This Week.....

Well, this week is going to be quite different than last week.:) The guys are leaving on a canoe trip today with Ryan and Daniel. They are pretty excited about it and are packing lots of trail mix, bug spray, warm clothes and other gear for the trip. I have heard that the plan is to cross 8 rivers the first day, with land in between where they will carry all the gear including the canoes.

The rest of us ladies will be here at camp working on various chores and jobs to get ready for next week, which is another rental camp. This morning the Craven and George children have been eagerly helping me clean the cabins to prepare them for the next set of campers. Each cabin's windows must be cleaned with windex, the trash changed, the trash can cleaned out, and all the mattress pads wiped with sanitizer top and bottom. After that the floor is thoroughly swept. It might not sound like to much but when you have to flip all the pads and make sure they sit flat when you're done (with lots of eager helpers asking lots of questions) it's a bit more challenging.:P The children were all very helpful and hopefully next time I can have things in better order so someone doesn't clean the same pad, as the person before them just did!:P

Well, that's all I have to write about so far! Ryan and Daniel have their own adventure to write about but I will leave that to them.:) Hopefully they will post when they get back from the Canoe Week trip.:)

I just wanted to say thank you to those who have written or called while we've been gone.:) It has been such an encouragement to know we are remembered in prayer! I also really appreciate  receiving emails from some of you! I know life can be busy, but you don't know how it can bless someone's day to just type something out real quick to let them know you're thinking of them and keeping them in your prayers! Thanks for the special encouragement!:) (I am not incredibly busy this week so feel free to call, email, or message me. A lot family members or friends keep saying that I must be "super busy, otherwise they'd call or email" but right now I'm not. Once rental camp starts, it will get much, much, MUCH busier.;) For now, if you want to and have the time, I'd really enjoy hearing from you!:)

Sometimes when I've been gone a summer or winter trip, I feel like there isn't much happening when people ask for an update. The truth is that I cannot always see when God is working or know He's just about to do something great, and teach me some good lesson. We can always be praying for the simple things in life like safety, health, a growing walk with the Lord, lessons to learn and energy and strength for the tasks ahead.

 I really enjoyed listening to Pastor Steve's sermon on watching and praying, this past Sunday.:) It was a really good reminder of how often I give into my flesh and what it wants, how it feels, or whether I'm tired or not. I know if I had been in the garden with Jesus at Gethsemane, I too would have been fast asleep. We all would because that's all we have the ability to do-obey our flesh! Praise God, for the strength and ability He gives us, for without it we could do nothing right.:)

 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.   If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
     
                                                                                                                John 15:5-8

Rental Camp-Week 1

 

 This past week was busy with our first experience working here during rental week. The camp grounds and facilities are used by another group and we prepare meals and clean around their schedule while they are here.:) This called for early mornings, eating a staff breakfast before preparing and waitressing another one, cleaning the bathrooms daily-a long and complicated process which involves a hose, sanitation, a scrub broom and lots of other fun things, and plenty of dishwashing on the side! (This is Mrs. Garris (?) and I working on bread platters for lunch. Working here reminds me of Lois working at Catalina, all the time!;)

The boys helped anywhere they were needed. This picture was taken the Wednesday hike and they had to clear a fallen tree out of the trail to drive all the lunch supplies to the picnic spot.

I'm still having a lot of trouble with blogger and I'm not sure why. I thought it would be best for now to get a post out of some nature and then link the pictures from the week. Until I can figure out why this keeps letting have two pictures the proper size and the rest small-I'm afraid you'll have to be content with this. https://picasaweb.google.com/113237871982428841210/RentalCampWeekOne5281302?noredirect=1

Thank you for your prayers! We do have a couple of requests.  If you would keep the camp director's daughter Sierra in your prayers, we would really appreciate it. We had quite a bit of sun the other day and she got sun poisoning. Today she told me her arms were feeling better, but itchy. Also, I feel that annoying scratchiness in my throat that is often accompanied by sickness. Thankfully, we finished camp this afternoon, but do keep us in your prayers-it would not be fun for everyone to get sick.:)

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God."

                                    

                                                                                    1 Corinthians 4:1-5

First Days At Higher Ground....

 

Last week the boys and I arrived safe and sound at Higher Ground. We have been getting to know the staff here and catching on to how things are run. We have been working hard this week in the kitchen for another camp whose kids' retreat we are hosting. It's early mornings and lots of work during the day. We've done several different jobs such as washing dishes, waitressing, food preparation, clean-up and set-up for the next meal. (This is a picture from the three hour drive we took to get to the camp.)

This picture is for Mommy and Sarah Pau especially.:) This is what it looks like outside at 8-10 pm at night!:) It's really nice to have all that light but really confusing at the same time.:P

 

Blogger has been giving me some trouble so, I'm going to cut this update short.:) For some reason it's not letting me change the picture sizes. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to get a longer post up.:)

 

With the busyness of this first camp we are all pretty tired. It's easy to look ahead and feel like it's all so overwhelming but the truth is, if we take it one day at a time it's not so bad. Even more important is the fact that the Lord is the one who gives us the strength to do what we need to do. Without Him we could do nothing.

 

"For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.  As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children."

                                                                                        Psalm 103:14-17

 

 

Snow-An Unexpected Surprise!

"Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

                                                                                     Isaiah 1:18

 Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail." Job 38:22

Unexpected to the people of Alaska but, planned by God, the snow was a fun treat for us to see. It continually reminds us that our sins were washed away by Jesus blood, white and clean. Just as the snow covers even the darkest of colors-so Jesus blood can and will wash away the darkest of hearts. This means no one is too wicked but, all receive the same forgiveness and cleansing power from a just God and Savior-now matter what that heart has or has not done if they will but believe.

"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."  
                                       Romans 10:9-11

Safe In Alaska!:D

Thank you for your prayers -we have made it to Alaska safe and sound! We got in Friday morning nice and early, around 2 am and the light was just coming out.;) It snowed this past weekend which was a fun surprise! We really enjoyed getting to know the Buckingham family, who graciously opened their home to us. Jacob Berlin picked us up from the airport and of course we enjoyed visiting with Jerusalem and him in the car before they dropped us off at the Buckingham's. We stayed with them for about 5 days   It was a great way to start off the summer- with encouraging fellowship.:)

 Waiting for our first flight-which Daniel really, really enjoyed and we were all really tired upon arrival!;)

 Their family is such a neat example of true fellowship and Christian love. They have a very large family-which made us  feel quite at home and we had a wonderful time! We stayed with them until Tuesday evening~

 Jerusalem had me over for lunch on Monday afternoon and to spend time visitng!:) We had a lovely time and it flew by too fast.;)

The boys really enjoyed meeting Jerusalem's brothers and they had a great time together.:) (Top to bottom: Daniel Buckingham, Daniel Sebo, Noah, Jonathan, Job and Ryan) Just after they posed for this picture one of the boys suggested they try to walk across the room like that, working together. It was pretty funny to watch and they did a decent job, making some progress before the "tower started crumbling."

 Hosanna( one of the daughters in the family) bunked with me, which makes her quite the heroine!;) She blessed me greatly with her fellowship and I'm so glad we had the time to get to know each other better!!:) I was so encouraged by her love for the Lord and honesty about her walk with Him-a characteristic of the family's spirit as well.

Our time went very well there at their home but, Tuesday night came fast! We had a misunderstanding somewhere between the staff at Higher Ground and myself and we were planning to be picked up Monday night at ANC. Just before leaving for the airport Hosanna suggested I call to make sure it was for sure. When I talked to the staff they explained it was Tuesday night, not Monday. We were happy but somewhat embarrassed as the whole family had said their goodbyes and helped us get packed back up. They were very gracious when we came back that evening and they had a lot of fun teasing us till Tuesday evening about it all. We were all glad for the extra day and were sad to say goodbye "for real.";)

Last night we got into Higher Ground Baptist Bible Camp. It was a long drive but the scenery was absolutely worth it! I got some pictures but there's no way to really capture the beauty and majesty of all that God has created here. I'd like to share pictures with you of some of it but, right now blogger is not working for me. I will try to get them up soon!:) For now, thank you for your patience and prayers. I'll try to get this updated sooner next time!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

                                                                                                                  Psalm 19:1-4

One week!:D

We've been packing and mentally checking off our lists.

I'm really going to miss the family and the little ones will grow a lot while we are gone! I keep joking about taking them in our  suitcases. This picture makes me smile! Too bad it's not realistic!;) I wish I could bring Evie along like this!;)

There's been a lot on my mind these past few days. I've really been trying not to worry about things or fuss. The Lord has just been reminding me of the verse that talks about being "still" and knowing He is God. It is the hardest thing to do, but it's always true that God will take care of things better than you or I ever could. I just need to keep waiting on Him.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."

                                                                                                                  Psalm 46:10-11

13 Days

Less than two weeks till we take off, Lord willing! I'm looking forward to updating this blog with some activity filled posts soon!!:D

The Lord is faithfully providing and we are eager to go! I'm hoping to get Ryan and Daniel to post some more once we leave!;) For now, I'll just share one of my favorite pictures from Alaska I've seen so far.;)

"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14