Report 2

Record of Ministry Activities
6/29/09 4 hours training; 2 hours preparing Bible Ex
6/30/09 3 hours training; 1 hours preparing Bible Ex; 1 hour Planning; 1 hour Bible Study
7/1/09 2 hours training; 3 hours Site prep; ½ hour Bible Ex; 1 hour Planning; 1 hour Bible Study
7/2/09 1 hour Bible study; 3 hours Site Prep
7/3/09 1 hour practicing and leading Worship

Personal Reflection
This week was not as busy but we still focused on a lot of training. We spent time talking about helping hurting children, expanded on bearing good fruit in our lives, trained in our activity areas, did last minute cleanup of camp, etc. It is all quite blurred together in my head but I will try to focus on what stood out to me the most. When talking about hurting children we discussed pain and how much teenagers hold it in and don’t know how to deal with it. Many turn to cutting themselves. One thing that really surprised me was how cutting can be contagious, in that when others find out someone is doing it they like to try too. We also discussed in this session that often times we won’t be able to help campers, only God can. But, we can be there to listen because that is what they need the most. However, sometimes a camper’s problem may bring up things in our past that we have not dealt with. I have found this to be true in my life because I have come across campers whose parents are divorced. They hate having to choose between parents, they hate their step-parents and they feel emotionally abandoned by their parents. I know how they feel and I become angry because I know what its like to have to pay for the consequences of someone else’s sin. Thankfully, we have a great staff at camp that is great at listening and I can talk to them about it if the issue does come back up during the summer. And of course, there’s God, the ultimate comforter. I am thankful for my trials though, because I know God has used them will continue to use them.

During activity training we discussed facilitation at the ropes course. This is making up a scenario to motivate the campers to take the challenge and then debriefing after. I think this is a great skill for anyone who works with youth. Overall, this week was filled with last minute touch ups and fine tuning for next week when the campers come.

Spiritual Reflection
This week I began to struggle focusing on God and I noticed that I complained more about things in my head. However, this morning I felt great after devotions. I think it was because I was earnestly praying and I was praying out loud. This week I am working on humbly serving others and not for recognition. There is always a small part of me that wants others to notice my good works. But I am working on doing them because Jesus died for me. I also really want to be continually praying throughout the day. I want to remember to ask God for wisdom when problems arise instead of trying to handle them on my own. I am also trusting God more this week and I hope to carry that through to next week when I have my first campers.