Changing Seasons

While physical seasons are changing from spring to summer, seasons are also changing here at Echo Ranch.  We have just finished our retreat season and are heading into camping season very quickly.  The retreat groups were a great way to connect with tons of people, even for a very short time.  We had several school groups from both Christian and public schools, an adoptive family retreat, a Becoming Outdoor Women retreat (which I probably interacted the most with because they invited us to some of their sessions), and a Fish and Game retreat.  The ministry that happens during retreats is one of hospitality.  Those that come through are all treated with the love of Christ.  We feed them, house them, talk to them, help them when needed, and let them do their thing.  Several kids come to camp in the summer because their parents came to a retreat.  It’s a great way to reach out. 

As soon as the last retreat was done, our counselors began arriving from all over the country.  We have people from New York, Florida, Kansas, California, and everywhere in between.  They then began an intense 2-week orientation process.  Before it began, I truly wondered what in the world they needed to do for orientation that would take 2 weeks.  Now I know.  Every experience, every training, every bit of learning is geared to both teach and unite.  The entire structure works to unify the entire staff in the unity of the Spirit.  To work in this intense environment, very closely connected, for the duration of the summer, we have to work as one.

                                    Serving bierrocks and cupcakes at the Progressive Dinner for counselor orientation

While we have participated in many aspects of counselor orientation (interacting with them, sitting in on sessions, teaching them tasks they will do as work staff, etc), we have also been doing our housekeeping and hospitality job of preparing places to stay for visitors, speakers, volunteers, and various people coming in to teach sessions to the counselors.  That means lots of laundry, lots of vacuuming, lots of sweeping, and even lots of mouse poop – yuck!  Taking care of dead mice and doing the initial pulling out of sleeping bags and blankets from cabins not used all winter is Ryan’s job.  I’ve had one spider land on my arm already and I don’t plan to have another!  And this week I had the privilege of being the “laundry queen”, doing the counselors’ personal laundry.  During work staff, one counselor has this job each day.  Since they’re still in orientation, I am doing the job and learning the ropes this week.  And of course, the garden continues to need care. 

Prayers

• For counselors as they adjust to a new place, a new job, new people to work with and gear up to do the intense work of counseling. 

• For safety, both in traveling and activities during camp.

• For us to have our spiritual armor on – Satan loves to attack where the gospel is going forth.  Pray we would be bold and have open eyes and a clear mind filled with wisdom.

Thanksgivings

• For the beauty of creation – this week alone we have seen sea otters swimming, humpback whales breaching (jumping clear out of the water), black bear cubs foraging for food, and new life in a baby horse.

• For unity in our staff and counselors. 

• For humility.

• For the Lord’s healing hand, His tender love, and His mercies that are new every morning.