Thinking Differently

So I received an email from my high school Physics teacher Mr. Voth, and was replying to it, but it was actually sounding good, so I am going to post part of what I was saying, cause well, it bears repeating I think…

He shared a quote from Jim Elliot that says, “Be All there. Pursue to the fullest every circumstance that is from God.”

Thinking about that quote, there was an opportunity last night where I was not connecting fully with my guys, I was picked for a part in a game I didn’t want to play, but having done it closed the gap, and was able to fully connect. God gave me an opportunity and I took it, and it was what I was looking for.

I am learning much as a counselor in practical uses for Bible knowledge, and total dependence on God. There has not been a day yet that I have not awoken and prayed for God’s wisdom and strength with which to survive the day. But the entire ride so far has been fun and definitely exciting.

I have one friend that quit being a counselor, and though at times I would wish to do the same, I feel sorry for him and what he is robbing himself of. Though it is hard, I wouldn’t do any other job this summer. God is gracious and He definitely is able to use anybody, even me.

The summer has passed the halfway point, but I have barely noticed. God is blessing and I feel I am right where I should be doing exactly what I should be. Its a nice feeling.

So here I am in another week. I have 20 campers and two co-couselors. Fun stuff. Mostly they listen, but I have a few who don’t at all.

This is my day off, and I find myself tired but relaxed. I am definitely going to sleep some this afternoon.

Saturday we officially passed the halfway mark of the summer, tis all downhill from here.

Life goes on much as it has this past four weeks.

Sorry, I am too tired to post much.

Catcha later.

Lean have been my postings of late. The campers leave, and the counselors linger. STC perish in the heat of battle, and many are the wounded that walk the fields of camp.

Its been a rough two weeks. Rotating was fun but hard cause I didn’t know the kids at all, but it was great being able to leave at 9pm every night and sleep in peace.

This week past I was with sherrifs (ages 8-10). And that was cool cause they went to bed early and had less attitude than the older rangers, only trouble being that they don’t listen any better and take forever doing anything. Five came foward for salvation on Sunday, and I managed to have a kinda fun week despite kids decorating the dining hall with vomit, getting hurt, staying in the health centre, going to the hospitol, etc. Praise God there was no bed wetting!!

Highlight of the week: Rachel Busenitz

She came up from Camp of the Woods on Tuesday for our mutual day off. I showed her around the BI/Ranch property, left at 11am for lunch and hungout at the Island. Around 3pm we took the boat from the Island to the Inn and Nate got us into Hawaiian night for dinner. Awesome stuff. After that we walked over to the Schroon Lake beach and watched the night grow old. Lots of fun times and good talking. Pictures to follow on my day off, hopefully.
That one day made up for this entire bad week. God was soo good. Still is, actually.

Another week approaches and so do the campers. Pray for me still, I need it.

Those of you that know me know that I love to make amateur films. So here is that latest. Enjoy.

WOL JAM

I am trying to buy a real Digital Video camera, all the film seen here was taken on a Canon Powershot A95 still camera. I take donations by PayPal.(Heads up to my parents, it is about 10MB.)

Today is Sunday, and will be all day. Scattered weather predicted for today. 100% chance of anything happening.

Ok, now that that is finished, I am rotating this week. This means that yesterday and today I have off, and I work when other counselors have days off during the week. Will be a change. Not much to report since my last day off.

BUT, I HAVE NEW PICTURES!! (big cheers from mother and grandmother)

Head right over to my flickr site PHOTOS HERE

Have fun with that, and enjoy God’s blessings today. Love you all.

~the StormRider~

This Sunday past, my Lord gave me the privilege of leading one of my campers, Sun Kim (aka Brian) to Him. I was walking back from swimming all afternoon and took the opportunity to speak with him about spiritual matters. He had a wrong view of salvation, and I was able to lead him down the shining road and he accepted Christ. Now I watch him and with joy and eagerness he listens in Bible hour and I can see a whole new spirit in him. I weep for the greatness of God and the honor it is to me to council. A new brother I have, and eternity to spend with him.

This week has been good, and this entry will show the overlap of W(eek)1 and W(eek)2.

Since last Tuesday I got to hang out alot with my campers. Wednesday is the CampFire meeting, when we have a dedication service around a massive campfire and encourage our campers to dedicate themselves wholly to God. This wednesday past, not only did many of my guys dedicate themselves, but I did as well. Some things I was holding back on, and I gave them fully to the Lord.

I spent time with camper parents alot last week, cause they were staying at the Inn, and came down often to hang out. Because of that, God may work in mighty ways. One mom, after hearing about my life and family missionary emphasis, said that she wanted to check into gifting me some Frequent Flyer miles to help with a visit to PNG for Christmas. Don’t know if anything will come of it, but it is something.

I hated to say good bye to those campers.

This week, I have 15 campers (and two co-couselors). We only had three most of Saturday (when they come) because our large group from Fredricksburg, VA, broke an axel on their van on the way up. They eventually did show, and the guys filled our cabin.

They don’t exactly listen and obey well, but there are few who make this week a joy, among the Brian, who I told you about.

Some about the activities we do, on Saturday night we have Tug-A-Bus. The campers are split into Blue and Red teams, and each team of guys pulls the opposite of girls and vice versa. Ton of fun. The Red guys (whom I have this week) pulled the bus in 30 seconds. Alas, the girls did it in 29 seconds. At least we completely schooled the Blue team.

Another game is Royal Flush. A girl and guy counselor (king and queen) from each team are chosen to be wrapped on toilet paper, and the opposite teams have to soak them. The team with the dryest king and queen wins (we won), but in the process me and two other counselors chucked our unit leader into a barrel of water. They had set up barrels of water at midfield and the kids were to get cups, fill with water, run and soak, and come back to refill. Our unit leader was standing by a barrel passing out water balloons, so we decided to get him. Kyle, the UL, is slightly shorter than me; it was so funny to see him up to his chest in the barrel. Good times.

Today is my day off, and I am headed to Walmart to get a USB cable so that I can download pics from my camera and maybe email them to you. Sleep is good too.

Connect later, love to all.

**StormRider, signing off**

I walk this crazed world
Sidewalks at angles line the road
Sideways I tread, and my vision flips
I focus on the Horizons in the distance
Lightning strikes close to me
The drums beat in my heart in my head
The pace of my life quickens
This is the moment, the time
The meaning I have been waiting for
I smile a grim smirk at Fear
And his brother Trepidation
They know better than to attack me
Not for my strength
But for that of the GodMan who’s silent tread
Roars in the silence of our passage
I feel powerful and invincible
Dead-raising power resides within me
And holds me in an aura of God
The grey streets, crumpled paper
Chain link and barbed wire
Broken, grimy windows and hopeless cityscapes
Are no match for my candle
A lighthouse I have become
And the destitute are coming
Drawn to the Light beacon in me
All around the shadows shatter
As my Light shines
Hope