Three of the seven weeks of my time
at Cedar Lake Ministries has finished!
It is a bit unreal to realize in a month, my time at CLM for the summer
will be over!
Camp Highlights:
Last week all of the summer staff arrived
full of excitement and energy. We
introduced ourselves to each other. The
PAs (Program Assistants), Program Directors, and I helped them move in and get
comfortable. We did some team building games.
Then we went on a tour of the property.
We were directed to pray over these areas and to take turns
praying. The first spot our PA leader
said “okay who wants to pray for this area?”
Not a sound…not a volunteer. The PAs
and I glanced at each other with the thought…oh boy! We pushed through the eye avoiding and awkward
silences and eventually staff person by staff person would volunteer and pray.
This week was full of team
building, planning, preparing, and training prior to the campers coming. We had lots of busy times and a full schedule. We were learning to be a team and to get to
know each other. Each of us shared our
testimony of how we came to know Jesus Christ as our Savior as well as what He
is doing in our lives currently. After
each person would share we would come around them and pray for them.
In the evenings we had a couple
come and share music with us that fostered a unique opportunity of worshiping
God and praying unlike any experience I have had. We then had our Program Director’s husband
come and share Scriptures and focus with us to help us in our mindsets about
ourselves being here at camp as well as how we should be preparing our hearts
towards the campers. These times were
essential.
The last night were given the
opportunity for corporate prayer as we felt lead. There was no longer awkward silence or eye
avoiding. The room was full of confident
and changed hearts that confidently and openly went to their Father in Heaven
through Jesus giving their thanksgivings, confessions, requests, and praise to
God! We all talked later about how neat
it was to see God change them so much in their boldness to pray. One young lady mentioned to me that she had
never really prayed out loud before. She
told me this after I thanked her for leading us in such a wonderful prayer!
All this to say—God is definitely
on the move in our hearts preparing us for this summer! We’ve had some physical bumps and bruises. Some ankle strains and sprains, some fire and
sun burns, some headaches and summer coughs, and lack of sleep.
We have had a great time of fun and
laughter as well! It has been such a joy
to be here already. I continue to thank
God so much for my time here.
Personal Life Highlights:
During this week I received and
email informing me I have been accepted to Dallas Theological Seminary for the
fall! I was able to speak with the
admissions counselor and she explained I would be able to take the majority of
this degree online so I do not need to pick up and move. This is a huge answer to prayer regarding
direction!
The work on my house to remove the
mold and preventative future steps has been completed and it looks great!
I received notification in the mail
that the job I interviewed for was offered to another person, so I will not be
offered that job in the fall. The other
places I have applied have not contacted me for an interview as of yet—so I
still do not have employment plans for the fall.
A few weeks ago our family bird
Smokey was injured badly. He almost lost
his life. If you know me you may know
that I’ve never been much of a big pet person.
Smokey is a little different. He
and I are twins by age—34. My two uncles
brought him back with them from the D.R. Congo when he was a baby. We’ve grown up with Smokey and he has learned
all of our sayings, voices, etc. and repeats them over and over! He has been so fun to have and his timing is
amazing sometimes. Almost every summer I
can remember my dad would set his cage out on the back porch in the
summers. Smokey loved this time of
hearing different birds, animals, and people!
The few weeks ago a wild animal somehow got a hold of Smokey reaching
into his cage and injured his right foot.
We believe it may have been a raccoon.
Poor Smokey lost a lot of blood and we honestly weren’t sure if he would
make it. My parents came to my house with
Smokey (who is wild and has never really been handled) wrapped in a towel and
being held. After 5 attempts we finally
found a vet who would take him to help.
We got him in and they were able to save him. He had surgery and they had to take off his
right leg. Amazingly he is healing and
adapting to this new life with just one leg.
My dad is working on adapting his cage so he can still move around as
well as learn to eat without holding his food as he has always done his whole
life. He is still full of quotes and
sounds and we think he will be okay.
During this time my parents and I continued to sing and talk about the
song His Eye is on the Sparrow. This
song is one of our favorites and it now rings true more than ever!
Prayer and Praise:
This week: Session 1: June 26-30;
Family Camp: June 30- July 2
This week my role will be camp
speaker. This will be my 5th
summer at CLM speaking and my 9th (I think) of summer camp speaking. This is a great time for me and I really love
this opportunity.
Praise:
·
We have an amazing crew of summer staff that
love God well and love each other well.
·
I continue to stay healthy and my friend and
chef here prepares me great Gluten Free food so I can be at my best and not get
sick (I have celiac disease).
·
I was accepted to Dallas Theological Seminary!
·
God has shown me that I should stay local and has even given me a ministry now and when I return (a few
of the gals working here this summer are local & have asked me to mentor
them in the fall.)
·
Laughter has been such good medicine for me—Giving
and receiving.
Prayer:
·
Pray that I will be open to the Lord as I write
the lessons and activities for the session times.
·
Pray also that I will be available to the
campers and staff to love them, listen, and have opportunities to spiritually
plant seeds, cultivate, and/or bring a harvest depending on the spiritual
season of each person.
·
Please continue to pray that all of our hearts
and minds will be softened and clear to hear the truth of God and respond
appropriately
·
Health and Safety as well as repeat to last week’s
prayer requests.
·
Finances:
o Job
for in the fall
o To
financially be able move back into my house in December
o Seminary
o House
repairs (the bill went on my credit card)
As you seek His kingdom and
righteousness--remember that God loves you, is not ashamed of you, and is
preparing a place for you in Heaven. We
see this example of truth in Hebrews 11:13-16.
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