The first week of training is over. It has been quite the experience! The days have been so long and alot of information is being thrown at me, so it is a mixture of feeling overwhelmed but completely excited for what is in store! I was right in saying (before I left) that I was clueless to just how much this job entails, but I know it will prepare and equip me for bigger things ahead.
For the news that many have been waiting for... I will be in Denver this summer! I am extremely excited, not only because I am in love with Colorado already, but because I hear it is a great city with alot to do. I know God is preparing the way for me and my partner Leigh to work with the community and our campers. Our service will be a lasting presence beyond our time this summer and my heart is preparing to go beyond what I feel called to do and stretch my abilities for God's work.
It has been incredible training in Estes Park, CO. The mountains are breathtaking and waking up to them every morning is like being surrounded in God's splendor. They are so much bigger than me! I realize how silly that may sound, but the grandeur of them is breathtaking, mindblowing and leaves me in awe. The YMCA that I am training in is surrounded by mountains on every side and these aren't Connecticut mountains, these are like Mount Everest type of mountains. Some are snow capped and others are lined top to bottom in pine trees, others are rock and others have houses sprinkled up their sides. In different parts of the day (because the weather changes about every half hour here) different parts of the mountains can be seen. It keeps reminding me of God's power. We always say "God can move mountains" and I always picture what I think is a mountain when truly it is more like a hill. But these mountains...they are so grand. God can move them. He can make them tremble. I can't wrap my mind around it.
But it is a good thought to keep when praying for the hearts of our campers and the city of Denver. God can move the Rocky Mountains. He can move the hearts of people. He can crack the hard hearted, sweep up the broken, make the proud and stubborn tremble.
The weeks ahead seem like they will be presenting very long days with little sleep. The job will be needing quick decisions, creative ideas, long hours, love and patience. I am confident that God has me here and that I can do it. I also know that beyond "the job" of making camp actually happen is the job of growing his kingdom. Our theme for camp is Reveal and I know that revelations will be released upon me, my partner, campers, and the community this summer.
On a less serious note.... there are elk all over the place! They are incredible to see and they roam the YMCA grounds freely! But they are everywhere! It's very cool. The other staffers are awesome too. Spending as much time together as we do, we are all very close already and we still have another week together!
I don't have very much free time at all, but I figured the occasional post on will be able to update all of you on what's happening in the beautiful state of Colorado!
