Training and First Week Down

I know, I know, “Why haven’t we heard from you yet?”  Sorry guys.

 They have been keeping us very busy. The training last week went really well.  It was a lot of information and I am looking forward to start putting it into action this week. 

During the training we covered many different topics.  Here are a few of them: Evangelism, discipleship, discipline, and home visitations.  We have each been given a visitation route.  The visitations are a huge component to building relationships with the kids outside of club.  I have loved getting to meet the kids!  Visitation is something I will be looking forward to each week.  We are to try to see the kids on our route at least once a week outside of ICI club times.  I have a lot of siblings/relatives on my route.  The route consists of about 30-40 kids.  That will grow throughout the summer too.  

                On Thursday we went to Camp Friedenswald where we will be taking the kids at the end of summer.  After walking around and being shown everything we hiked about a mile to our camping spot for the night.  We will take the kids tent camping one of those nights during the week of camp.  We then set up camp and enjoyed a couple of team building games.  Next we sat around the fire around 5 and went over the rules and guidelines while at camp.  Once that was done they put Bekah (one of the summer interns) in charge.  Bekah was an intern last summer so knew what was coming.  The rest of us did not.  The staff then began to act like unruly kids who would not listen and just did whatever.  All the while we are trying to enforce the rules, try to keep them away from the fire, throwing things into the fire, etc…  Just imagine chaos.  There were lots of things said too.  Thankfully we were able to keep the rope away from them. :-) I was faced with a dilemma while following 2 of them down the path back to camp, because one of the rules is you must keep them in your sight, and one decided to go back to the campsite and the other kept walking away.  I had to stop and way the options.  I continued to follow the one walking towards the actual camp area (not the campsite).  He did try to ditch me a couple of times and thankfully I avoided getting any poison ivy or oak.  Over all it was very challenging, exhausting, fun, and a great learning experience.  It was a fun camp-out getting to know and bond with some of the staff too.

                Friday evening we went over to one of the staff’s house.  I have since spent an evening with them and am enjoying the bond that is forming.  I love the family atmosphere that is here at ICI.  Also every Sunday night we go to B.J.’s (Program Director) house.  His wife makes a meal for us and then we have a time of debriefing about the past week, it is a nice time of reflection.  Plus we have time with our supervisor during the week.

It is going to be a crazy exhausting summer but well worth it! God has opened this door and will give each of us the strength and renewal if we are seeking after Him. I look forward to further sharing with you what, and how, God is working. I’m thrilled with this opportunity to be serving with ICI!

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!