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
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