Hello Friends!

DeLancey and I have been home for a month now, and I thought we'd write one last blog (for this year anyway), to sum up our summer.
Let me start by saying God was very present.  From strength for DeLancey to deal with her Autistic camper, to inspiration for myself when teaching a variety of skills to a variety of staffers, God was present.

I was blessed through my position as a Program Intern; the increased responsibility and privilege was exciting.  God definitely started a lot of processes in me this summer, differing from a lot of results.  I believe it is His way of calling me to seek after Him, cleave unto Him for my answers, my strength, and my direction.
DeLancey enjoyed the opportunity to step into more leadership as a second-year staffer, as well as enter into more adventure.  With courage she took on her first whitewater kayaking trip, as well as her first high-school Facilitation (counseling) role.  It was a delight to see her handful of girls grow close to her, looking up to her wisdom and love.

Thank you for all of your prayers for us this summer, as well as encouragements in a variety of forms.
DeL is starting school, tackling Algebra II as well as stacks of science and writing books.  I'm starting classes at a local Community College, working towards my degree in Journalism, as well as seeking after a part-time job.  This Sunday's sermon was on the Israelites in the desert: God instructed them to collect only a days-worth of manna; anything extra taken out of disobedience became "full of maggots and began to smell." (Ex. 20:16) The Pastor drew the analogy of God's desire for us: looking to Him each day for strength, providence, and grace. The failure of our self-dependence is God's call for us to cleave into Him. He gives us what we need for today, no more, no less, so that we may grow to trust Him "beyond our own understanding." (Prov. 3:5)
DeL and I both experienced this call from God this summer, and desire to continue to seeking Him, as well as live out a life of ministry in our own community.

Thank you again for you prayers, and God bless.

Much love to you all,

Anjeli and DeLancey Doty

DeLancey running the zipline platform.

Paddling back with campers after an afternoon of kayaking. (I'm taking "sweep" position , a.k.a., the very back.)

The Program Director Reuben Stratford (front) and I assist someone re-entering their kayak from the water.

DeLancey in the trees with a camper. :)

A Much Belated Post...

Dear Everyone,

                     

Apologies for not posting in over a month!  Big camps coming in, relationships growing, and the staff numbers tapering down with summer’s end make things around here consuming!  I (Anjeli) have enjoyed the busyness though, as well as witnessing DeLancey's heart and actions through the different jobs to which she has been assigned.  From facilitating Junior High and Highschool groups to running High Static Ropes courses and Rock Climbing, I am constantly impressed with her trust in God’s strength above her own, and her willingness to step into whatever is asked of her.  As for me, being a Program Intern has turned out much differently than I thought it would, but has been full of unplanned, blessed moments.  God has been bringing me to and through a process of choosing Him over logicality or “sense.”  I will never be able to fully comprehend or understand God, but that is part of the beauty of belief.  As I heard one person say, “This life on earth is the only opportunity we have to bless God with our belief.”  Upon His return, all will see and know, but right now is my chance to say “I trust in You.”

This past Sunday I said goodbye to my boyfriend CJ Nelson, as he returned to Virginia to join the Navy this fall.  I was blessed with three weeks of wonderful visiting with him, one which included working together with a group from a Washington inner city teen home here at Bighorn.  It was an impacting experience working with this handful of teens, most of them having difficult home lives, and feeling God at work in and through me.  They were just like me, only with a different past.  I was touched by their closeness as a group, but also their acceptance of CJ and I as we led them through kayaking trips. 

So, this summer has been much different than I thought.  But, the good kind of different; like when you think you’ve guessed your birthday present, but it was something else entirely, even more wonderful in the unexpected, surprising, unprepared sort of way.  God continues to show me how He is my fulfillment, my hope, and my end.

Prayers for a blessed final week would be greatly appreciated!  We have a Family Camp coming in, around eighty people.  Staff numbers are small, so we would love prayers for good attitudes through the heightened workloads and increased need for flexibility.

This verse has been on my mind:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”   --1 Corinthians 2:9

Along with:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."  --2 Corinthians 4:17

I can find peace knowing that no matter what comes my way, it is working towards a greater weight of glory.  I don’t know what God has prepared for me, but I can trust it is going to be glorious.

Thanks for reading, and bless you,

Anjeli

Staff Picture!

Also, here's our staff picture!

Happy Independence Day!

Good morning everyone!

Sorry I haven’t updated in a while; the second week of staff training was very eventful and attention-needing, to say the least!  I trained staff in all areas: High Static, Zip Line, spoke on equipment use and stewardship, Rock Climbing refresher, as well as Belay School and Belay Refresher!  Belaying is part of climbing skills training: it is the technique of bringing in the slack of the rope as the climber gains height, while simultaneously locking it down so as to keep the climber safe in the event of their slipping.  You use this handy little device:

The friction created by simple pulling down on the rope is what locks it.  Belay devices or “ATCs”, are relatively easy to use, but do require training to get good and safe technique down to where it becomes muscle memory.

At the beginning of the week I was feeling rather inadequate to teach; I knew I had the soft skills experience, but I was second-guessing and doubting my experience with the actual hard skills.  I mean, what if I taught something wrong and because of me someone was hurt, or worse?  Looking back I see how the enemy was trying to bring me down, and give me a spirit of fear right before my first “official” teaching opportunity!  After a session of deep searching prayer, I was blessed with a spirit of peace to continue with my training the next day, and I did great!  It was rewarding to spend the morning teaching, and then experience my students putting the lesson into practice as they led the new staff through the same event in the afternoon.  I taught, they understood.  Very reassuring, and it gave me the confidence I needed for the rest of my lessons that week.

Speaking on stewardship also went really well.  Camp Bighorn has a lot of nice gear, both for campers and the staff, there for them to use!  My purpose was communicating that if they use proper channels to check gear out (getting permission, using the clipboards, etc.), and are responsible with the care of it, they will have that privilege all summer.  But, also communicating if gear is returned late, broken, or misused, what the consequences would be. (Privilege loss for a week, or until they demonstrate renewed responsibility.)  I talked about how everything is the Lord’s:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”  -Psalm 24:1

And by taking care of the gear entrusted to them, they are honoring the following person to use it, Camp Bighorn, and ultimately God.  It was sweet to feel receptive hearts and ears to my speaking.

The rest of the week included good conversation, deepened friendships, Thai food (my favourite CBH meal!), time for me to rock climb myself, filler teaching here and there, and the reminder that God loves me.  Not for how well I can perform, the extent of my vocabulary, or my shortcomings, but me, my heart, my soul. 

Day Camp for preschool and kindergarteners is currently in process, so look for an update this weekend about their adventures!  If there is one thing that is always consistent about Day Camp, it is the counselors (Facilitators, as we call them!) that put immense energy into these kids.  Pouring their focus, creativity, and love 110% for seven hours straight for five days!  Prayers for rest for these staff as well as renewed strength would be greatly appreciated. 

Today is July 4^th, and I am thankful for all who have gone before me and sacrificed so that I may have freedom; especially my Lord and Saviour.  I am free to live out of the fullness of who He made me, without the fear of failure or shortcomings, for:

“Who the Son has set free, shall be free indeed!”  --John 8:36

“For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” 

--Galatians 5:1

Happy Independence Day! 

First Week Update

Dear Friends!

I (Anjeli) write this donning a tanktop, remainder of a sunburn, and happy sandaled feet. :)  I have a lot on my mind, from processing mentally stimulating questions/points from the first week of staff training, to the teaching preparations I need to make for the next.  Advanced apologies for my scattered writing expression, this blog entry is a reflection of my mind! 

Staff training format has differed this year.  The first week has been fashioned around the experience of a camper, so as to promote more relation and understanding for us as staff; we were in the cabins, instead of the dorms; afternoons we ran events with our “family groups” (a smaller team of staff that routinely re-connect and spend time together, creating a more intimate group for fellowship and sharing), learning through those experiences.  It was a full week, and a good one. 

My favourite class was on purpose.  The big question was “Why has God called you here this summer?”  The speaker, Josh Vandermeer, made the point that we are here on earth for the “praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:4-6), and that should influence everything we do.  When we wash a toilet, we need to be asking ourselves, “God has brought me to this very place for His glory, how can I fulfill that?”  It was a striking reminder that it’s not entirely about me this summer, the people with whom I work, or even the campers that come through, but how those will fulfill and reveal God’s glory.  A wonderful vision to start off the summer, and I am excited to see it grow and develop in myself and others.

This next week is technical skills, and I am assisting in the teaching of High Static, Challenge Course, and Gear Training.  With each, I am in constant need of God’s grace, wisdom, and provision.  It is so easy for me to be swept up in my cares and fears, and forget that the God of the universe is working in me, I have His Spirit!  Isaiah 41:10 says:

“Fear not, for I am with you.  Be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

The Pastor this morning (Camp Bighorn brings the staff into Plains for church meeting Sunday mornings) made an impacting point: God is going to have His will fulfilled; with or without us.  So, do we want to yield to that and show His glory through our obedience, or do we want to experience God working without our cooperation, which will undoubtedly include a hard process as we go through pain and regret?  God’s will is accomplished, no matter what; but how much better is it when I submit and say, “Here I am, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)  Incredibly, part of that submission is surrendering my fears, cares, worries, and anxieties, and fully trusting in His providence; amazing what freedom is available through surrender!

Thank you all for stopping in, we appreciate your support.  I would love prayers for my process of surrendering, along with sourcing my strength from Him.  This next week looks to be eventful and exciting, and I go into it with the intent to glorify God through my teaching, as well as my continual learning and building of relationships.

DeLancey is well, enjoying being around the other staff.  She is thriving through the lessons and community, and is a light to all who encounter her.  You’ll read updates from her also, she and I tag-team our blog. :)  I would appreciate prayers for her continued strength, health, and joy, as well as blessing on the relationships that she’s building.

Thank you all!

Much love,

Anjeli Carol

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. 

In love he predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ,  in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the

 One He loves.

-Ephesians 1:4-6

Good Morning!!

I was awakened by a wonderful rain storm, pounding and crashing in rhythmic beauty on our tin roof.   I was also awakened by the reality that Delancey and I leave for Staff Training in three days!  We both have our lists: pack clothes, wash laundry, purchase toiletries, finish odds and ends here and there...what we didn't include on our lists was "catch the cold going 'round!"  However, lists are one thing, reality is another!  So here we are, both sick with with the local bug.  Thankfully, we're not greatly impaired, but rather tired and slow. 

"I will bless the LORD at all time; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. " -Ps. 34:1

DeLancey and I would deeply appreciate prayer; for healing and sustaining health, but also for joyful attitudes, and trust in the promises of our LORD Jesus Christ. Aside from all sickness, we're both still very excited for all that awaits us; adventure, learning, fellowship, and ministry.  Thanks for taking the time to read our blog! :)
May the LORD bless you!

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 

for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” -2 Cor. 12:9 

--Anjeli Carol

Welcome!!

Hello!
Thanks for checking out our blog!  DeLancey and I will be updating it as often as possible this summer. :)
She and I are busy packing, finishing projects, and eagerly preparing (physically, mentally, spiritually) for staff training, which starts June 17th.  I appreciate the way blogs keep us in communication and community with you all, sharing stories, expressing prayer requests, and praising God for the work He's done.  I hope you all get a closer look into our summers, as we write over the next three months.
Thank you all, and God bless!

Anjeli

P.S.  Check out Camp Bighorn's Junior Camp promotional video that I (Anjeli) helped design and create!