Feelin' SALTy

Hello to my friends and family!

Wow, I've already been at Camp for almost two weeks. But, it almost feels like I never left. The staff is already well-bonded, and the daily routine will be engrained into me soon enough.

We have not had any campers yet, but we have had almost a week of ropes course training, and we are over half-way through with SALT (Summer Adult Leadership Team) Training. It's an important week, a rather mentally exhausting week, and one of the only times throughout the summer that we just get to BE with each other, to be with adults for more than an hour or so.

Ropes went well; it was more of a review for me since last year but I got to do a few more difficult things, such as "taking down" all the equipment after the day at ropes was over. It was pretty freaking scary to me (being up 45ish feet in the air connected to nothing but my own devices wrapped around the telephone pole while trying not to drop $200 dollars worth of equipment ... difficult to explain), but I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. Hopefully I'll be a little more useful out there this year.

It's been a little hard for me to get into the swing of things this year, for whatever reason. I think last night helped a lot, though. Every year, there is a tradition that each staff member, on the last day or so of Camp, writes a letter to the next summer's staff, giving out pithy advice or reminiscing on some of their fonder memories. And, last night, we read those letters from last summer. I wasn't that excited to hear mine, wondering if it would be too sappy or too long (it was), but God really strengthened me through hearing the things that I wrote last year, oddly enough ... Last summer I struggled a lot with feelings of inadequacy, and the devil was really eager for me to take a few steps back and feel the same way, if not worse, again. But God triumphed last night, and I was reminded that I don't have to worry about feeling ill-prepared, ill-equipped, or just ... not good enough. Psh, I don't have to worry about a thing: the only way I have any worth is through Him working through me. It's not me making an impact on campers or staff, and it's not my job to worry about how my efforts are recieved. I am just an instrument, glad to be used by God in whatever way He so chooses.

He has it more figured out than I do.

With that said, I believe that my time here on the Wautoma Library internet is running short (we got an unexpected break today - we were supposed to be doing high ropes, but apparently there's like, the storm of the century brewing in Central WI, so we decided that ropes just might not be the best idea for today ...) but I just wanted to keep you all updated. I'm alive and well, and looking forward to keeping you posted on more stories throughout the next few months.

If you get the chance, please remember me and my coworkers in your prayers. Please pray that the devil does not get a foothold 0n the staff here this summer by convincing us of our insufficiencies or dividing us by petty differences. Also pray that God would keep us all united in purpose, as well as prepare the camper's hearts for their week at camp, that He would do amazing things in their lives for that short time they are with us. Also pray that God gives me the strength to make it through each week, helping me fully dedicate myself to edifying the lives of His little lambs.

I would ask for your support for this ministry in general. I myself know the power it can have in a person's life, and I so desperately wish that Camp Phillip can continue, by the grace and power of God, to make an impact on the hearts of His children.

Thanks for taking the time ... God bless till next time!