God is our strength ...

April Prayer Letter: April 1, 2010

It is true, it is April 1, but this is no joke – it is the real thing! Without God, we can do nothing! (John 5:15) We deeply value your communications with Him, on our behalf! Thank you – our hats off to you!

1. Camper praise: to date James has processed over 630 camper registrations and isn’t done yet! Some camps are already full but it looks like there is still room for more campers, here and there. It is a huge privilege that we have to minister to all these kids!

2. Staffing praise: We are so grateful to God for the 86 individuals who have already committed to filling 137 of our summer positions. In addition, there are another 34 people who are pending for another 58 positions. Praise God with us!

3. Staffing needs: The following 94 positions are still to be filled:

• a) PIT Crew leaders (male and female): This is a huge need and concern for us. It is ~ a 6 plus week commitment, in addition to the labor day weekend in Sept.
• b) Outtrip leaders: for the Mtn Girls Outtrip and the Mtn Boys Outtrip (we have campers signed up and ready to go – now we need leaders): COLTS training pre-requisite.
• c) Nurse: Jr 1, Boys Crowll, Mtn Int, Int 2, Sr Crll, Mtn Bike 1, Mtn Bike 2
• d) Head Cook: Mtn Jr, Sr Crll, Jr 2, Sr 2
• e) Cooks: Int 1, Int 2, Jr 2, Sr 1, Family
• f) Dining room: Family
• g) Dish pit: Jr 1, Int 2, Sr 1, Sr 2, Family
• h) Child care: Jr 1, Mtn Jr, Int 2, Mtn Bike 1, Jr 2, Sr 2
• i) Counselors: Jr 1 (8 male, 8 female), Girls Crowll (4 female), Mtn Jr (2 female),   Int 1 (8 male, 4 female), Mtn Int (3 female), Int 2 (8 male, 5 female),                     Sr Crll (2 male, 2 female), Mtn Bike 1(1 male, 1 female), Jr 2 (8 male, 5 female),  Mtn Bike 2(3 male),  Sr 1(6 male, 6 female), Sr 2(5 male, 5 female)
• j) Worship coordinator: ~ a 9 week commitment
• k) Multi-media person: ~ a 9 week commitment

4. New website (same website address): after many hours of work by Nathan Troxel, on March 1st the new and updated website was posted for all to see. We are encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response it is getting. Yes, there have been little glitches here and there – but these are getting worked out. Pray that this will continue to be an effective tool for ministry and communication.

5. COLTS: Robyn has accepted 5 participants for the program this year (2 girls and 3 guys). Pray for safety as they work through the training weeks (May 1 – June 24). Another thing to keep in prayer is – we would really like to have a male leader to assist Robyn through the training weeks.

6. More staffing praise: We are feeling so blessed by 2 new additions! We are excited and incredibly grateful to God for bringing 2 people to help us, long term, on an unmatched bursary basis:

• a) beginning March 1st, Brian Meierhofer has taken on the role of the Mtn Site assistant director of camping. He is currently working from his home in Lethbridge but will be out at the Mtn site by mid May. Right now he is helping in the recruiting process (mtn site specific), working on safety issues, and taking concentrated interest in all matters concerning the Mtn site – staffing, maintenance, program, development, etc. Please remember Brian and Cassandra and their family as they prepare for being at camp for 5 months of pre-summer, summer and post summer.
• b) Beginning May 1, Ginny Bryant will be joining us, year round. Ginny’s focus will be at the Lake site but she also has a passion for and interest in the Crowll site, staff and program. During May/June she will be cooking for the COLTS group and helping Robyn with some of the COLTS training. Her main involvement during the summer will be staff support as the female head counselor. In the fall, she will assist in hosting rental groups, helping with building & maintenance, but her passion is for staff and camper follow-up – so she will be developing and planning for increased communication with those groups.

7. Building update: the current progress on the new building site - the lower section of trusses are up, sheeted and a fire-barrier installed. Next step is to get the upper (and significantly larger) trusses in place (the crane arrived today, as I write this at 10:51am, the first truss is being lifted up – 1 up … 57 to go … very exciting!! Now it is 4 pm and I am sending this out – there are 20 in place!), then on to sheeting in the roof, installing windows and doors, etc. We pray for people resources to help now (through the spring) and during the summer, and also safety on the work site. For email updates you can sign up to receive these, from our website: www.crowcamp.ca

8. We are weak but He is strong. Pray for us (the year round staff team) that we will have servant hearts in all we do and say. In our weakness, we depend on energy, strength and rest (plus wisdom, patience & did I mention, rest) from God. All of us are putting in long hours these days – and experiencing various stresses; there is much to do and many expectations & timelines to meet. (As a quick picture of how I am personally feeling: putting all my energy into keeping my head above water and can barely even think about where to swim for safety.) Please pray that we will cope with all these things with wisdom, time management, making and keeping priorities. Pray that we would not succumb to the temptation to simply react to the immediate, but can maintain a steady and directed focus. Right now, rest is an essential, so that we don’t crash before the beginning of the summer. Pray that we can be disciplined to take that rest. Pray that we will be His servants and bring glory to God. After all, this is His work and it is ALL about Him!