Week 3

We here at Camp Evergreen are already diving into our 3rd week of summer camp. But I am going to recap the last two weeks to help give you an better understanding of the past 14 days here at Evergreen.

The first week was eventful as over 80 Trailblazers (Grades 5-7) stormed through our main site. They frantically searched for the moof (stuffed animal hidden around site), went screaming down the zipline, and trotted away on horseback. The kids loved the week and so did the staff. We introduced some new morning water activities such as having a huge slip and slide, and also taking the kids for a venture down to the creek. It was an action packed week, and sometimes difficult, but all in all it was a very smooth first week of camp as a staff team.

This past week was pretty hectic as well. We had about over 60 Ignite campers (Grades 6-9) come for another action-packed time at Camp Evergreen. There were a couple of aches and pains throughout the week but again God was with us through it all. Specifically we had a lot of homesick campers. Which was actually quite surprising to me since these kids were going into junior high, if not high school. We tried to comfort them as best we could, but unfortunately we had two campers go home because of it. On top of the homesick campers we also had two boys who were very disinterested with everything that camp stood for. We offered them absolutely everything we could to try and convince them to have fun and enjoy there time at Evergreen. They didn't go home but they really didn't want to engage or "buy-in" to what camp  had to offer. Hence I was a little bit discouraged about how their week turned out, almost feeling as if I was to blame for their camp experience that lacked what they were looking for. My only prayer now is that we planted a seed for those two boys and that they would want to strive and pursue Christ in the future.

Here goes week 3. Over 50 screaming Explorers (Grades 3-4) are on site this week and all I can do is pray for patience and energy. This age group of kids always seems to be non-stop, go go go, and thus I pray for strength and endurance this coming week.

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3: 13-14


"Dear bothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is sully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do no waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." James 1: 2-8

Felicity and Sarah giving the thumbs up at the Wall

Cassandra leading Horsemanship

A camper jumping at the "Leap of Faith"

The guys down at Roughin' it made a sick raft. No risk no fun right?

Summer Staff Training

So it's been a while since I last updated my blog and I thought that maybe this would be my opportune moment. Over 20-30 new summer staff arrived and immediate adjustment was needed. In a good way of course! 

Our spring staff team was super close and each of us had completely adjusted to each others work styles, and serving habits. But as soon as the summer staff arrived we all needed to adjust. Re-establish boundaries, work habits, social habits, and even our own relationships with one another. But in all honesty, it's for the better. Who are we to not welcome, share, and invite others into our pre-existing relationships and work environments because it, "isn't comfortable" for us. We are called as a community of believers in Christ to treat each other in brotherly and sisterly love. Not to scorn, exclude, or put down, but be inclusive, exhort, and love one another just as Christ loved us. 

Even though at times it is hard to jump out of the so-called "spring staff bubble," I love the fact that now we can grow together as an even bigger body of believers and that just thrills me. If the summer staff can gel like the spring staff did, then we will be an unstoppable force for Christ this summer. Through the activities, games, creation, chapel, and through our personal stories Christ will transform lives and also be glorified for the magnificent, brilliant, omniscient God that He is. Holy is He. 

As you can tell I am pretty stoked for the Summer and am hoping/praying that Christ will make the rest of this week a success and a time for the spring/summer staff to unite and grow in fellowship and in faith.