Week 4, Tuesday

Well, week 4 has begun. We are back to jr campers (8 -12 yrs old) and the 'silliness' is back. I like jr camp.....they enjoy it when you dance, sing funny, tickle them, etc....they LOVE silly!

Today in chapel, the speaker taught his lesson in a 'silly' way. He was telling the story of Jonah and the whale. First he and his team sang a song they wrote about Jonah.....then he told the story, in a lively way. THEN, he wanted the campers to get an idea of what it would be like to be in the belly of a whale. So he brought in a HUGE black trash bag (it was taller than me)....he filled it with 'slime' (mixture of glue, borax, and other stuff), several cans of sardines, and topped it off with a few cans of tuna fish. It was DISGUSTING! And I have an easy gag reflex! And to make the whole thing even more disgusting, they added a camper to the bag and "shook" him around....and campers actually volunteered to do it!!!

So, needless to say, they emerged from the bag covered in nastiness and smelling awful. It was quite the picture. I think the kids got the idea and realized that the 3 day ride Jonah got in the belly of the big fish was not exactly pleasant.

But the one thing that really stuck out to me is the smell....it was pretty bad. And it made me think about what our sin must "smell" like to God. It's said that our sacrifice and obedience is a sweet fragrance to Him....our sin must be the opposite. That demonstration in chapel made it very real to me. As the smell permeated the chapel, the thought of the 'stench' of my disobedience and rebellion against God was convicting.....powerful picture.

My prayer throughout the day was that I would be a sweet fragrance to my Savior....even in the little things....like not getting upset when a kid spilled their drink on me.....giving up my bucket at the waterfight when a camper asked for it (I REALLY wanted to keep it and get some people wet!).....willingly being a mediator for a dispute when all I really wanted to do was go to bed....I pray through all of it the Lord was pleased and the fragrance of obedience and sacrifice was a sweet smell to Him.

The End of Week 3

The week is finally over....this one seemed longer and more tiring. I am SOOOOO enjoying our lazy weekend....I got lots of sleep, got caught up on housework, and spent time away with the family. Looking forward to a night at home :)

From what I can tell, we had about 20 kids make decisions for Christ. I don't know how many were salvation decisions and how many were rededications, but I am thankful for the changes made because of the love of Christ.

One thing that was stressed in the chapels this week was about making a choice concerning God. The speakers spoke mostly to the kids that were 'straddling the fence', as he put it. He challenged them to make a choice....you are either for God or against God. I agree that we need to make a stand for our beliefs....it was a good challenge. But my opinion is that there really is no fence....we are either for God or against Him...no in between. When we choose NOT to follow Christ, we are making a stand against Him. There really is no 'neutral' in this area.

I saw many kids making choices this week. As our worship team played songs, I saw several teens in the back, snickering, making fun of the people on stage singing, laughing at the motions to the song....in my mind I saw a direct and blatant choice being made. They were making a stand against God. In the same room, on the other side, I saw a young girl who I've known all her life singing praises to the Lord, hand lifted high, eyes closed.....her choice was easy to see too. She loved her Lord, loved worshiping Him and was having an intimate moment with Him at that time.....her choice was for God.

I know lots of kids left this week without making a choice to follow God....they left knowing the consequences of their decision...knowing they are choosing death over life. That breaks my heart. Every week I have to watch kids leave, knowing I may never see them again....not knowing if they will one day turn their hearts to God and choose Him. That is hard. But like I said in an earlier blog, we have to be content with possibly just planting the seed....not knowing if there will be a harvest later. We all want to be the ones that bring in the harvest....to see the bountiful fruit of our labors. But it's not always the case....in fact, it's usually the exception.

This week I am feeling the discouragement of it all....seeing more kids leave 'rejecting' God than those that accepted Him. But the Lord is slowly bringing comfort and peace to my heart...reminding me that he is faithful and His Word is truth. That is where I am trying to rest this weekend.

This ministry is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything.....the privilege to be able to daily and openly give the Gospel and teach the Word is amazing. But it's not always easy....and it's often exhausting. I'm so thankful that I have a God that meets all my needs and fills in the 'gaps' for me. There is rest in Him!!!

Week 3, day 4

I didn't get to blog yesterday....I was still sick, down with a stomach flu....went to bed early.

But it's been a good couple days despite my setback of illness. The teens here this week seemed to be really enjoying themselves. There have been a couple incidents with behavior issues, but overall, it's been a productive and fruitful week. The Lord is definitely working in lives here and it's so awesome to be a part of it all, to witness it firsthand.

After skits tonight, several kids stayed behind to talk to counselors and staff.....I sat in the back, praying, watching.....i could feel the heaviness of the issues that these kids carry....the room seemed heavy. But by the end, as the campers slowly left the chapel, I could feel the air grow lighter.....I knew many of them were walking out "new creatures". It was wonderful to see the change.

Even as I type this, everyone is at the campfire (I'm home because Wes wanted to go, so I'm home w/ the kids)....they are sharing about the changes that have occured in their lives this week....and although I'm not there to hear them share, I know the Lord is being honored by their words and their testimony.

Thank you Lord for the power of your Word, and how it changes lives.....
Amen

Week 3, day 2

I'm sick today.

Up all night with some kind of stomach bug.

I'm too busy to be sick....

at least that's my opinion....

guess God has a different opinion.

Although I was still 'around' all day and was mostly involved, I was not really 'into' it. But, even from a somewhat outsider perspective, I can see the week is going well so far. We have a pretty good group of campers. There have been a couple of small incidents, but overall, they seem excited to be here and interested to learn the things of God.

I'm home tonight, missing chapel, free time and the concert scheduled for later tonight. I don't really see the point in it, but for some reason it's where God wants me....I won't fight it, I'll just submit to it and wait for it to pass. Guess I should be thankful for the slower pace, right? I'll keep reminding myself of that, even while I can hear the massive rock concert going on in the chapel....breathe in, breathe out.....

Tomorrow is a new day.

Week 3, day 1

Well, it's the beginning of the third week of camp....120 campers! It's teen camp and that always brings a different dynamic....different set of issues. But I think we are ready, equipped to face the issues that will come up, ready to bring Christ to these kids.
Teen camp is also different in other ways.....more basketball and volleyball, later nights, more 'in depth' chapels.....so in some ways, teen week is more tiring than other weeks. I know for myself, I am going to have to seek the Lord's strength and endurance....I can already feel it and it's only the first day! But thankfully, we serve a God with an endless supply of all that we need.....it's a bottomless resource....we just need to come to Him, ready to receive...confident that He will meet those needs. I am there today....knowing that i am coming to the end of my strength, endurance, wisdom, even patience....

It's going to be a good week....I'm looking forward to all that God is going to do in the lives of these camper....and in MY life, too!!! :)

Week 2, day 5

Week 2 is just a few hours from 'officially' being over.....by the end of breakfast tomorrow all the campers will be on their way home. Some of them will still "smell" of camp (those who chose NOT to take a shower all week)...some will still be singing worship songs,.....some will tell their parents about the cool "treasure hunt" we went on this week....some will show off the awards they won. Many are going home as new creatures, having accepted Christ as their Savior...praise the Lord! But my prayer is that ALL will be going home with something just as special....a deeper knowledge of God and a better understanding of His Word. I am realistic that not everyone will make a decision to accept Christ...that would be wonderful, but it doesn't usually happen. But hopefully those that did not chose to give their life to Christ, will at least go home with a better understanding of who He is and how much He loves them. We don't always get to see the "fruit" of our labor, sometimes we are just the beginning, the planting of the seed....sometimes we are just doing the watering.....and although the final product is not often seen in those steps, they are still very important. There is great patience needed in this ministry....that has taken me a while to learn. I want to see fruit right away....I used to be troubled when I would see kids leave here having NOT made a decision for Christ. But I have come to a place of peace with it...knowing that it is often a process....and I have learned to find joy in being a part of that process. The planting and the watering are just as important as being there for the harvest. What a privilege to have ANY part in presenting the Gospel!

Lord, help us not take for granted our part in Your work here....thank You for the many kids who did make the decision to give their life to You....thank You for allowing us to witness lives being changed...and thank You for allowing us the opportunity to plant seeds and water them....please don't tarry in bringing about the finished product....a life surrendered to You! Amen

Week 2, day 4

"I've heard the name Jesus, but I didn't know who He was....I've never heard of any of the people in the Bible....and I have never been a church or a chapel."
That was the testimony of one of the campers tonight at the campfire....an 11 year old girl, who before this week knew nothing about the Bible, about the love of Christ and about the mercy of a Heavenly Father. She had never heard of sin, as described through the Word, and of course, had never heard of forgivness and redemption.

When I hear a testimony like that, it makes me even more grateful and appreciative of the ministry here at BABR. It's almost hard to believe that anyone living in this country could actually make it this long without really hearing anything more than the name of Jesus. But it is a very common occurance out here....and thankfully Broken Arrow Bible Ranch is able to be light in a dark world, to be salt, to be a city on a hill.

There were many testimonies tonight....so many kids standing and saying that for the first time, they finally understood the Gospel and what Christ did on the cross for them....they finally saw the depths of their sin and their need for a Savior. God is so good....and He is so faithful to give us such a wonderful staff....a staff that desires to see these campers give their life to the Lord...staff that are careful to study the Word so that they can better pass on the knowledge to the kids that come across their path.
I spent time in prayer with one of the staff today, and to hear her desire to clearly and effectively present the Gospel was such a blessing to me.

Thank you Lord, for such a wonderful group of believers....thank you for opening the eyes and hearts of the campers....thank you for the power of the Word....and most of all, thank you for the sacrifice you made so we could be here today with Good News to tell these campers.

Week 2, Day 3

Another Wednesday has come and gone.

The highlight of the day (night) for the campers on this day is always Mission Impossible...they LOVE that game. And thankfully there were not many injuries (just one girl that fell into a cactus). The kids love the excitement of playing in the woods at night....they don't even mind being tied up....it's all about the staying up late and playing in the dark.

That's the campers highlight of the day....mine is what happened tonight after chapel, when about a dozen kids stayed behind after the message to talk with their counselors. I don't know what happened with each kid, if they accepted Christ or not, but I do know that no matter what, walls were broken down tonight and they stepped a little closer toward the open arms of a loving Savior. They had questions, concerns, hurts and needs.....and thankfully, our staff, through the Word of God, could help with those issues.

It has been a good week so far....not too many problems.....and there has been much "breaking through" with a lot of the campers. I sat in staff meeting and heard the counselors share the burdens of their cabins....and when I saw some of those campers stay behind tonight, it was such a moment of praise to my God.
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to use your Word and these counselors and wranglers to meet the many needs of the campers here.....we look forward to seeing what the rest of the week holds for us!

Week 2, day 2

Tuesdays are my busiest day....I won't go into the long list, but it's non-stop. My only 'sit' time is my drive to town to get the pictures developed. I have 25 minutes where I just drive....I go alone (on purpose) and I crank the music up.....just me and God, driving down the road. Although it's a quick, hectic trip, I do enjoy it. Just my few minutes to get away....no one calling my name, no one asking questions, no dancing and having to be silly....just the 'quiet' me. I don't see that 'me' very often in the summer.
Today's drive was exceptionally good....just what I needed. I put in my favorite cd and just sang (although I don't 'sing', it's more of a 'make a joyful NOISE to the Lord' kinda thing!). It was a good time with my Savior. Sometimes I feel like I spend so much time praying (praying for staff, praying for campers, praying WITH staff and campers) that I seldom get the time to just sing with my Savior....I almost feel like I am out of 'words' lately so it was nice to just not have to think of what to say next....just sing.
And tonight the music in chapel was good....although I wasn't alone in my van, it was still a sweet time of worship.....although I was surrounded by almost 200 other people, it still felt like just me and my Savior.
It was a good reminder to me that although I often feel like I NEED my alone time, that I NEED to get away...I really don't. God is faithful to give me exactly what I need.....if I need those sweet moments of fellowship with Him, I can have it anywhere....in my van, walking to the snack shop, stolen moments of prayer, and even in a crowded room of rowdy kids!
Thank you Lord for all that you give to me....for ALL my moments....and for reminding me of your promise to always draw me close.

Week 2, day 1

Well, another week of camp has begun.....it's off to a good start. Every week is different.....different workteam, different campers, some different staff, different dynamics....but thankfully we have the same God. We have access to the same strength, the same wisdom, the same peace....consistency is good in this ministry that is ever changing in all other aspects. There is comfort in serving a 'constant' God.

We have just a few more campers this week than we had last week.....we ended up with about 121. I'm looking forward to another fruitful week of camp. We have spent the day playing carnival games, singing songs, watching skits, eating spaghetti, playing red light/green light, chasing campers through the woods, listening to great teaching and enjoying some free time together....all in attempts to get to know the campers better. So far so good :)

Please continue to pray for us this week....we have many, many opportunities ahead of us...pray we do not miss a single one!

This is Afton (middle)....she has been coming here since she was 8 years old...she FINALLY was voted camper of the week. I will never forget her face when we announced her name....this very smile stayed plastered across her face the rest of the night.....she was beautiful!!!! :)

Uncondiitional love

NOW, camp is officially over.....breakfast has been served, the campers are gone, the workteam just pulled away headed for home, and the camp is clean. There is a good feeling knowing that a particular task is completed. Although we have an 8 week "task" before us, week one is done and with great success....no real complaints, only words of thanksgiving to a faithful and loving God.
I witnessed something today that reminded me of that faithfulness and love. I was standing in the lodge looking out the window....watching all the parents reunite with their kids. I saw one camper in particular, one that had been very "energetic" (to put it nicely) all week, walking out of the lodge. He made his way through a group of workteam people and finally found his parents. The reunion was sweet.....I stood there watching as they sandwiched him in a big hug...then the Dad picked him up in a big embrace....the Mom took her turn wrapping her arms around him, running her fingers through his messy hair, holding his face to get a good look at him. I watched as he showed them the rocket he had made and what looked like him describing how it had launched and fell back to earth. They hugged more, never stopped smiling, then the Dad picked him up like a sack of potatoes and carried him off, laughing to the car. It really was a sweet moment to watch. And in that moment I was reminded of a greater love....the love of our heavenly Father.....a love that is unconditional and lasting. Although I was slightly glad to see this camper leave, these parents were even more excited to see him come home. They don't really care that he had been non-stop activity, worn his counselor out, talked constantly and had and endless supply of energy...all they cared about is that he was home, that they could wrap their arms around him, that they could shower him with love and attention. Their love is unconditional....they see their son as their most precious gift, their sweetest blessing. No matter how others saw him, they saw him through the eyes of faithful love.
I am SO glad my heavenly Father sees me through those eyes.....He doesn't see me as others often see me...flawed, cranky, selfish, etc. He sees me as His prized possession, His redeemed creation, His precious child.
Thank you Lord, for continually giving me glimpses of You through this ministry....thank you for your faithful and unconditional love.

Day 5....end of week one :)

Well, the first week of camp is over (minus a breakfast in the am). Overall, it has been a great week....God is so faithful and good....He uses us in spite of ourselves. I'm amazed at how much work is accomplished through such broken vessels.....it's very humbling to be a part of it all.

It is so neat to see the sweet relationships that are made during a week's time. When the kids first attended chapel on Monday night, there was a slight hesitancy, a slowness to get involved....but tonight, standing in the back of the chapel and watching almost ALL the kids cram on stage for the rowdy songs and wrap arms around each other during the slower songs, I could see the depths of the fellowship they now shared. My prayer is that these kids have felt loved this week....that they have found a place where they feel safe....that they, as a result of being here, will desire the things of the Lord more. My prayer also is that the staff got a taste of truly serving the Lord, putting aside "self", and seeing the fruits of their labor. What a privilege to be a part of this ministry....to be able to teach the Word daily and to often see the results of that teaching. And to do it ALL while playing big ball volleyball, riding go-carts, eating sno-cones and making crafts......I love my job!
Thank you Lord for working out and showing me the plan for my life that led me to this place...I am truly blessed!

Day 4 of camp

Well, it's after midnight and I can barely keep my eyes open, but I wanted to at least give you a little taste of my day....
actually, it was pretty rough....it seemed that everywhere I turned, someone was giving me an attitude or snapping at me.....I was getting pretty "done" with it, just trying to hang on til the end of the day so I could just sleep it off and begin again.
The day was almost over, we were all at the campfire and the testimonies had just begun. I always enjoy this time of the week, if I can move past the tiredness. About 4 campers in to testimony time, a little girl got up and gave a very brief, but convicting statement. She simply said, "I am so thankful for Broken Arrow Bible Ranch....the only time I hear about God is when I'm at VBS and here." As she made her way back to her seat, I was struck by the reality of her words.....for several of the campers that come here, we are the only "Jesus" they see....very possibly only 1 or 2 times a year do they get the opportunity to sit under spiritual teaching and study the Word. In some ways that puts a great deal of pressure on me, but on the other hand, it brings great joy at the privilege we have here, to share the Word, teach the Truth and just love on these kids. It really puts all the "petty" stuff in perspective and brings to the forefront the true meaning as to why we are here. I am humbled and blessed to be a part of it.
Thank you Lord, for working in my life to bring me here, to this work, among these people....help me to never take it for granted, but to daily appreciate the opportunities you have given me.

Day 3 of camp

Still plowing through the first week. For many it is filled with "firsts"....first cabin clean up, first water fight, first night of Mission Impossible, etc....there seems to be lots of joy and anticipation in the "firsts". Makes for a fun week of camp :) If only that air of "firsts" could stay all summer....if only the enthusiasm could remain til the end. But unfortunately, the fatigue will set in, the tiredness will come, and everyones patience will wear thin....our faces will look more weary, our steps will be heavier and our smiles will be more forced....it's just the nature of this kind of job. The new will be replaced with the mundane. So, for now, I'm going to enjoy the excitement of the first week...praying it will last a little longer. I am thankful that even though we can easily grow weary of 'doing good', the Lord's faithfulness is new every morning! That should give us all reason to rejoice in our ministries. Please pray that I will seek the "newness" of God with each new day.....onward!!!

Day 2 of camp

Well, there were only 85 kids signed up to come to camp this week, but we ended up with 115...praise the Lord! That's just more opportunities to share the Word and the love of God. There is an excitement in the air, both from the staff and the campers....everyone seems geared up for a great week of camp. Although the temperatures are at record highs, it hasn't seemed to damper the mood here....everyon is just pushing through the heat and making the best of it. Praise the Lord for new (and much bigger) swamp coolers in our chapel.....it has made a HUGE difference!
My little Hannah is among the campers this week....wow, my kids are growing up! She absolutely LOVES camp and would go every week if I let her.
We have a great workteam this week...very entergetic and lively....eager to work....that makes my job so much easier. They are from Tulsa, OK and several have been here before....again, makes my job easier :)
Although yesterday was the first day of camp, today is the first full schedule day and still a learning process for our staff....many will be lost and several will be tired already....pray as we work out the 'kinks'. Today is extremely busy for me as well....I have to squeeze a whirlwind trip to town in there sometime to get the pictures developed...it works if everything goes smoothly....one "obstacle" during that trip and things will get messy if I"m not back in time....praying for smooth sailing!! :)
Pray for us....pray for our staff, pray for the campers, pray for me.....it takes much work running a camp this size. But thankfully, God is the one that is ultimately in control!

Camp Begins

I'm going to ignore the fact that this is the first time I've blogged in 6 months and just "start" again ;)
Today is an eventful day for me.....first of all, it's my anniversay.....13 years of marriage....wow, doesn't seem like it's been that long! Secondly, it's Peter and Hannah's birthday....it wasn't planned that way, but 4 years after we said "I do", we were saying "oh my!" as Peter and Hannah came into the world. My life has been a whirlwind ever since!
But the event that is taking up most of my time today is that it's the first day of camp. We have been preparing for this day for several weeks now. We've been making repairs and improvements all over the camp, we have made menus and ordered truckloads of food, we have recruited a great staff, spent the last week training them and preparing them for ministry.....and now the day has arrived!
In less than 5 hours this once 'quiet' camp will be over-run with more than 100 campers, all eager to have fun, ride horses, shoot rifles, eat lots of candy, ride go-carts and play lots of basketball.....but hopefully, they will also be eager to hear the Word of God, sing songs of praise and worship, and possibly make decisions that will change their lives. We are excited to see all that the Lord is going to do over the next 5 days....please be in prayer for the ministry here. It's the perfect setting for God to do an amazing work among these Native American youth.

I HOPE to keep an ongoing update here....I failed at that goal last year, but hopefully will do much better this time :)