Report 8

Record of Ministry Activities
8/9/09 ½ hour Worship, 2 hours practice/lead worship, 1 hour games, ½ hour devotions
8/10/09 ½ hour divisional meeting
8/11/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Tuck Shop, 1 hour Bible Ex, 2 hour cookout, 1 hour ice cream social/worship, ½ hour devotions
8/12/09 ½ hour divisional meeting, 1 hour tuck shop, 1 hour Archery, 1 hour games, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions
8/13/09 1 hour supervise cabins, 1 hour Bible Ex, ½ hour devotions
8/14/09 1 hour horse show, 1 hour drama performance, 1 hour meet father/daughters, 1 hour games
8/15/09 1 ½ hour cookout, 1 hour Worship, 1 hour High ropes, 1 hour low ropes
8/16/09 1 hour hiking, all day close down camp and go home

Personal Reflection
This week was a bit different than the rest. We got a new schedule everyday instead of just one for the week. We had mini-camp for 3 days and then Performing Arts and Equestrian camp the whole week at the same time. The Fathers and Daughters came in the middle of the week and then a new group of them on the weekend. I had girls again this week. It was a bit hard going back to the younger girls after being with the older ones for a week. But I just had to remember that we would not have the older girls at camp if no one was there to minister to them when they are young. I was very tired this week too and I wanted to enjoy it as best I could but it was hard. I kept complaining and I had to keep telling myself to shut my mouth. I also didn’t get as much time to spend with my girls because they were busy working on the play they were going to perform at the end of the week. So it was hard to really get to know them and learn to love them. But I tried to do my best at the meals and be enthusiastic and goofy with them. We also had many close down jobs throughout the week. I had to scrub the scum off the bottom of a sailing dock. Talk about gross. I was reminded that Ministry does not always involve preaching and teaching people. There’s the dirty work to be done too. I wanted to take this opportunity to work willingly at whatever I do and not complain and just get the job done. I even went to scrub by myself when it was my free time. I wanted to actually do something even when I wasn’t obligated to. I want to remember this so that I can remember to minister to others even when it’s not my “job.” I want to take this attitude with me in my ministry. But I do need to be careful not to overdo it and learn to balance my time wisely too. There is a time to rest too, and that is what I am going to do when I get home for sure.

Spiritual Reflection
I was tired this week. Not just physically but spiritually as well. I knew Satan was trying to weasel his way in too because of this one lady I had to work with. She was just volunteering for the week and her daughter was in my cabin. She kept commenting on how I was grumpy and unenthusiastic. It hurt because I was trying my best to not be those things and I really didn’t think I was. But my friend reminded me that she was fresh and we had been there 8 weeks already. She told me not to let her get to me and to just keep depending on God for strength; just give Him what I have left and let Him do the rest. After that, the rest of the week went really well. And I had to repeat those same words to my friend later when she was feeling the same. But we made it through and God was still glorified. My goal that week was to finish strong like it said in my devotional book. Because those people that we remember most are those who finished the race strong and did not give up no matter how tired they were (Acts 20:24 and 2 Cor. 4:1). I also learned to listen to God better this week. I did not want to go home when camp was done. I wanted to hitch rides to different peoples houses. But I knew that if I did not go home I would not be able to accomplish the goals I made last week. It took a lot of strength to obey God once I knew the answer. I hope to keep listening for His voice consistently throughout my life because He knows what is best for me and I want to follow His perfect will.

Report 7

Record of Ministry Activities

8/2/09 2 hours practicing/leading Worship, 4 hours getting acquainted w/ campers, ½ hour devotions

8/3/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 hour planning Bible Ex, 1 hour games, ½ hour message, ½ hour devotions

8/4/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 hour Planning Bible Ex, 1 hour supervise game area, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 2 hour cookout, 1 hour Ice cream social/worship, ½ hour devotions

8/5/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 hour Planning Bible Ex, 1 hour supervise game area, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour games, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions

8/6/09 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 hour Planning Bible Ex, 1 hour supervise game area, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour counselor hunt, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions

8/7/09 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 hour Planning Bible Ex, 1 hour supervise game area, 1 hour high ropes, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour sharing time, ½ hour devotions

8/8/09 ½ hour Bible Study, ½ hour Goodbye circle

Personal Reflection

This week was probably my favorite ever. I really enjoyed being with the older girls. It was easier to share my heart with them because I knew they would understand what I was talking about more and be able to relate to it more. I also think it was easier because I was their age (high school) when I became saved so I had more experiences of my own to share about the things they were struggling with. I really feel like this group took in all that I taught and really learned to apply Scripture to their lives instead of just reading it. They were encouraging to me because they were so young yet had a great desire to draw closer to God. There were times however, that I was not sure how much I should share. Sometimes if we share too much they may think I am more their friend than an authority figure. And I noticed that the longer campers stay at camp, even if I am not their counselor, the clingier they become. I don’t know how I can prevent this because in the Ministry I know that I will be with the youth for a long time and I want to make sure there is the proper space between us. I want to know what the proper space actually is too.

 

Spiritual Reflection

This week I felt that I really relied on God for everything. I really trusted Him and let Him speak through me. On Monday I shared my message on purity again but I was able to go deeper. I felt like God spoke through me all week because I would come out with these great ideas and thoughts that I didn’t even have written in my plans. It was great. I felt that the Holy Spirit was truly flowing through me. And at the end of the week, one of the girls whispered in my ear that I was her most influential counselor. This was extremely encouraging, yet I need to remember that it was not me at all, it was God. Also, this week one of my friends was struggling with humility and the fact that I had changed a lot this summer but she didn’t feel like she had. That right there almost made me prideful but I needed to remember that I did not do any of it. It was by God’s grace. But I am thankful that I can now be a better spiritual leader for those who aren’t under me in the Lord. God has really taught me some things this summer and I hope to take them home with me. I have four goals for when I go home. One is to ask my brother what He believes in and discuss salvation with him, the second is to ask my Dad why he has fallen away from the faith, the third is to work on my relationship with my mom and pray for her without doubting, and the fourth is to read parts of the Bible I don’t really know about and study them. I plan on telling my accountability partner to make sure I actually follow through on these. 

    

Report 6

Record of Ministry Activities
7/26/09 2 hours practice/leading worship, 3 hours getting acquainted w/ campers, ½ hour devotions
7/27/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Hiking, 1 hour Bible Ex, 1 ½ hour supervise beaches, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour games, ½ hour songfest, ½ devotions
7/28/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Hiking, 1 ½ hour supervise beaches, 2 hour cookout, 1 hour skits
7/29/09 ½ hour Bible Study, 1 hour Hiking, 1 hour Lunch Hike, ½ hour supervising beaches
7/30/09 ½ hour rest time, 1 ½ hour supervising beaches, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour games, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions
7/31/09 1 hour Hiking, 1 hour Bible Ex, ½ hour supervise rest time, 1 ½ hour supervise beaches, 1 hour cabin time, 1 hour songfest, ½ hour devotions
8/1/09 ½ hour Bible Study, ½ hour Goodbye Circle

Personal Reflection
This week was pretty rough. I was expecting a break since the campers in leadership training (cilts) were doing their live-ins. They pretty much take over your cabin for two days. However, I ended up getting sick with a sinus infection and had to rest every chance I got so I did not get all that I needed to do done. Even so, I regained my strength the last couple of nights so I could finish the week with my campers. I was able to use devotions as a time to teach them some of the things I didn’t get to because I was sick. I also was able to practice my conflict resolution skills again this week. I am becoming more confident and effective in this. I know that this will be very good to have when in the ministry. I also noticed the importance of raising up the next generation of leaders this week. Youth ministry will not continue if we aren’t empowering others to take over our jobs in the future. It was very hard for me to not want to jump in and help my cilt this week. But I realized that she would only learn if she had to deal with the situations on her own. I could be there if she needed me but I had to have patience and wait for her to ask for help instead of jumping in. As a youth Pastor I want to have a group of teen leaders within my youth group that can be helping out. We could teach them how to be an effective minister whether or not they want to go into the ministry to begin with.

Spiritual Reflection
This week was tough with being sick. On Tuesday I woke up really tired and I felt weak spiritually as well. As I went to do my morning devotions I couldn’t help but cry I was so tired. Thankfully this was the day that the cilt was taking over. I was just very frustrated because I felt I had nothing left to give and I kept asking God to give me strength but it wasn’t happening. Then the next day I woke up and was even sicker and the director made me stay up in the health hut so I wouldn’t give it to anyone else. As I was up there by myself, I realized it was a good opportunity to spend some time with God and get some extra sleep. I decided to use my devotional book and opened up to a devotion on sleep. It was talking about how sleep is a reminder that we are dependent on God. We can’t do anything without Him. I can do so much but if I am not resting or relying on God it is a waste of time. I realized that I may not have been totally relying on God and I was not getting enough sleep. Thankfully I was given the chance to rest because I was sick. Now I am beginning to feel much better. However, I still need to remember that I can’t do this without God. This next week I am moving up to another division with older girls. It is nice because I won’t get stuck going through the motions but it will also be something to challenge me. I really hope to depend on God through it all. These two verses really helped me this week: Psalm 145:10-11 and Psalm 73:26.