Week 2 (Part B)

Week 2 ended well.  My favorite story from week 2 was about an ambiguously looking girl.
She looked like a boy, but was a girl.  She was quiet at the beginning of the week, standing outside most social groups.  Stuck with the safety of her cabin.  The first day, I believe someone mistook her for a male camper when reminding the campers who was along on the girl's deck.  Right away I'd spot her in a crowd and watch out for her... knowing that God has her best interests in mind, I wanted to extend her the same care and love that He would.

The night of the 'dance', when we line the girls up and the boys up and pair them off to square dance, I was in constant prayer... for many things but one of the main subjects was this particular camper.  I prayed that she would get paired up with the perfect male camper.  As the girls lined up and waited, I patted her on the shoulder.  I said, 'This is going to be great!  It's going to work out!'  She looked me straight in the eyes...(something I think she learned to do this week) and doubted, "really?"  "YES"  I pounded back.  "You are going to like this very much!  You will think this is fun!" I had peace.  With a little encouragement, to stay in the line, she re-positioned herself several times and settled on a spot near the back.  She was paired with a ruggedly handsome male leader who truly made her feel like a valued princess.  She laughed and smiled through the square dance and then at the dance through the ages, her square dance partner stayed near by.  The summer staff actually stood on the outside of the dance mob, on her other side.  Everywhere she turned, she was having fun with people who cared about her.  She was fully participating in the dance--singing, grooving and of course she ended up in the pool.

At the 'Say So' at the end of the week, she stood and said, "Hi, My name is Z*** and before this camp I was an atheist, but this week, I started a relationship with Jesus!"
Glory to God!  The way we treat people is so very important.  I know it wasn't just night 4 that made her feel like she belonged.  I am extremely thankful for her leaders, cabin mates, other leaders, summer staff and work crew who made her feel accepted.  The love of Christ flowing through all of these people became real to her.  What better way to show God's love than to include them as to say, "God loves you and accepts you better and more unconditionally than I ever could.  But I'm going to give it my very best shot!"  Makes me think about this... who can we show Christ's acceptance to?

Week 2

Week 2 is almost over.  We are on day 6 of our 7 day camp today.

Jeff and I went kayaking on a special date to Helena Falls while Lori and Mark kept an eye on our kids.  When we returned, we took a trip to the pool with our kids. This was the perfect day capped off with a delicious outdoor dinner of steak and salmon with 380 of our closest friends! 

Tomorrow the largest camp in Malibu history will come in on boats. We can’t fit everyone on the Malibu Princess, so we are boating the over flow campers and leaders in on water taxis.  We will begin this process at 11:30AM!  429 campers and leaders will literally bust the seams of Malibu!  Our property staff have literally counted mattresses, sheets, plates and forks to make sure we can hold and serve everyone.  Bleachers are being built for the deck of our club room so that campers can fill the usual adult guest corner.  Ride schedules have been adjusted.  Fridge space has been made to store the additional food.  No bed will be empty at Malibu this week. Every kid who wanted to come to camp will come this week. They will not be leaving any kid at home.

We are also preparing for the Head Leader spouses to help out with Head Leader tasks of supporting leaders, getting campers to events and our favorite—'purple patrol'.  It’s fun for Jeff and I to work on the same team, and I know Lori and Mark enjoy it too.  We have a ‘Manny’ coming to help take care of the kids.   Can’t wait to share how this works out.

The kids are getting along great and all of the families at Malibu are fantastic.  I have had many conversations with staff wives from Wyoming and Arizona.. swapping stories and sharing ideas. 

Jeff has been blessed to spend time with some of the gems of Young Life.  Ash, Mike Ashburn, has been on staff for 36 years!  The Rhodes and Griffins have been on staff for 20+ years also. They have been so encouraging to Jeff and me this month. I have been writing some of the ideas, encouragements and stories they have shared in my journal!  But really, I love the unexpected bonus of being REALLY encouraged about the work we do back home while we are here.  I expected that we would serve others and NOT be blessed.  I like the way it's working out better than my original plan.  Isn't that typical?  God is exceeding our expectations once again!

Week 1 In Review

Week 1 at Malibu!
I loved having our area here.   About 120+ students and leaders from Everett, Mill Creek, and Mukilteo joined us at Malibu for our week 1.  We LOVED watching our 'heros', as they came off the boat with their high school friends that they worked tirelessly to get them here. Leaders from these areas meet with kids one on one to ask them how they are doing, and to go deeper into their lives.  As Jeff and I would walk around camp and see these conversations taking place, it made this whole adventure worth while.

Another highlight was having Elizabeth here to watch our kids.  Janna and Deek love her.  She does so well with them. The entire camp loved her warm personality and servant's attitude too, and the camp director asked her to come on week 3 to watch our kids so that I and Mark Hein could help with Head leader stuff.

Biggest frustration of the week:  not having enough internet access to work in online classes in my room!

Deek's Arm:  On Friday, Dietrich fell while playing on the monkey bars. Jeff suspected that he had a fracture.  Without an x-ray machine at Malibu, we couldn't be sure.   We saw the doctor and decided to wait and see.  On Sunday, they sent us out on a water taxi to get x-rays. I (Tanya) took Deek and Janna stayed at camp with Jeff and Elizabeth!  Boy, the Canadian hospital was interesting.  They x-ray was read and the emergency room doctor (no walk-in) said there was nothing on it.  Later that day, the emergency room doctors called and said that there was a small fracture.  (Deek said he saw it in the x-ray!)  But, that it was just a hairline fracture and it doesn't need to be splinted or in a cast.  We do have him in a make shift sling so that he doesn't use it or brace himself with it.  Yesterday, Deek didn't take any pain pills and today he is using his hand for things!!
He should be on the road to recovery. Thanks for the prayers.

Lori Hein is here now, taking on the head leader responsibility.  It is a fun time hanging out with her and her husband, Mark.  Of course, our kids are having a wonderful time with their old friends.

More later.  Thanks for your prayers!