Report 4

Record of Ministry Activities
7/12/09 2 hours practicing and leading Worship, .5 hour devotions, 2 hours initiative games and rules
7/13/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour Bible Ex, 3 hours planning All camp songfest, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour games, songfest, message, ½ hour devotions
7/14/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour Bible Ex, 3 hours All camp, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour skits, ½ hour devotions
7/15/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour Bible Ex, 3 hours All camp, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour games, 1 hour songfest/message, ½ hour devotions
7/16/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour Bible Ex, 3 hours All camp, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions
7/17/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour Bible Ex, 3 hours All camp, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour songfest/message, ½ hour devotions
7/18/09 ½ hour Bible Study, ½ hour Goodbye Circle

Personal Reflection
This week was definitely more of a challenge. I had to deal with more conflict than usual, which included gossip, homesickness, name-calling, etc. Many of our girls were from the city so we figured that may be why. But I do not want to stereotype them at the same time. I realized how important it is to have conflict resolution skills as a youth minister. Conflict happens all the time because we are all human; it happens more so when we have to live in tight quarters for more than a day. So what I did this week was pull girls aside and explained to them that they needed to talk out their problems instead of running away from them like they were trying. I asked for both sides of the story and made sure they weren’t interrupted. Then I asked each of them what they did to contribute to the problem. Once they realized that they were able to apologize and move on. I also was reminded of the importance of discipline this week. There were times that I did not want to discipline because I just wanted to be able to have fun with the campers. But I realized that in order to have more fun with them in the long run, they needed to be corrected for their wrongdoings. Plus, God does discipline us out of love so we should try to do the same for our youth. In addition, I learned the importance of balancing my time when I was especially busy with my all camp committee this week. I sometimes worry that I will be a work-aholic as a youth minister, yet I am usually pretty good at making sure I get enough sleep. It is just that I do not want to give of myself too much or build too close of relationships with the youth.

Spiritual Reflection
This week I became worried that I was losing my zeal for ministering to my campers. I did notice that there were times I forgot to pray before things and they didn’t go as smoothly as they could have. At the same time, I did pray for even the smallest things and it made a huge difference in the end. I prayed when a camper was refusing to share something with me when she was crying and I needed to know why. When I did she just came out with it and I was able to comfort her and calm her down. I have also realized how much easier it is to be close to God at camp and I am worried that I will slowly begin to lose it as the summer goes on and as I go home. My goal this week is to make sure I am still giving my all and seeking after God. I also want to spend more time in His word than I have in the last few days.