June 2010
We are in summer camp mode here in Spring Creek. We completed our summer staff training week and summer camp got under way on June 20th. During training lots of practical information and skills were taught that are necessary to run our programs. However, the most important messages to be conveyed were what it means to be a servant leader, and how important love is in when ministering to others.
We are praying that those messages will come to mind through the summer as we work together to glorify our Lord and lead others to him. There are many who traveled from out of state to either be on summer staff or to volunteer for the summer. We are very thankful for all of them whether from near or far. It is our prayer that all involved in any way will be ministered to while they are here. We also have an “in training” program in which we allow those who are too young to be in a paid position join in the training week then come volunteer for 2 weeks of summer camp.
Roger’s roll for the summer includes his usual fixing or overseeing the repair of what’s broken. That might include: keeping water flowing out of faucets and not leaking out of pipes, testing the water, addressing electrical problems, repairing kitchen equipment, and the lawn equipment running. Overseeing the grounds at the ranch is also part of his job description.
Accomplishing this is done with the help of many volunteers, and apprentices. One apprentice serves as the grounds assistant to take charge of the lawn crew. This year his name is Chris. Roger is helping Chris develop management skills as he and his 4-6 man crew take charge of mowing and trimming up to 10 acres of lawn each week. They start each day with morning bible study and end each day with an evening chapel. Each are challenged to deepen their relationship with Christ and go home to share what they have learned.
Cathy works under Roger for the summer as landscaping coordinator. Laura is the apprentice with the job of landscaping assistant this year. Cathy and Laura work together to keep busy. Landscaping is responsible for weeding, planting, and pruning around the ranch.
All of which is achieved with the help of 2 – 5 volunteers per week. Most are teen girls, but some are moms who want something to do while their kids spend a week at camp. The landscaping crew joins the kitchen, and house keeping girls for afternoon bible studies and sharing time.
Nicole
This summer Nicole is blessed with the opportunity to be a camp counselor. Since she is the youngest counselor we have this summer she will probably be with the youngest campers. The first week of camp she is in the bunkhouse called Sadie’s Dress shop with 7 little girls and an experienced counselor as her assistant. (We had a low number of girls register for week 1 leaving us with 2 extra counselors.)
She is also on the lifeguard schedule as she got her YMCA Lifeguard Certification this spring. So, this is a time of new responsibilities for her. It looks like she is continuing to grow up on us despite Roger’s desire for her to stay young.
Please pray for her as she works with the young girls in her bunkhouse this summer that she will have wisdom to know how best to invest in each of their lives and that God will give her the strength and energy she will need to counsel them.
Rebecca
Rebecca has decided with some coaxing from mom not to take a staff kid volunteer position this summer. And when asked what she is doing this summer, she responds “ just being a kid.” As it turns out she will be spending two weeks as a rancher here at MMRM and one week as a camper at Edinboro, the camp affiliated with our church. So, with any extra time she can keep up with our family’s laundry, help mom with landscaping, or pop into the ranch office and help out (something she loves to do from time to time).
Noelle and Shyla, apprentices from our advisor group, continue to do well. Shyla is very busy as head horsemanship instructor and Noelle is a camp counselor and life guard. Both of them are interested in staying at the ranch for another year. Noelle hopes to be a second year apprentice and Shyla is interested in becoming a staff intern. They both will need to show that they will fit well into a particular position and be capable of discipling the first year apprentices. Please pray for them as they apply for their perspective positions.
-The Pigers
