Turning a New Leaf

   

Summer is over and fall is here

Each year the end of summer camp comes like a whirlwind. The last week of campers pack up and head home, the summer volunteers start to trickle out, then the last big work teams board their planes. What happens next? Does campus quiet down? Yes and no. While work teams, volunteers and campers are no longer part of our daily routine, we now have the ebb and flow of guest groups, school retreats and conferences keeping us on our toes. Not to mention the general winterizing and preparing for colder, shorter days. This year camp is also working to rebuild the main gathering space that was destroyed in a fire last fall. Benjamin has been busy running an excavator and dump truck as the maintenance team works to remove the side of a hill in preparation for the new building. While dirt work and blasting are being done, plans for the building are still being finalized between the board of directors and the project manager. Each day brings new challenges, but the Lord has been faithful. The equipment keeps running and the worksite has remained accident free. Lazurus, Old Faithful, and the Mac Truck (the three dump trucks which somehow keep on ticking) have been putting long hours each day while the workers are also making the most of camp’s old excavator and putting in overtime on the rental excavator. The ticking of the aged equipment can largely be contributed to the camps full-time mechanic, David Yoder, who has certainly been kept on his toes the past few weeks. The majority of the material that is being removed will be relocated to the Alpine area as a parking lot is being constructed where there was once a steep road down to waterfront. As construction continues to happen around the guest groups that come and go from campus, please join us in praying for safety, especially of those walking around the construction area and the drivers who are doing their best to watch out for pedestrians in the growing shadows of fall.

Speaking of fall, we had our first snow at camp on August 31st this year. I knew winter came early, but that certainly surprised me! Since then, we have still had some warm days and sunny weather, but we have taken a turn into the colder months. While fall has always been a favorite season of mine, I was skeptical if I would enjoy it as much without having experienced the sweltering heat of a humid PA summer. I am happy to report that the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves and the cool smell of fall are every bit as exciting when they began to show up this September. We are noticing the days growing shorter but loving the way the sun highlights the yellow trees in between rainy days. Watching the snow start to creep down the mountains reminds me that winter is coming, but also so is baby! Aaron can be overheard reminding Ethan that when Ethan gets bigger maybe he can hold baby sister, but for now, only Aaron is a big boy who can hold her. They are both very excited for some baby sister snuggles and Aaron asks regularly if she is “done” yet. We have built a timeline to help him wait which goes something like this: first we clean up our outside toys to get ready for snow (check), next Mimi and Pop visit (Benjamin’s parents are coming the end of Sept), then baby sister comes! Usually, the timeline then continues to include next is snow, then Loma and Grandpa visit (my parents), and finally – possibly the most anticipated part – his cousins are going to come and sleep on the top bunk in his room. Ah, they life of a three-year-old.

There are some days I wish my life was as simple as his. Instead, I see the come and go of groups from camp, the tension of holding ministry and service AS work, the day-to-day of potty training, meal planning, laundry, dishes, sleepless nights, trips to town, budgeting, and keeping the house in order. All while juggling community, relationships, two adorably busy boys and preparing for the delivery and welcoming of our daughter in less than a month. I have found myself in moments of overwhelm because of the number of things to do while also overwhelmed by the blessings God has surrounded us with. May we never take for granted the sacrifices that other people have made so that we can be here; financially, emotionally and relationally. We miss each one of you, and yet we are so thankful for your sending us at the same time. Our hearts ache with longing to be with those whom we love and those who are hurting far from us, but also with the joy of building community here and being part of the bigger picture of how God is using VBC to impact so many lives in so many ways for the Kingdom. Many we never lose sight of the vision of Victory to

“…evangelize and disciple children, youth and adults in Alaska for Jesus Christ through Christian camping.”

Blessings and Prayers

We are blessed by and grateful again for all your support. As we continue to grow in grace and faith during this season, we want to thank you all for your patience when the updates are sparce, your faithfulness as the year continues, and your encouragement in many ways. Most recently we have been blessed by the visit of some friends from our church in PA! As they spent a few days around camp, we were able to show them some of our favorite sights, and they were able to experience a bit of the ongoing work at camp. Thank you for thinking of us and reaching out, we love to hear from you! If you have a moment, I would love to be able to send you all Christmas cards, but I don’t have everyone’s address. So please reach out! (Also, you will get to meet our much-anticipated baby girl through photograph when she arrives!)

 

As you think of us and pray for us, here are some specific things you can bring before the Lord:

• The humbling of pride and growth in wisdom as we learn to live in close community with others
• The safe and healthy delivery of our daughter very soon
• Financial provision as we continue to rely on the Lord through your gifts
• Wisdom and patience as we begin a Young Adults Bible Study with a few of our peers in October
• That we would each day fall more in love with and continue in awe of the whole Gospel Message