With the end of all staff training comes some relief and excitement for what is to come. I do have to say that Double H training is the most innovative and funniest training that I have been through. Even something as simple as handing out the new staff t-shirt becomes a show and activity which gets everyone all excited. The shirts are lime green by the way!

 Camp begins on Thursday and I know I'm ready for some kids to be here. I am in the Bear Cabin which is the oldest girls; usually 15 or 16 years old. The kids come for a 6 day session, and each session different kids come.

Right now we're putting our feet up during a two day break, although we did put our feet to work this morning in a 7 mile hike. Josh and I joined a group of our fellow staff who set out to hike the trail called 'sleeping beauty' which leads up a scenic mountain. It was a great way to spend the morning which left me feeling nature-y, healthy and tired! 

Josh and I are of course already thinking ahead to this fall and where we might go next. But we don't want to look ahead so much that we're missing  out on where we are now. There is great value and responsibility to pray into what God has entrusted to us this moment, and to exemplify the nature of Jesus to the people around us right now. It's easy to say 'oh when this happens or later, I'll do all those right things." But integrity says that we are the same person no mattter where we are, who we're with and what we're doing. So whether we are on the foreign mission field or in Lake Luzerne, New York, we are the hands and feet of Jesus with no compromises.

 

Program staff training here at Double H just finished a few days ago. This week is our 4 day session of Camp Inspiration, which is a session for children who use ventilators, and their families. Everyone is assigned to a camper and their family. I am in a small group that is assigned to the siblings of one of the campers. The siblings don't use ventilators, however they do have special needs. I am enjoying the zaniness of being with them, and all of the funny things that have already happened and that are just bound to happen today and all the way to the talent show on Friday night.

Since, I normally spend a lot of time at the barn running the petting zoo, I am getting to experience what it's like to be a counselor including the careful footsteps involved in easing a wheelchair down the hill to the waterfront area. Maybe today we'll even catch some fish!

As for life in the barn, I am happy to take care of my little furry buddies that I spent so much time with last summer. After this long winter, the rabbits and guinea pigs are undoubtedly looking forward to being outside in the fresh air, and sitting on some laps. I also learned how to groom a horse and pick the hooves!

Tonight is the last day of the session, which means a busy day of planning talent show acts , fashioning a ‘wish boat’ which is made only from nature’s materials, and watching in awe as a 14 year old boy who is in a wheel chair and breathes from a vent, gets a feel for flying as he zips down the zip line for the first time.

The adventure continues! Tomorrow I fly to Albany, New York where I will be working at Double H Ranch again. I will be the ‘small animals assistant’ which means I get to take care of the cute bunnies, guinea pigs, pot-bellied pigs, and goats. And plus, I get to have messy fun with kids and over see the petting zoo. How awesome is that?

Prince Edward Island was definitely colder than Cambodia! I found myself leaving my spring dresses to their lonesome in the closet, while I wore leggings, jeans, a t-shirt, sweater and jacket. But I guess that’s eastern Canada for you!

Josh and I got to speak at our home church FaithWorks Center, about the history of Cambodia and what Cambodia Mission Outreach. We also shared at Charlottetown Community Worship Center. Josh and I stretched out our days visiting family as well as friends from church. We also ran around Charlottetown buying supplies for camp-which for me also included a little red Acer Netbook.

It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to Josh tomorrow. I missed him enough when he went to the men’s retreat for just a weekend! It will be good though and I seriously anticipate this summer to be a great time of growth for us both spiritually and in our marriage.

Please pray for us. Your prayers are really needed for what we will be doing this summer. Things at the camp can get pretty intense and we feed off sermons on podcast! Many blessings to you and keep reading to find out how this adventure continues to unfold as we yearn after the heart of God and go in the direction we feel Holy Spirit’s leading us