1st summer at WFR

 "He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself...And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick." John 14:13-14

  Oh where to begin!  It's been over three months since I've posted and so much has gone on that I don't know what I'll all get to writing down?!  I think this verse sums up a bit of how I've been.  This summer was amazing from the moment the first bus of campers arrived and tears of joy filled my eyes, to training high school and college age women to clean toilets as if Jesus were going to use it, to pouring into these same women for Christ, to grow as a team with my co-workers thru long hours of work and riverside bonfires and night swims and doing all this all over again from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month and so much more in-between.  It left little down time, but was worth it for the opportunities I had to serve others and guide them to fall more in love with Christ.  I did get one or two days off each week where I'd explore a destitute place on our property to sit and be alone with Christ.

  Each month there was a new set of volunteers that came out to the canyon to work in a variety of departments.  In housekeeping I had about 20 ladies each session from all over the world (most from the US but a couple from other countries).  It was fun working along side them and encourageing them in their walk with the Lord.  I was encouraged by them as well that they would give up a month to come and serve all because they want others to come and know the Lord (Young Life is an out reach to the unchurched if you didnt already know).  I was challenged in so many ways being a leader and communicating with my co-leaders to work as a team for the same purpose and heart (Philippians 2:2), also having one-on-one time with the ladies to seek them out, show their loved, encourage them in the struggles of this world, combat lies and be a friend.  We would have theme days where we would all dress up crazy, we would sing while we worked, we'd play "screaming feet" or "ninja" while we waited for campers to leave a building so we could go clean, we'd have contests who could plunge a toilet the fastest, we'd memorize scripture together, we'd have night washboard parties, we'd stop for a Sassy treat (name of our snack bar), we'd wear bags on our head when we had to disinfect a lice room, we'd share lives together!
  When I wasn't working I would go to some of the camper events like the county fair/festival in the soccer fields, square dancing (my favorite!), the camp speaker talks, work crew/summer staff talent shows, and waterslides.  I also went kayaking and floating down the river with a friend who had the same off day as me or go for a long hike around the property or just lay in my hammock reading for hours.  I think I went in to town once every three to four weeks (however long I could go without grocery shopping).  I've gardened a bit and for the change of soil from Wisconsin to the dry desert of Oregon I still had wonderful lettuce, cilantro, basil, spinach, kohlrabi, and more than I can keep up with zuccihini.

  My parents came out for a week and got to be adult campers.  They loved it and created some great friendships with other adult guests and most importantly with Christ!  My dad even loved embarrassing me while I gave a making bed demonstration tell everyone that he taught me those hospital corners.
  It's now back to off-season camping and still seem just as busy but without all the extra volunteers.  We had two Spanish speaking groups in at the end of August so I was super excited to give my clean up speech to them in Spanish.  Unfortunately for the first group I forgot the word for pillowcases so as one of the tables in the back of a room of 300+ people started yelling the correct word I heard incorrectly and ended up saying a swear word in Spanish.  Everyone broke out in laughter and I tried to play it off as if I didnt know what I just said and finished the rest of the speech, but man none of my co-workers are letting me live that one down.  I made sure I remembered the correct word for the next week group.  I'm back to helping host groups during the off-season, with this weekend being a women's retreat so it's nice to have a change up a bit.  
  My two roommates are both seasonal hires so they'll be leaving shortly and I'll be in a 6 bedroom all by myself.  There's not any options really for any singles out here :(  I had a four day break last weekend and went to a friends cabin, then camping and hiking at Crater Lake and then hiked South Sister (the third highest peak in Oregon) with some of the year-long interns.  Their year is coming to an end and a new set of year-longs move out in October.  I'm coming on almost one year at the canyon.  I'm still loving it and so blessed to be apart of this ministry!