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!

Malibu 2013

We are at Malibu!  We left Everett behind, projects around the house undone, floors needed to be swept, laundry in baskets, garbage to be emptied, a bag of baby carrots in the bottom of our fridge.  It was a little rough getting out of the house this time.  I didn’t want to leave those things, but I chose what was better. 

Sometimes you just have to get up and go.  Tasks are undone, but our family is in a great place.  I didn’t become the frantic “Momster”  this year ordering my minions around as I Swiffer the kitchen floor and scrub the shower stalls.  Just the opposite, actually.  We have spent some great time together paddle boarding, eating meals and just playing around.  I

We are excited, hopeful, a little disoriented but ready to get this show on the road.

We have been preparing our hearts and heads to do this for months!  But there have been a few changes with the staffing as a result of someone on the team needing to stay home and get surgery.  Some jobs were shifted, people added and adjustments made.  We feel like we are coming into an “A Team” scenario.  It’s just not the “A-Team” we thought we were having when we first planned.

One of the most exciting parts of this—and there are many—is that I (Tanya) get to serve as a head leader in Lori Hein’s absence along side Jeff.  This is a familiar role.  I’ve served as a head leader at Malibu several times before, but never WITH Jeff on my team.  Elizabeth Aagard, one of my favorite YL students of all time, is coming to watch Janna and Dietrich while I serve!  What a treat for Janna and Dietrich.  Please pray for all of us!

 First boat comes in today! 

 Please join us in prayer for this adventure. 

Home week

Guess who walked off the boat this week?  Our own students from Everett High, Cascade and Kamiak. In all, we have 100 leaders and campers here from home.  In addition, we have lots of leaders here we know from Northeast Seattle, Juanita, Redmond, Inglemoor, Lake Washington HS, Walla Walla, and still more from Tri Cities, CA.  Our good friend Casey Price has joined his sister's team and is now leading kids from Roosevelt HS in Seattle.  He is here, so it's a little like having your favorite brother get married, we've realized we have to share Casey. Just so long as he's happy.  :)

Jeff and I have been so giddy and excited to see our peeps. The day before they came we could hardly contain ourselves.  Lizzy (from JHS) and Katie Weir (from CHS) are both on work crew and they shared in our excitement.   A majority (about 60) of these 100 West Sno Co campers are from Katie's Cascade High School and she felt a strong sense of satisfaction after spending  a year as their student leader president back home.  Katie lugged their luggage off the boat, but then welcomed all of the campers on behalf of the entire Malibu work crew on the microphone during our first meal.  We are so proud of Katie and thankful for her service her at camp on Work Crew, but also for her leadership at home as the student leader president.

During free time, Jeff and I are catching up with the leaders, on what has been going on back home in the lives of kids since we've been gone...

One leader shared that some of the students have been using drugs this past month and are probably VERY disinterested in camp.  In fact, if they had not paid money months ago when they reserved their spots, they probably wouldn't be at camp today.  But they ARE here.  God can meet them where they are.  Please pray for these kids, both male and female kids are involved.

Jeff is holding up well.  This second wind is amazing for both of us.  We are really in our sweet spot with camp (which we LOVE) and home that has been brought to us.

Pray for the leaders:  Brie L (is feeling sick), Crystal, Walt, Bryan, Bob, Justin, Kylene, Annie, Nick, Brandon, Lauren.

All of the leaders are stretched this week. Kylene has been sick the past few weeks, pray that she heals completely.  Bob and Bryan are with new groups of guys they don't know well.  The CHS leaders have a HARD group of kids.

Lastly, I'm picking up a campaigner group from Cascade HS.  Some of the girls from my group are here with the CHS girls.  I don't know them very well.  I hope to connect with them in a meaningful way!  Pray for this connection.

Cascade HS kids in the pool on the first day.  They are the rowdiest group of the month for sure!

Gifts

Three days ago, the Malibu Princess took the 2nd week of campers away and dropped off another set of campers and leaders.  This is a great mix of kids from Gig Harbor, Tacoma, California, Bainbridge Island/ Bremerton and Spokane!  While the kids were getting off the boat, Janna asked, "Does the captain of the boat know Young Life?"  I did not know the answer.  She fired back, "does the captain of the boat know God? Does he know what he's bringing the kids to?"
I don't think the kids really know what they are in for when they get off the boat.  They have no idea of the fun, beauty, laughs, service and love they will learn about and experience while they are at Malibu.  Certainly, their leaders know, and that is what motivates them to get up early, get pied in the face, drenched with cold water and sometimes sleep on the floor.  The leaders know EXACTLY what they are getting into and why they are bringing their friends/campers.  For the campers, it's a surprise GIFT that they open up-- starting with day 1 of camp.  Day one is the exciting and fun bow.  As the week unfolds, they learn what the gift of life truly is that God offers them.

I'm studying James right now.  "Every good and perfect gift is from above" 1:16
All of the extras of camp, the things that make it excellent are not the real gift we are trying to give the campers, it's more the wrapping.  This week, we are on day 4 now, I'm going to focus on the real gift.  Jeff and the team are comfortable with the wrapping, their lines, costume changes, events, etc.  Now we can really focus and thank God for the GIFT... the reason the campers came that they are, at first, unaware of... and the driving motivation of the leaders, that they are completely aware of.

It is a wonderfully responsive and gracious group of campers.  They laugh at all the appropriate times and clap with appreciation!  This makes serving up this huge gift so much easier.

Prayer Requests:  It seems as though more and more kids are coming with mental illnesses.  Anxiety, Depression and maybe some boarder line personality disorders.  This really keeps our leaders distracted, and our assignment team busy helping the leaders lead kids who are not really well.  Pray that these kids would start to find healing here!  Pray that leaders would be able to work with the kids and that it wouldn't take away from other kids in the cabin.

The Father's Love

Here we are in week 2, day 3!
This week we have some familiar campers here at Malibu, students from Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Glacier Peak, Olympia, Puyallup, and the Wenatchee Valley (YIP, YIP).
It has been fun to see kids from our church and our friends kids here enjoying Malibu!  Please pray for these kids!  They have a lot going on in their lives.  They bring many hurts with them and after the first few days, they feel comfortable enough to share them with us and their leaders.

One amazing thing that happened on the last day of last camp was that our very own Lizzy Aagard, work crew girl from my JHS campaigner group, had the honor of sharing her testimony during the work crew presentation for the whole camp.  Campers and all were blessed to hear Lizzy talk about how there was NOTHING she could do to cause God to love her any less.  And NOTHING could keep her from the love of her heavenly Father.  She so freely and comfortably shared with the hundreds of people in the club room.  Jeff and I rejoiced with her and praised GOD for all he has done and brought her through.  What an honor to lead young ladies like Lizzy!

I am feeling a little disconnected from the spiritual things happening in the lives of campers because I spend so much time with the kids and Jeff is busy working on the details of the program. This is weird for us, but hopefully, we will feel a little more connected as we get the details worked out.

This is the entire work crew during the work crew presentation on the last night of camp.  Lizzy is in the very middle.

Janna puts make-up on Jeff for his club character, Kenny Winnerhart (find him on facebook).

Our kids are doing better and so I am.  Dietrich is more thankful, and acting like himself singing, and having a great time.  Thank you all for your prayers!