One down, 5 more to go!

Well, week 1 is done and it had a very sweet ending.

Jeff says:

I just finished the first week of speaking at Wildhorse Canyon to 650 campers. It was an incredible challenge, I was on my knees a lot, and I was even brought to tears a few times as the Holy Spirit moved in me during times of preparation and prayer...wow. I wasn't expecting that! My toughest message to give was explaining how our relationship with God is broken to this age group. My favorite message was night four, explaining what the relationship looks like that God offers to us (includes the resurrection and the 2nd half of the Prodigal Son story).
What a rush to serve in this capacity as camp speaker! 160 or so kids came to the "new believers walk" this morning at 7:30am. All these kids showed up to the lake because they had made a decision to start a relationship with God. Wow.
I gotta tell a story about the first kid I met this week, Levi, a 8th grader from Kirkland. I met him the first day when he walked into the "Round Up" (meeting room.) He asked "what kind of music are we going to play...hopefully not 'God-music.' " I told him we play stuff from the radio most of the week, songs he will know, and towards the end of the week, maybe a song or two about God. He said, "good, I'm not into that stuff." He wore all black, had spiked bracelets, black painted fingernails, a pentagram necklace, and was actually a pretty approachable kid. I ttalked to him throughout the week here and there and he updated me on his thoughts... "I'm just checkin' things out, not sure what I think about this God stuff." Well, as the busses were leaving this morning, Levi and his leader pulled me aside and asked if I would pray with them. He said that he wanted to start a relationship with God now...right before the busses left. So we prayed. Levi thanked God for offering him a second chance and apologized to God for all the stuff he has done to Him. It was a very simple, yet heartfelt prayer. He gave me a hug and got on his bus. As he left, I noticed that the necklace he was wearing wasn't the pentagram anymore, but a new cross necklace. It was fun to see a kid progress from being 'not interested' to 'checking this God thing out' to 'starting a relationship with God.' Jesus is alive! I am seeing him move mightily this week in me and in others!

Our first week camp left at noon. Our next camp will come at 3pm tomorrow. During our gap of time we evaluate the last camp, connect as a group and clean up and prepare to do it all again. We had a great evening as a family playing frisbee golf and teaching the kids how to hit a whiffle ball on the whiffle ball field!

Can't wait to see what will happen with this next camp!

(Pictured above: bottom- Deek, Janna and Jeff enjoying a late night play time hanging out with campers while Tanya worked in the ice cream shop. middle- Janna pushing Deek, wearing her cool Dora sunglasses. top -Kids playing (horses, what else?) with new friends H and C)

Day 3--Fun in the sun!

Jeff's talk on day 2 went well again. We decided not to use Janna. Hmmm maybe tonight. One of Jeff's values is short talks. He's wanting to get them under 20 minutes. The mind can only take in what the butt can endure! But, he really has their attention and their favor. Let's pray that this continues as he talks about sin!!


Today the campers had Water Olympics. Jeff stood on the blob tower as the campers tried to launch water balloons with a sling shot to try and hit him. They got him a few times. He works hard to make a good target! (see above)


As Jeff was up there we found a place in the shade to hang out and watch. (above)

Then, we went in the pool as a family, where we spent time meeting and talking to campers. That was fun! 30 of public family time! But hey, it's better than nothing, good for the first week while everything is new and everyone is busy.


Kids are sleeping better, and I'm really enjoying the other families here. I would however, like to get in a good work out! I think I'll have to get up early to do it. It's sooooo HOT in the afternoon here, you either have to do it very late or very early. I did a work out DVD in my room on day 1 in the evening while the kids were asleep. It's hard to get good cardio going without lifting your feet off the ground and making a lot of noise!


I saw Levi (the kid I mentioned earlier) today. He was smiling and he was glowing. That was good to see. I can't wait to hear what happens in his life!

Also, I talked to Scott from Lake Stevens/Snohomish! He said the kids are doing very well and bonding within their groups and having a fantastic time. He has given a lot of positive feedback to Jeff as a speaker. Also, he says his kids are moving along in their spiritual journeys. He too was beaming! He did ask that we pray for B***** (not his son). So, let's all pray for B****** from Snohomish/Lake Stevens to continue his spiritual journey to start a relationship with Jesus Christ!

Thanks for praying and for your emails and comments!

Day 2, first week off and running!

Whew!

Yesterday and today, the internet wasn't working in our Orchard Inn, so I packed up the kids and walked to the Hotel Lobby. They are watching a movie on Jeff's computer beside me!

I'm able to keep teaching my online classes for summer school, so we HAD to come over for a bit.

The campers arrived yesterday at 3pm. They were tired, but ready for fun. These campers actually run everywhere! After dinner yesterday, (see pic of Jeff greeting the campers for their first meal) the campers exited the dinning hall and ran to the field BEFORE I could get the kids in the stroller and out to the field. When I arrived, all 600 campers were in a circle participating in their first mixer!

Jeff lead songs for the 1st club because the camp musician wasn't here yet. It was AMAZING. All of the kids were singing and having a wonderful time. It was really magnificent in the clubroom to see so many middle school kids letting their guard down, singing, swaying and smiling. When the camp musician actually comes to lead songs, he'll have a tough act to follow!

Then, Jeff gave the first talk! He felt like he was "walking on clouds" so uplifted in prayer! It was clear, smooth, animated and it was only 22 minutes long. The camp manager said he wouldn't change a thing, but Jeff wants to tighten it up a little. Jeff felt pretty good afterward!

The kids are doing better. I no longer want to sell them! They are being better listeners and Deek only got out of bed 1 time last night.

We zoom around camp in the stroller, Janna sits in the seat and Deek rides on the back on a platform I bought online last week, it's called "the buggy board."

The kids are having fun sharing their plastic horses with other kids and catching bugs.

Jeff really wants to use Janna in his club talk tonight. Yesterday we were practicing, and she said, "Dad, I don't want to help you."

Luckily, she had a change of heart before bed. Please pray that she will do it. All she has to do tonight is run to Jeff and talk to him. Kids are so unpredictable. We have a back up plan, but we would really like for the campers to see a loving relationship of father and daughter, to show them what their heavenly Father desires with them, a relationship.

We don't see Jeff much, mostly at meals. He sits and eats with us and then is onto the next thing. So far today, we've ONLY seen him at meals. I estimate we'll get to see him for 20 minutes today (for practice with Janna). He has an important job! We can live with that.

One last thing, Jeff is using the story of Levi in his talk today. He will explain that God calls everyone (even unlikely people) to have relationship with him. Yesterday, we met a kid from Kirkland, named Levi. We kept running into him, at the pool, on the path, he wandered into the club room while we were practicing with Janna, etc... He is an "unlikely" kid to follow Christ. He's beefy with long hair, wears dark black shirts and cammo shorts, with a hat. He was hanging with his friend named Jameison (who was so tired he realized he put his shorts on backwards while we were talking! Anyway, Levi told us that he (Levi) was "one of those kids who isn't ready to make a decision to become a Christian." I hope he hears God calling his name tonight!

Are we there yet?

"Are we there yet?" Dietrich started saying this on a recent trip to Wenatchee. It was very appropriate on our 6+ hour journey to camp. (It's usually 6 hours with no toddlers!)

But we are here!!

Right away Jeff was whisked off to a meeting. But, he was committed to unloading the car for me. As the meeting was going, Jeff was lugging our large suitcases to our room. (Apparently he doesn't mind being late!:)) Finally I was successful in getting him off to his meeting and we settled in our room.

Our room is in the Orchard Inn. It's a double room with 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms( a queen bed in a room and a room with twin beds for the kids). I loved everything about it till bedtime. Getting to kids to sleep in the same room is TOUGH! We'll be starting a sticker chart tomorrow for going to sleep successfully!

We are doing well but TIRED. Jeff is especially drained. Right before we left, Jeff had some difficult family issues to help with involving his brother. Although he loves to be helpful, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Between his demanding job of area director, leaving for an extended period of time and his family it left him stretched.

Pray for Jeff! He needs energy, peace and he's working on a video for day 2. (Yes, you can pray for computers!) Campers come tomorrow at 3pm. We are expecting somewhere around 600!

Hey... I don't hear anything from the kids room. I'm going to bed!
More to come... Pictures tomorrow.

Today and Tomorrow and that's it!

All I think about is our trip and what it's going to take to get us all there with the necessary comforts of home--- fitting in a Ford Escape.

Jeff is editing his messages and meeting with a mentor/friend, Rich, for input and proofreading the messages he has written out. Jeff is such a talented speaker. He's been doing it forever. Usually his preparation consists of prayer and study, then writing an outline, then transposing it to his palm (yes, his hand). Almost always he goes over it with another person like me, his intern Kyle, or another experienced leader. People in Young Life picked him to speak at these large camps because he is good at it! He knows the stakes are very high and he is taking his job very seriously. He has increased the detail and intensity of his preparation to writing every word that will be delivered. I feel like he is well prepared to speak to 3,000 middle schoolers! I pray for him everyday! I pray that his messages will be clear, that kids will "see" God's love in Jeff as he speaks, that kids will relate to the illustrations used, and that they will move along in their journey to starting a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Please join me in praying for this!

Another thing I'm consumed with is thinking of how I will coexist with other families. There are 2 major issues of concern. First of all, how will it be living in a "fish bowl" as we will be "on" most of the time? We will be living in view of campers, high school work crew kids and college summer staff kids, and the other staff wives and families. I have great kids who are usually well behaved. But, everyone, kid or parent, has their moments! How will we do? I guess we will just live! I'll tell you what, I'll be very understanding of the struggles of other mothers around me. It could easily be me dragging a kicking and screaming 2 yr. old out of the dining room!

Another reality facing me is that there are 2 kids and 1 mom in my family! I do have 2 eyes, but luckily they track together. I can see myself stopping to talk to a work crew kid and "losing" Dietrich or even Janna as they wonder off into the pond. I've decided I'm going to let the other mother's know that I'll need their help in making sure my kids are safe, respectful and using manners. You know what they say, "it takes a village to raise a child!"

I'm beginning to prepare Janna for this way of living with 8 or more "mommies." I told her they would be very nice, and that she will need to listen and obey other mommies if they tell her something.

She thought about it and said with enthusiasm, "I'll be the best listener ever!"
I wish she could write her name. I'd have her put this statement in writing

3 days and counting...

3 more days and we leave for our summer assignment at Wildhorse Canyon!

We are busy getting things together, visits to the dollar store to buy bug catchers, plastic horses, cars, puzzles, glow sticks, coloring books....the list goes on and on!

Downloading Diego and Mickey Mouse Club from Tivo to Jeff's computer, shopping for sleeveless shirts, books to read, sunscreen.....

And the hardest part, saying good bye to our friends and family for a long time.

Janna is excited. She wants to know the names of the kids who will be there. There will actually be about 20 children of assigned staff families. (other YL staff from around the state who are doing what we are doing) The kids range in age from newborn to 10 yrs. old.

Janna said, "I think I'm going to like these kids!"

I'm sure she will!

If you are wondering about the property where we'll be staying, visit http://wildhorsecanyon.org/

It's a cool site with videos to download and even weather updates!!