Skip to main content

Sky Ranch

About four weeks ago, the Lord blessed me with a lovely opportunity through Sky Ranch Christian Camps (Sky) to work, learn, grow, and serve within the small town of Van, TX. The Lord worked powerfully in one year with the leaders of Sky and Dallas Baptist University (DBU) to create a ministry program for post-bachelor students to take part in what is called a Legacy Fellowship. This fellowship enables/funds 12 participants to live, work, and serve at camp, while simultaneously earning their Master's degree from DBU.
I am currently one week into the program, and I am in awe of the Lord's work at camp. Sky serves several people groups: internationals, churches, schools, and families through various programs. One of these programs includes Outdoor Education (OE), which the fellowship specifically works with. All of the OE activities happen within a big, brown barn. The fellows' desks, computers, costumes, and important equipment stays upstairs, while additional class material and leadership offices are downstairs. Each fellow has a separate working space with a computer, walkie-talkie, and cork board. This space will host much studying and class preparation and possibly a few pranks.
The campus itself is woodsy, but not in the typical mountainous sense I am accustomed to in California. Rather, the terrain is fairly flat, freckled with many pine, oak, and pistache trees. The dirt is a reddish brown, which leaves a lovely layer on most clothes and skin. The weather is hot and humid. Prior to arriving at camp, I did not understand the meaning of humidity factor. I knew wind chill factor caused cold temperatures to feel colder, yet, little did I know, the humidity factor causes hot days to feel like extremely hot days. Luckily, the camp is situated right next to a large lake and houses two different swimming pools. The Crazy Pool has two giant slides and nine square in the air. The Party Pool has a mushroom waterfall shallow section, water slide, and trapeze.
In addition to the pools, the camp is creating just a water slide section. The slides should be completed by early fall; however, the process became delayed after the severe rains during the Spring.
The campground also includes miniature golf, ropes swings, a land blob, basketball court, gymnasium, and a human maze. The cabins are dispersed amidst the trees and near the lake. (I will have to post lake/dock photos in a different post when I can capture the extravagance of the sunset) Camp decorations scream Texan pride, with flying flags, Texas stars, and old western equipment...oh and of course a few horses and cattle
The message given today in church emphasized how trusting the Lord changes the outcomes of our hearts. The pastor explained how both the good and bad seasons of our lives reveal the character of God. I am currently in a wonderful season, learning the intensity of the love of the Heavenly Father. The blessing of Sky provided me a new understanding of God's faithfulness and the ceaseless hope which comes from trusting in Him. Isaiah 26:6 says,
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you"
No matter the season you currently find yourself, may you surrender yourself to Him, trust in Him, hoping in His promises, and obeying His word. May your prayer be that of Isaiah 26:8
"Yes, Lord walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts."

All my love,
Gennavieve

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hampton Court Palace

Today, I toured Hampton Court Palace, an official historic, royal palace. Following are some of the sights I saw, history I learned, and favorites I enjoyed. The guard chamber of King William III. The magnificent display of 2,871 items of armor and weapons displayed a message that William was a great soldier and peacemaker. William's Presence chamber. Only high-ranking individuals were permitted into this room. William would be distinguished by sitting on a Chair of Estate. Those who entered his presence were required to remove their hats and make three low bows to the King, or even his empty chair. I'm grateful to serve an accessible King, who is with me wherever I go. William's eating room. He was expected to dine here on occasions "in front of persons of good fashion and good appearance," in order to display the sumptuousness of his food and to reassure everyone he was in good health. He was served by three servants on bended knee. William's P...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chesterton on Perspective

A few months ago, I read a piece from G. K. Chesterton in The Illustrated London News. Chesterton’s article makes light of the daily inconveniences encountered in life by utilizing a poetic tone of adventure inspired by imagination. He exposes the reality of thinking with a wrong mindset, encourages readers towards a comical viewpoint, and guides readers to a foundation of faith in all circumstances. Chesterton reveals the reality of a negative mindset too often occupied by so many individuals. He opens with the news of London flooding and categorizes the event as a typical inconvenience faced by humankind. Then he mentions the constant rush in finding an opportunity to grumble about such inconveniences. He exposes such grumbling as negativity. He explains the error of such a viewpoint when he states, "an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered," Clearly he stands by the incorrect nature ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Good Things

Westcliffe is a small town in Colorado nestled at the base of a towering peak. It is quant, quiet, and eclectic. It's Main Street houses two little coffee shops, a general store, some antique shops, a wood work store, an unbeatable burger shack, and an Amish bakery. The people are simple and sweet. Not the sort of simple which confines them to the narrow judgment of a small-town mindset, but the simple of enjoying each moment the day brings. Every Wednesday the small square is filled with the tables and tents of the Farmer’s Market selling the best jams and jellies, produce and pastries. I approach the market with empty bag in hand and something tasty in mind. I explore the herbs and produce. I decide on some peaches from a man whose companion was a tea cup poodle laying in a doggie bed on the table guarding the peaches, or so I assumed. “What’s his name?” I ask. “Brutus,” the man responds. “He’s a watch dog.” “Guarding your peaches, I see.” “No, no,” the man quickly ...
Post a Comment
Read more