First Day of Summer!

It is neat that today, the first day of summer is also the first time Eric goes rafting! They left shortly after breakfast this morning and then me and the kids will meet up with them at the campsite in about a half hour to an hour!

This week of staff training has been very in depth in the Biblical principles behind their vision here at Camp Bighorn. With this deeper understanding and now ability to articulate properly how the Gospel is shared here at camp, we will be able to share our vision clearer, unlike the fuzzy vision we have tried to explain before. It's like we went to the eye doctor!

Eric and I have been discussing what our fund raising strategy will be now that we have gone through some staff training. One of the things I brought up as to why things are going slow for us (fund-raising)  is that previously, when we explained what they did here at camp people responded to us like all they did here was play and not serious about sharing the Gospel. After being here and getting to know the summer camp format (as opposed to the Explore format we experienced last fall) we realized the set up is totally different than the summer camps we grew up in.

I'm sure you all are familiar with the following (or similar) schedule for summer camp:
Wake up/ Cabin Devo's
Breakfast
Chapel
Free time
Lunch
Chapel
Team Activities
Free Time
Dinner
Chapel
Free Time
Lights Out

I did that so maybe you can see that there is a lot of chapel services and lots of actual "free time" which is unstructured in which kids can do obstacle course, crafts, swimming, boating, other camp time games.

At Camp BIghorn there is less "un structured" free time and the staff is involved in everything, more even than the camps both (E&K) were used to. I'm not  dissing other camp programs or the camp programs that we grew up attending. I am only discussing the differences in programs.

They have Chapel services daily and the amount depends on what type of camp is going on (day camp for younger kids vs. regular camp for older kids/teens). During the week the cabin essentially becomes a family for that week and that is their small group. Because they do everything as a cabin instead of just pairing off with a few friends it lends itself to community which lends itself to unity (ever notice that unity is part of the word community?).

After going through activities (ex. rock climbing) they, as a group have a debriefing afterwards explaining the activity as an object lesson our need for Christ in our life or another biblical truth!

So, while they will be given the Gospel during chapel services the ministry doesn't stop there, it only begins!

Also, a lot of the same kids come back every year and get to be discipled instead of taught the same thing over and over again. Instead of just producing a changed direction they encourage a changed life. It's encouraging to be part of a ministry that doesn't just want to see kids receive the Gospel and accept it, but also to be part of a ministry that encourages these new believers to grow after making the decision to accept Him into their lives!!!!

In saying all this summer camp is still summer camp, the program format may be different than what our friends and family are used to but both Eric and I highly encourage those interested to come out here and check it out! Come out and be on summer staff next summer and see what God will do with you and through you!!!

I hope I haven't caused any confusion in my feeble attempt to explain the program difference. If you have any questions or need any clarifications please feel free to email us! Also, if you would like to meet with us in person we will be back the end of June!!!

Now it's time I go and get the kids ready to go out to the campsite to see what Eric thought of rafting and the things they learned today. God is good, if you seek Him- you will find Him!!!

See you all soon!
E&K

Update

We finally got to see some Bighorn Sheep a few days ago!

We took these photos on the way into town! They were a bunch of females. Later that day on the highway we saw a huge herd of them with two nice sized males!

 

One night last week we hiked up the trail to the cross on the mountain above camp.

 

 

 This photo is taken at the top overlooking the camp, Hwy 135, the Clark Fork River and the train tracks with a train on them!

Here is another photo taken a bit farther away as to get the mountain range in there too!

I will post a photo of the cross taken from camp level as soon as I can get it rotated without the computer freezing up on me!


Today we are celebrating our son's 3rd birthday!!! What a blessing he is to our family!!! We are enjoying watching him as he grows. It sure doesn't seem like it has been 3 years yet. We are cherishing these younger years because kids sure don't stay little for long!!!

We are looking at housing options, staff training continues this week from Tuesday through Friday and we are planning on leaving the 24th or 25th to return to Wisconsin to continue (and God willing complete by fall) our fund raising! It is so nice to be able to see how summer programs are, meeting summer staff and interns and getting to know, in depth, the vision of Camp Bighorn's ministry here in the Northwest US!

Please continue with us in prayer for safety on our return trip, and as we seek out housing options for our return to Camp.

God bless!
E&K

We made it!!!

Praise God we have made it safely to Camp on Saturday afternoon!!

We spent the weekend getting the camper organized, talking with our friends at camp, meeting some new ones and Eric starting to work on camp vehicles!

The kids are on cloud nine with so many trains going by the camp across the river!

The few mosquitos I have seen I think we brought with us in the camper! Ha, total difference from WI in that aspect! When we left the mosquitos carried us away but here it is dry enough where I think the mosquitos all left and went to WI!


It is interesting to see wildlife and plants that we haven't seen in WI. We saw a Mountain Bluebird, Blue Grouse, ground squirrels, elk, deer galore, ground hogs (I think that is what they are?! praire dogs perhaps?!) and the list could go on.

The lilacs are just about done here, the fruit trees are all sporting baby fruit already! I guess it's not "already" here in MT as they had a normal spring compared to us in WI!

Otherwise please continue to pray with us that God will bring in the rest of our support we need as we are hovering at the halfway mark! We will be here a few more weeks then head back to complete support raising.

Thank you all for your prayers and support!
E&K