We just finished up orientation week at camp. I got to meet all of our staff, and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. To be honest, anyone who comes into camp for the first time is overwhelmed. This feeling intensifies when a person has never seen what Pine Cove is like before. This was the case with most of our team's new staff. They must have been thinking, "Who are all of these insane people, and why are they always yelling?" Regardless of how they initially felt, they all came around and appear to be buying in. It is great when you work hard to break down walls and finally see them fall. There were an abnormal amount of new staff this year, and they had the chance to come together over the fact that none of them knew what was going on.
As far as the name game goes, I finished strong. I would estimate that I named close to 20 people in the last two weeks. This is largely due to the fact that we had so many people that needed names, and that all the new staff had never seen the name game before. Some more name highlights are: Slapioca Pudding, Kentucky Cried Kicken', Sweet Tea Pie, and I Believe I can Spy.
I always have health issues at camp. They are never very serious, but they always come in droves. This year is no exception. I really hope my mom does not read this and worry big time. The first ailment of the year is a mysterious bug bite on my arm. At first it was like a regular bite, but then my whole arm had an allergic reaction. I went to the doctor and she had no idea what it was, but gave me something for the reaction. It is never a great feeling when the doctor is clueless. The redness and swelling went away, but then two days later the area around the bite that was red expanded greatly and hurt. I am headed to the doctor today to get that fixed. Hopefully my status as a medical mystery will not continue.
Despite all the craziness, God has been so good to me this past week. I have been dog tired every day, and He has given me the strength and joy that I need. I had some great conversations with staff about everything from deep biblical theology to confession of sin. I love getting the opportunity to speak truth into staff that need it. There are multiple ways that people can react to camp, and the best is seeking help from their community and from the Lord. One thing that God is teaching me this week is that even though I do have some authority and responsibility, I am absolutely not in control. This is an issue that I struggle with, but I know that it is so good for me.
I read through Ephesians one morning this week and have been thinking a lot about a few verses I read.
Ephesians 4: 1-7
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Ephesians 6:7-8
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
This is what we call the Think Tank. Think Tank + Stank Face= Stink Tank.
One of our many seminars in the Cowan Center at UT Tyler.
No comments:
Post a Comment