firsts.

this past weekend i hosted my first retreat.. i was sick as a dog so i was honestly dreading the weekend.. i was afraid i wasn't going to be able to serve the group like i wanted to with the spirit i wanted to. God proved to be big again. why do we even doubt!? why are we even anxious and why do we even worry?! sometimes i don't get why we do all these things when we KNOW he is in control. i guess thats the flesh in us. the group was so easy to take care of. they were so organized and so easy going. it was such a blessing to me because it made my work load light and stress levels low. all which helped my sick body heal. i thought i might not be prepared to host a retreat, but God proved other wise. i may not have been ready, but He was ready to serve through me. He made things smooth and prepared me to work out the details and the requirements that were needed to be done to host a retreat.. what a big God we serve. what an AWESOME God we serve.

the interns and i just got back from our first CCCA (camp and conference center association) sectional conference. it was 3 days and 2 nights in northern pa at tuscarora inn. the camps that were in the region all came together to meet, talk, fellowship, worship, learn in workshops, learn from speakers, and to connect with each other. i was very excited to experience the conference because i knew i would learn a lot from like minded people who were already in the camp ministry. i hear encouraging, honest, real, discouraging, sad, hopeful, and glorifying stories about the lives of people and the situations of some camps. i realized i have been blessed to work at 2 very healthy successful camps. it may not have always been that way and there may be hard times in the future, but i have been blessed to be part of the great times. i have learned so much from sandy cove and rvr about camp ministry and i am so thankful for that experience. i am also thankful to have been able to go the sectional and learn more about other camps and how they run. i went to a marketing class for the fun of it. i have no experience or really knowledge of anything that marketing entails except for the obvious things. the workshop was led by gregg hunter who is the new CEO/president of the CCCA. he definitely knows his stuff and i took 3 pages of notes in the class! i was a little nervous to go to that workshop because i knew it was going to be an interactive one and i knew with my little knowledge and experience with marketing that i wouldn't have much to offer the group or the people. i ended up just listening to the other directors and workers share their situations and the others giving advice and it was very informative. i didn't contribute to the conversations, but i was surprised that i could actually relate and that i did have experiences to share if needed or i wanted to. i guess i sell myself short at times.. another bad habit. :) it was an overall great experience that i got to share with both the interns from rvr and my previous boss' from sandy cove. both groups i consider family so what better way to spend time at a conference. on a side note they brought in a husband and wife who had this hilarious game show set up called the brain show. it was so much fun and i got to participate with 2 other interns.. my previous boss' were chosen to participate as well.. TOO FUNNY.

today we got back from the sectional after a 40 min stop to change a flat tire.. eh, no biggie for these ranch boys.. glad it wasn't my car or it would have been a few hours.. we ran through our winter meltdown program that starts tomorrow night! yea, it was the first time we ran through it.. crazy i know. my role is to recite 4 poems (from memory!) to a couple 100 kids each session.. yeah, im pretty nervous. ok, really nervous so if you think of it please say a prayer for me! the poems are memorized, but you know sometimes how your mind can blank when you are nervous.. this is something i am trying to trust the Lord with that He will speak through me.. well, here is to tomorrow! Lord, please give me the memory that is strong enough to remember the poems that i have memorized. thank you that they are already memorized.. i know that was You. please use this winter meltdown to touch the lives of the youth who come through and may it all be used for your glory! i love you!! amen,

following Him,
beth.