Camp Begins-Sr. High-Week 1

 This past week we had our first week on Higher Ground Baptist Bible Camp's summer camps! Monday was registration....

 Savannah C. and little Rebecca keeping themselves occupied while their mommies worked hard  registering campers.:)

 Game time during the week. I worked in the kitchen, Ryan worked on outdoor projects or whatever was needed with Mr. George, and Daniel was a camper. We didn't have a lot of chances to see each other except at mealtime and we were all quite busy, but Tarry G. was very willing to take pictures and is very good at working my camera! Ryan and Daniel-when they had time-were very happy to get pictures too, so between them, Terry, Susie and a few others we got lots of good pictures of the week!

 Daniel and his fellow campers playing "Steal the Bacon".....

 There were a lot of opportunities for competition as it is a big part of the camp events. Mr. Craven says that competition causes the teams to have to work together and shows them whether they lose or win what character qualities the have and lack.

 Waitressing is a busy job and once you're doing it there isn't much time to capture it's process but, here Mrs. George and I quickly smiled during a busy dinner shift for Terry.:)

Staff table.....

 Daniel and his counselor Peter, getting ready for big ball volleyball....

For you, Sarah P.-the fireweed!! It's blooming!! How exciting it is to see these beautiful blossoms coming out! (Tarry got this picture.)

 BIG ball volleyball has it's name for a reason....;)

 Singing at the beginning of evening service. The campers were required to do everything on the schedule this also meant mandatory chapel services three times a day.

 Hannah and I doing a "special" one of the nights. Ryan did a special on his guitar one of the morning services and the three of us Sebos played a trio of ocarina, guitar and piano but, we didn't get any pictures of it. Hopefully, next week we can!

 Devotions upstairs in the counselor room for this cabin....

 It was good to see Mr. Craven sitting down. As camp director he has a big job and often has to be on his feet with all he does. The gentleman sitting beside him is the Pastor of the church the staff attends while working here. He and his wife came one of the days and he spoke to the campers during a session.

 More lovely forget-me-nots! Awhile ago the Lord gave me a special nickname for these flowers. In the command to remember the Lord regularly it occurred to me that these flowers actually proclaim their Creator and show His existence. In thinking along those lines I decided to call them-forget-Him-nots, as a reminder.:)

 Wednesday was the hike and picnic lunch......

 Ryan got this cute shot while hiking with the group. Kitchen staff had to ride the truck so we could get to the picnic spot before the campers did.

 Hot dogs, chips, lemonade and ice cream sandwiches: The guy in the blue sweatshirt was a really thoughtful camper. Before he left this morning, he came down to the kitchen and gave the cooks and waitresses some candy he'd bought to show his appreciation.

 Janice-camp cook works very hard to make the meals delicious, filling and possible.

 Girl campers enjoying the sun....

 Susie counseled this past week and enjoyed having seven really great campers!

 Bake-off competition-teams were allowed to challenge others to build up on points over the week...

 Making brownies blind-folded while the fellow campers give instructions is not as easy as one might think!

 The key is communication and cooperation......

 Slingshot competition-another way the campers were forced to work together!;)

 Hannah and Sequoia C......

 Although the camp doesn't use airplanes for transportation we see them a lot flying overhead...

 Guy campers doing devotions outside-love how some of them are wrapped in a blanket!;)

 Hannah and one of her campers Tasha! Even though Tasha lives close by her mother is originally from Kodiak. She was a special camper to me and we got a chance to talk one-on-one quite a bit over the last two days!

 Bucket tag....

 Meridith and Ashley-counselors for the week.....

 A camper reading her bible during free time....

 Monica talking with one of her campers over a slushi.....

 The staff choir sang twice during the week. (This picture always makes me laugh, see if you can actually find me. There was a need for more tenor with only Mr. George singing the part and so I volunteered to help. Hint: the girl second to the right of the podium is Hannah and she is wearing jeans...if that helps.;) These next few pictures were taken by one of the campers who also goes to Soldotna Baptist....

 The prince charming skit...

 Ryan mowing away while campers are in chapel....

 Carpet ball challenge in the game room....

 Daniel's fellow campers....

 Judah Johnston-he graciously and willingly shared his pictures! This young man really has a heart for evangelism and almost every time he talks to us it's about how to share the gospel more effectively and about his experiences. He really desires to see people saved and it's such an encouragement to me!

 Archury.....

 This picture is especially for Daddy-the lady with Hannah is Missy, married to Peter (Daniel's counselor) and she is part Filipino! I have been enjoying getting to know her better and learning more about Filipinos in general!:)

 More outdoor time with Daniel's cabin....

This picture amazes me. Daniel is growing up to be a man. He's turning 17 this month! Where does time go?

 The big tires at Higher Ground, with campers atop them....

Sierra C. babysits every year for summer camp. Whether it's her own siblings or other staff children this young lady is getting great experience for if the Lord gives her a family someday, Lord willing!:)

 Our speaker for Sr. High week was Chris Anderson. He and his wife flew up from Georgia where he pastors and I finally realized that he has written one of my favorite choir songs-His Robes For Mine!!! Along with that I found some new favorites of mine that he wrote as well, as we have been singing them a lot at camp. Mr. Craven and him have been friends for years as they met at camp, but hadn't seen each other in years. This seems to be a familiar connection for a lot of the people around this camp. Mr. and Mrs. Craven, and Mr. and Mrs. George, met while working at the Wilds' Camp in Colorado years ago, married later on, and the Lord brought them up here and put them in camp ministry, full-time and part time, respectively.

This morning, the campers left on the bus bright and early. The George family are gone for the weekend with the bus and will return Monday afternoon with the next set of campers. We have final clean-up on Saturday mornings and then have a yummy lunch of left-overs. This will be the pattern at the end of each week of camp. We also get an opportunity to go into town if we need anything before the next camp starts. This afternoon, Daniel and I went to town for a very special reason!

 I finally got to see my dear, special, native friend Erica Stone!! We met two years ago at Kako on my first trip to Alaska and  hadn't seen each other since then. We had  kept in touch over phone and email when we could but, in the past few months we had both gotten very busy and hadn't talked much. When we made plans to come out this summer I contacted Erica hoping it would work to get together but it didn't seem like it was going to happen. Then yesterday, Erica emailed me saying she was back in the area and would it work to get together!?!?:D Here we are with a friend of hers from Hooper Bay at the Moose Is Loose Bakery.

 It was too crowded there so we walked around the corner to the Kaladi Brother's coffee shop and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon fellowshipping and filling each other in on the Lord's work in our lives. Something I really appreciate in Erica is her honesty and desire to do things the way the Lord wants.(And this time I did get to try their coffee-it is good!;)

This picture really captures a normal occurrence in our conversations!;) She helps draw out the fun-loving side of life!:) God was so gracious to create and give us fellowship and bonds in Him with other believers!!

While we visited the Lord reminded of how much Christian fellowship is needed. We are all fighting in the same battle as believers in this life. God has given to us assets by which we are able to be strengthened and prepared for the fight. Fellowshipping with others is a huge part of those assets and in so doing we bring glory to God by our acknowledgement of the Church and her need for fellowship with Christ.

 

This coming Monday starts our second week of camp. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare emotionally and spiritually for it. I know some staff members have been struggling with sickness off and on and we are all tired. It is good to know though, that even in our weakness He is strong and will accomplish His perfect will in us!

 

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

                                                                                             2 Corinthians 12:9-10