing to be able to relate to them in this way.
CAMP #2
Van ride #1!! I can confidently say that this is where most of staff bonding takes place -- as Brandon says, "Camp doesn't end until your back side hits the seat of that van." We were Texas-bound and ready for our second week of camp... little did I know this would be a bit more challenging. My staff director, Leah, informed me that I would have intern... This basically means that someone would be co-leading our small group alongside me, watching my every move -- giving me the opportunity to empower them as staff. My thoughts of feeling inadequate jumped from a 9 to a 99 (way off the scale). It took an entire van ride for Leah to convince me that I was ready for this, even during the second week of camp. But, God is faithful and it was evident that the Holy Spirit was graciously working through me.
Our small group size doubled (with a camp consisting of 182 students) ..we were given 10 thirteen and fourteen-year-old girls. There were many huge transitions! ... an intern, doubled small group size, opposite age-group, and a massive camp. Let's just say I was feeling a bit overwhelmed here at Baylor University. God had so much to teach me: i AM incapable of serving these girls. i AM incapable of changing their lives. i AM incapable of loving them. It is only through CHRIST's steadfast love and mercy that I am able to do all of the above. One of the girls in my small group came to me during the second night of camp and poured every ounce of her precious heart on my lap. She was experiencing an immense amount of homesickness and I was overwhelmed by her willingness to be so open. For reasons I cannot express, my heart began to break as hers did the same. It was at this point that I didn't know what else to do besides pray - running to the Lord with our struggles and broken hearts. She came to me the next morning and explained that she had not slept that well in months - "It was so peaceful and I feel so rested!" Every night after that we went to the Lord in prayer, asking for sweet sleep. It was during those prayers that I was brought to the feet of Jesus - "You are strong when you feel weak, In your brokenness complete." Praise God, for His grace is truly sufficient.
CAMP #3
After the Baylor camp, we hit the road for 2 hours and stopped at the Craggett home in Dallas, TX. I was once again refreshed by the atmosphere of a home and a family - lots of jumping on the trampoline, swinging, catching grasshoppers with little ones, and some good ol' Texas barbeque. Who would have thought that the feeling of REAL carpet under your feet would be so amazing?? lol. Hanging out on the back porch with the staff was a beautiful picture of the Family of Christ - from different places, different backgrounds, with one purpose: to bring glory to God through serving Him and fulfilling His great commission.
Saturday morning opened with prayer as we jumped in the vans for a 7-hour trip. We're excited to see how God will work in Mississippi. Though this past weekend has had its battles, I know that God's plan is bigger than mine and the entirety of His beautiful picture is unseen to my eyes. Please pray that I will rest in knowing that in my weakness God IS glorified. May God's grace rest in your hearts and may the hope of His precious Gospel pour from that same place into the hearts of others.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
SDG
CAMP #2
Van ride #1!! I can confidently say that this is where most of staff bonding takes place -- as Brandon says, "Camp doesn't end until your back side hits the seat of that van." We were Texas-bound and ready for our second week of camp... little did I know this would be a bit more challenging. My staff director, Leah, informed me that I would have intern... This basically means that someone would be co-leading our small group alongside me, watching my every move -- giving me the opportunity to empower them as staff. My thoughts of feeling inadequate jumped from a 9 to a 99 (way off the scale). It took an entire van ride for Leah to convince me that I was ready for this, even during the second week of camp. But, God is faithful and it was evident that the Holy Spirit was graciously working through me.
Our small group size doubled (with a camp consisting of 182 students) ..we were given 10 thirteen and fourteen-year-old girls. There were many huge transitions! ... an intern, doubled small group size, opposite age-group, and a massive camp. Let's just say I was feeling a bit overwhelmed here at Baylor University. God had so much to teach me: i AM incapable of serving these girls. i AM incapable of changing their lives. i AM incapable of loving them. It is only through CHRIST's steadfast love and mercy that I am able to do all of the above. One of the girls in my small group came to me during the second night of camp and poured every ounce of her precious heart on my lap. She was experiencing an immense amount of homesickness and I was overwhelmed by her willingness to be so open. For reasons I cannot express, my heart began to break as hers did the same. It was at this point that I didn't know what else to do besides pray - running to the Lord with our struggles and broken hearts. She came to me the next morning and explained that she had not slept that well in months - "It was so peaceful and I feel so rested!" Every night after that we went to the Lord in prayer, asking for sweet sleep. It was during those prayers that I was brought to the feet of Jesus - "You are strong when you feel weak, In your brokenness complete." Praise God, for His grace is truly sufficient.
CAMP #3
After the Baylor camp, we hit the road for 2 hours and stopped at the Craggett home in Dallas, TX. I was once again refreshed by the atmosphere of a home and a family - lots of jumping on the trampoline, swinging, catching grasshoppers with little ones, and some good ol' Texas barbeque. Who would have thought that the feeling of REAL carpet under your feet would be so amazing?? lol. Hanging out on the back porch with the staff was a beautiful picture of the Family of Christ - from different places, different backgrounds, with one purpose: to bring glory to God through serving Him and fulfilling His great commission.
Saturday morning opened with prayer as we jumped in the vans for a 7-hour trip. We're excited to see how God will work in Mississippi. Though this past weekend has had its battles, I know that God's plan is bigger than mine and the entirety of His beautiful picture is unseen to my eyes. Please pray that I will rest in knowing that in my weakness God IS glorified. May God's grace rest in your hearts and may the hope of His precious Gospel pour from that same place into the hearts of others.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
SDG
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