So much to learn...

Well we are back from Camp Sandy Cove.  We left Sunday afternoon and arrived there around supper time.  Monday morning we worked from 8-6:30 doing all sorts of different things.  In the morning we went around to all of the different cabins and were cleaning the bathrooms (I did showers so lets just say I would be ok with not cleaning showers for awhile).  We also had to move canoes and transport them to the other end of the camp (I was a little sore the next day).  It amazed me everything they had to get done to winterize the camp.  We ended up getting everything done and out of camp by 12:30 on Tuesday (we originally going to be coming back Wed). 

It is so crazy how at some moments I feel like I am not learning very much but then in one day I feel like I have learned so much in which it is hard to put into words.  I have learned so much about myself this past month, it is insane.  I am also learning a lot about others.  With there being six of us in Converge, and all of us being very different, it has been cool learning to work together and to work through our differences.  At Camp Sandy Cove I could really see how we have our different strengths and weaknesses.  One of our weaknesses is someone else’s strength.

Stretching Moments

I have been sitting here thinking back over the past several days and it has been so crazy.  There has been many stretching moments but two of them were I was asked to pray for the offering in front of senior citizens and all of us Convergers are learning the different activities here and so I had the chance swinging on the giant swing (I am so scared of heights).  I also spent eight hours making beds. Let me tell you it is a lot harder and draining then you would expect.  I am just so thankful I got to do that with Meghan and Renee.  There have been so many different opportunities to bond with each and every Converger, the sad thing is that I know I have missed some opportunities also.  The past couple days I have been trying to keep my eyes open, and let me tell you when you are ‘stuck’ in the basement in the housekeeping room, you really have some wonderful bonding moments while folding laundry. 

Through all of these things this week I have also been learning how much Satan tries to mess with us.  He knows our weaknesses and he goes after to try to destroy us.   Thankfully God is so much more powerful then Satan and I have been learning that when I rely on God’s strength, I can conquer anything…even Satan.

We are heading back to Camp Sandy Cove tomorrow afternoon, in which we (Convergers) could use some prayer.  I know Satan is going to be attacking us because we are tired after working this weekend and then we are headed to CSC to help close up camp for the winter. So if you could pray for our attitudes and for our safe trip there.

Also, I really appreciate all of you who are taking time out of your busy schedule to read this.  I don’t know who reads this but it does mean a lot knowing that people care about what is going on with my life here at Sandy Cove.

Working with a purpose...

So this weekend was so tiring and (mostly) fun.  So Friday morning I worked with 3 other Convergers and we chipped wood. I think that is what it called, basically we put small trees and limbs into this machine and it made it ‘chipped’ it (haha).  The fun thing about it was not the fact that we were picking up the trees and putting them thru the machine; it was why we were doing it.  The maintenance guys have been clearing some brush and trees along the road from the front of property to the back to make a 4 ft wide path for people to walk on.  It is partly about safety, but mainly it is so people can take walks together and connect with each other.  It made the job a lot more enjoyable because we knew we were doing something with a purpose!!!

Friday and Saturday night, I had the pleasure of working in the dining room learning to bus tables. It was cool to see the guests and serve them.   Also, yesterday I worked housekeeping.  I am not going to lie, I was not looking forward to it.  I had heard stories of people just sitting there and folding laundry, and I am the type of person who likes to be up and doing things.  So when we got there Renee, Meghan and I were taken to a room and taught how to make beds.  I was so excited to not be just sitting there folding. So instead of sitting there for 8 hours folding laundry, I got to make beds for 8 hours, we also got to listen to music while we did it so that made it more fun.  Let’s just say I’ve never made so many beds in my life.  I was so blessed to work with Renee and Meghan. I never knew that making beds could be so tiring, we were so dead afterwards. I am starting to learn to just go with the flow of things, because it is not worth worrying or dreading something because it could be completely different then what I expect.

Spiritual Leadership

For class are learning about Spiritual Leadership. We just read an article about the American Bible Society (ABS), a nonprofit organization who has had the opportunity to share the gospel and the love of Christ where it is desperately needed.  They have been around for 195 years and in 2011 they became the Best Christian Workplace. It was very interesting learning about how they got to that point. They had to reexamine what they were doing, why they were doing it, and how they were doing it.  Also, their purpose has always been “‘sharing the truth is not the same as ‘living’ the truth.  Unless we live the vision, we really don’t have a vision.” I love James 1:22, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” It is so true, we need to live the word.

ABS wants their employees to be successful, personal and professional.  They mentor and devote time into their best leaders.  “One of our generation’s greatest needs is the opportunity to interact with people who will openly and honestly share their journey of faith”.  I am so excited for this year to be mentored and to be able to be ‘strengthened in this journey’.

2 weeks down...

2.5 weeks done and so much has happened.  This past weekend we went to Camp Sandy Cove in West Virginia to help out at Man Camp which is a weekend for fathers and sons to get away.  That was quite the experience.  I cleaned like I have never cleaned before in my life (even compared to WOL).  We also helped out with different activities during Saturday and Sunday.  It was really cool to see during the worship times all of the men and sons singing and worshiping together.  It encourages me so much see those Men care enough about their relationship with their son to get away and spend the weekend together.

Today was the first day of classes, we learned more about the History of Sandy Cove, got a tour of the kitchen, and learned about opening and closing the pool.  One of the hardest things I did today was Stephen had us write our testimony in 10 minutes and it had to be 5 minutes long.  That was not the easiest thing for me to do.  And when we were doing that all I could think of is that God is just stretching me.  I knew these 9 months were going to be very stretching, but I never thought it would hit me in this little activity (especially since I've written my testimony out before several times). Also, tomorrow I am going to be giving my testimony to a small group of volunteers.  For those of you who know me well know that words/spelling and speaking in front of people are not my strongest thing, and for those who are getting to know me you will find that out more and more as you read this.  So just like today, tomorrow is going to be very stretching also, but thankfully I have God on my side.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Strength for the Journey

For those of you who do not know, I am participating in a 9 month internship program called Converge at Sandy Cove in North East, MD.  There are six of us participating in this program and each of us will be creating a blog so you can follow this journey we are on.  We've been here about a week now and let me tell you, this has been one busy and crazy week. I found this quote and I am kind of basing my blog on this quote because during this past week I've seen God give me the strength to get through this journey.

"Don't worry that you're not strong enough before you begin.  It is in the journey that God makes you strong."