First Post!

Ah how exciting!  My first post from Rhinelander!  We just finished up orientation earlier today and we are now in town doing laundry for the camp.  Our weekend was fantastic!  It was really great to meet all of the volunteers and staff that will be working with the Fort over the summer.  It's awesome to see how the Lord brings so many people together and to see all the hands that go into making things happen.  There are many people investing in this place this summer and I'm excited to see how the Lord uses it!

I've gotten to connect with the people I'll be working along side really well!  I love diving in with all the different staff, whether they'll be at AO, LAB, or Main Camp.  It's so interesting to hear where they're all from, what brought them here, and just to see all the different talents and personalities.  Fort has really had an incredible impact on many lives and it's a privilege to be able to also be a part of that!

The Lord's really been challenging me already in coming up here!  The day before I left, I completely lost my voice!  As you all know...this is a HUGE challenge for me!!! =)  It was good to sit down and see how the Lord was challenging me in the ways I use communication and pushing me out of my comfort zone.  Usually, I jump right in to chatting away and am able to feel connected with people right away through that.  It was very different to be in a place where communication was tough for me.  Not only was it physically annoying to talk, but it was a challenge when I just didn't feel like myself.  The Lord showed me ways I need to step out of my comfort zone and use my communication in different ways which has been good.

He's also continuing to work on my heart on many characteristics and truths in me.  He has continued to chisel out lies I believe or struggles that have been a barrier for me.  He has been very faithful to intentionally yet gently point out things in me that are not of Him and give me healing and truth where I needed it.  It's been great so far!  Please be praying for us as we continue in training and preparing the camp.  We'll be working more with only the AO staff now which is exciting!  Thanks for all of your prayers and support for the Fort staff and campers! =)

Live Here.

So the theme here at Adventure Outpost (AO) this year is “Live Here.”  Ephesians 2:7 and the surrounding context is the main Scripture being used.  I’m really excited about this!  Our heart is to challenge the campers to think deeper…life isn’t just about going through the motions, day to day.  It’s about living an abundant life in the Lord, every day living expectantly to experience God in His love, forgiveness, power, grace, and sovereignty.  We live in a fallen, lost world…but that doesn’t define the extent of our lives!  The Lord desires for us to know who He is and who we are in Him.  The Truth we carry is the key to being able to live, and not just live a meaningless life, but to live fully…to live here!

Foundations

Where to start...well, how about the beginning!  The Lord has really just been opening and closing doors very clearly lately for me.  This past spring, I was planning on spending my Spring Break in Tacoma, WA with my sisters.  I prayed and prayed that the Lord would provide for me and open the door to be out there to enrich and grow the relationship with my sisters with a full week to be intentional with them.  I prayed that the Lord would use that time to strengthen relationships I felt shaky about or that I was really missing.  The Lord very clearly shut that door and put on my heart that I should be in Florida with our group of Navigators at UWW.  Although I knew FL would be awesome, I didn't want anything more than to spend time with my sisters.  However, I knew the Lord wanted me in Florida, and He definitely blessed the time that I had there in more ways I could have imagined!

Well, my plans this summer weren't set in stone until recently, but I have no doubt that the Lord had it very strategically planned where He wanted me all along, just like for Spring Break.  I initially hoped that I'd be doing a Summer Training Program with the Navigators out in Colorado.  I had my heart set on doing this and really felt it was right.  However,  the Lord closed that door.  I was quite crushed at first, but God really showed me that it was simply not where He wanted me.  The only other thing I had on my heart was working at Fort, but I felt unsure since I hadn't applied or looked into it at all yet.  Nonetheless, I took steps towards working at Fort, trusting that God would shut this door as well if it was not where He wanted me.  And if it was where He wanted me, He would make it work regardless of timing or my abilities or whatever.  Well, needless to say, it was clear that the Lord wanted me at Fort!  I'll be working with the kids at Adventure Outpost, diving in with them everyday!  I'm excited to see the blessings from living in His will!

Welcome!

Salut everyone!  Welcome to my blog!  I'll be using this to keep everyone updated on how my summer is going!  As you know, I'll be working up at Fort Wilderness in northern Wisco for the summer!  I'm really quite excited to see what the Lord does in the woods and on the lake!  I know I will be greatly challenged and grown over the summer, as I'm sure the Lord will be working in the lives of each of the children as well!  I'll be having a place for prayer requests, so if you have anything you'd like me to pray about, let me know!  I'll also be letting you all know how you can be praying for the Fort and for myself!  I really hope that the Lord is glorified and blesses you in hearing and telling of all the things He can and will do!