Staff training week

What an amazing week. I certainly have much to give praise to God for. Before the week started I was a bit nervous about what all the staff would be like and how I would fit as everyone knew everyone else. What God answered my prayers abundantly.

Staff training went from Sunday afternoon through to Friday afternoon. By Monday it was evident that we were all getting along well and having a wonderful time. I have come from the week so encouraged to be working with a group for the summer that love God and serve him joyfully, even in cleaning bathrooms.  

                           

We had lots of teaching. Some was to challenge us personally in our walk with the Lord, others were practical how to do things that will happen during camp. Some great things is our accountability groups. Throughout the summer we will be meeting in the morning for half an hour to pray together and encourage one another in both what we are doing and in spending time with God each day.

Each night we had a campfire. There was singing and sharing of testimonies. This is the same pattern that will happen during the camps. Time around the camp fire is good even if the mosquitoes here are really bad, they are big and bit even through clothing. 

One evening we went for a walk to the river to have a campfire down there. The lighter didn't work so there was no fire till we got back up (good practice for camp - always check the lighter works). However, we enjoyed ourselves, taking fun staff photos and some testimonies were shared. 

This is the wonderful summer staff. We all have a camp name, from left to right they are Buckles, Boots, Giggles, Sunny, Sparkles, Muffin, Birdie, Tetley, Mango, Stache, Kiwi, Pippin and Gimili. 

We are thankful to God that already we have seen much answered prayer during the week. There have been more camp registrations and we have enough male cabin leaders for Teen camp starting tomorrow. There are some other staff that have committed to various camps, still needing male leaders for the other camps. We are praying that some more girl campers might come on the day.

Please pray for us all during the week, that we will work together in unity and each of us will be an example of Christ to the teens that come. Please also  pray that we will have wisdom and insight into how to share Christ with them and opportunity to share with them throughout each day.  I am excited to see how God is going to work through us this summer, what a joy it is to serve Him as part of the body of Christ.

Longest Dad = Summer

June 21 marks the longest day here and it is when they say that summer starts. It is looking good with yesterday and today being lovely warm days. Making it to 24^C.

This is the sunrise which is at 4:14am. As you can see it is already very light. I don't know what time it gets light but it is early. I did go back to bed after taking the photo.

This is the sunset at 9:50pm. The sunset last for ages and will stay light for another hour. 

I took this photo the night before on my way home from Bible Study. It is taken at 11:30pm, to give an idea on how long the sunsets last for.

The longest day was a wonderful day here. So much was achieved. Mary and Stephen Noble arrived the day before and it is great having them here. Mary is programme director for the Summer. We have been working on the schedules and bouncing ideas back and forth. At the end of the day we had a time of singing and prayer. Mary played piano, I was on clarinet and Stephen joined us on the ukelale.


I am super excited that summer is here and camps begin. The camps start tonight with a Seniors Retreat, followed closely with the staff training beginning on Sunday afternoon. After that the camps look like this:
Teen Camp July 1-6
Kids Camp July 8-11
Pre Teen Camp July 15-20
Junior Camp July 22-26
Possible day camps for younger children July 27 and 28
Beyond Blueberry Trails July 29-August 5.


Please be praying that more campers will come and that God will also provide the staff needed. Please pray for wisdom for each of the leaders as we interact with children, that we might have insight into how to share Truth with them that these camps might have an eternal impact in the lives of children. 


We have so much to be thankful for, what a mighty God we serve. 

Music Festival

Although I would have loved to have been home and at Impact Bible conference in the weekend just gone we had lots of busyness at camp so it wasn't too sad.


Every year a gospel music festival is held at Blueberry Bible Camp. There are music groups that come from as far as Manitoba. It was an enjoyable weekend. I did not hear very much of the music as I was in the kitchen helping with cooking for the musicians and the other people involved. We fed between 70 and 100 for each meal. I am learning about different foods, in particular Mennonite food which is common here. The forecast was chances of rain but God is good and apart from a couple of second shower is was lovely weather. 

A duck nest found in the trees when we were getting ready.

The view from the lodge of everyone listening to Sunday Morning Sermon.

The dining hall at Sunday Lunch

What a joy it is to be able to serve God alongside brothers and sisters in Christ.