Support Day

Technical summer staff training is just about done. Today is the last official day. The past week has been both fun and challenging for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed working around the Ranch mowing grass, fixing sprinklers, and much more. At the same time, it has been hard at times not being with the rest of the summer staff. However, it was great to get to spend some more time with them over the past couple days and find out that I was missed as much as I missed them. The community here is great and I am certain that it will be needed this summer as we all go in different directions on different trips and seek rest when we come back together.

My first trip! By not being part of raft training I was able to fill a gap in a short trip last weekend. I was on food staff which means I prepared meals and got gear together for the group. I worked with Marji and together we fed the 20 some kids and leaders. When the graduating 8th graders arrived at the Ranch I didn’t know what to think. They seemed absolutely crazy. As I spent a little time around them though I got to know them and realized that they were just normal kids. It was fun seeing them work together on the challenge course as they came together and listened to one another’s ideas. The group had a deep bond together and could move from being off their rockers to going deep in a group setting really quickly. It was great to hear how students were holding others accountable in their faith and to get a snapshot of the community they had together. They ended their trip by going rafting and from what I heard had a blast. 

Even though I did not have a chance to sit down with a student and have a good conversation, I can only hope that Christ was seen through me in those kids. That my actions would show Christ. Please pray for the kids as they go into high school and continue to find their identity. Pray that they would find it in Christ and that they would keep walking strong in their faith.

So maybe you’re wondering why this is titled Support Day...maybe you’re not, but I’ll let you know. Today is a support day for me. It is a day to update my supporters, work on raising support, and basically work on anything support related. That is what I am up to today. I am still working on the website and trying to keep it updated. 

I’ll leave you with this today. Do not forget that your life is a ministry. The relationships you build with coworkers, the people you talk to in the grocery store, your interaction with family. It is very often hard to act Christ-like in all of these situations, but I pray that you will “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galations 6:9-10) There is no ministry that is more important than any other. What I am doing here is not more important than your daily life. So  it is my desire that we all live our lives as living sacrifices. Thank you for all that you do. For your prayers, for your own ministries, and for being an example for others.