They’re here! All but one of the campers made it on time. The standout is a guy who’s repeating but had a wedding (not his) to attend first. It was great to see some old faces – David, Ruben at their fourth camp with us, others on their second or third plus many new faces.
We’re off to a good start. Not too many appear lost and lonely – always a potential problem but it usually doesn’t last long. Tonight’s messagelaid out the theme of living dangerously by giving three choices of how to live our lives:
“safely” – never risking, covering all our bases, taking out the necessary insurances – BUT doesn’t work in a dangerous fallen world.
“recklessly” – living without thought to consequences, without thought to others, randomly, selfishly – BUT works to well in a dangerous fallen world if you don’t mind falling yourself.
“dangerously” – living as a chosen, effective agent of a loving powerful God successfully doing battle in a dangerous, fallen world
Pray for God to lead and move in all areas.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Staff Roadtrip
Today was staff outing to Lucerne, Switzerland. A 1.5 hour bus ride to the city followed by the sights on an uncharacteristically hot day for a city nestled in the edge of the Alps. Back to Kandern and a tour of BFA ten back up the hills to the now standard Apenblick restaurant for the schnitzel specials. After 12+ hours we’re back at camp and looking forward to showers and sleep. Final prep tomorrow and, after 1PM the campers arrive!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Prep Day
At the close of this first full day of prep at camp I’m well pleased with the tone, attitude and spirit of our staff. They’re focused on their responsibilities, creative in their problem solving, responsive to requests for help and relationships among them seem quite promising and harmonious.
This morning we shared the essential things about us that others have to know in order to really know how to work with each other. Health concerns, who most needs coffee, when to leave the Director alone, warning signs of impending meltdown – all those things which serve to give early warning to each other. Previewing the detailed schedule for camp allows all to see exactly how it all fits together and hoe crucial each one’s job is. I did some driving instruction in a local parking lot using our ridiculously long vans and some human traffic cone volunteers (we dealing with very slow speeds here – don’t worry) and I think we’ll have enough drivers to ferry our campers to various venues. In between these bookends the staff worked on preparing for Thursday when the kids arrive.
After dinner (8PM) we drove the serpentine roads of the Black Forest to the town of Vogelbach (Google Earth that one!) and hiked into the forest for about a half mile to the ruins of Sausenburg castle. Their we climbed the restored tower for a view that stretched over Dreilandereck (Three country corner). The city of Basel Switzerland, the Vosges mountains of France, the Rhine Valley, and, of course the Black Forest all in spectacular sunset view. These guys earned it!
This morning we shared the essential things about us that others have to know in order to really know how to work with each other. Health concerns, who most needs coffee, when to leave the Director alone, warning signs of impending meltdown – all those things which serve to give early warning to each other. Previewing the detailed schedule for camp allows all to see exactly how it all fits together and hoe crucial each one’s job is. I did some driving instruction in a local parking lot using our ridiculously long vans and some human traffic cone volunteers (we dealing with very slow speeds here – don’t worry) and I think we’ll have enough drivers to ferry our campers to various venues. In between these bookends the staff worked on preparing for Thursday when the kids arrive.
After dinner (8PM) we drove the serpentine roads of the Black Forest to the town of Vogelbach (Google Earth that one!) and hiked into the forest for about a half mile to the ruins of Sausenburg castle. Their we climbed the restored tower for a view that stretched over Dreilandereck (Three country corner). The city of Basel Switzerland, the Vosges mountains of France, the Rhine Valley, and, of course the Black Forest all in spectacular sunset view. These guys earned it!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Full day 1
Well, the end of a long day of orientation is here. We’ve learned about German culture, German garbage regulation, camp rules and expectations and met in groups of teachers, counselors, activities leaders, cooks, directors and covered all the angles. It’s a long day when much of the staff is jet-lagged but it’s also much necessary stuff. Our staff arrived in good shape yesterday – all connections made and luggage accounted for. Not much to tell otherwise (but pray against the rise of a bad cold that seems to be threatening some of the staff.) Tomorrow we prep the site itself. Classrooms set up, lessons discussed, activities planned, rooms decorated, organization of all kicked up a few notches – that’s what we hope tomorrows report will be.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The Boy and His Lunch
The boy and his lunch 5-31-08
I have heard the story of the boy and his lunch several times. I have even heard sermons on it. I love the story of the boy who was there with Jesus and His disciples when it was lunchtime and there were thousands of others there with no lunch. What did he have? Two fishes and fives pieces of bread. He was a fortunate young man- he had all of that. While the rest of the people had followed Jesus to this remote place to hear Him speak and learn more and more of what He had to say. They weren’t aware of the time- they just wanted to hear more. Maybe His words became their “bread” so they didn’t need anything else.
The disciples were concerned. They needed to feed this crowd. One finds a boy with a lunch. Well, I read this recently in my devotions. I am the person with the lunch. I like my lunch. I have been looking forward to it. My stomach is growling and I’m looking for a quiet place to sit and enjoy my lunch- alone. Why would I give my lunch to Jesus? At that moment, it feels like the most valuable thing in the world and it is mine! Why would I let Him take it? I am hungry! What is He going to do with it? I am afraid!
Well, I have to reflect on what Jesus does with that lunch- that is offered freely to Jesus. Jesus takes it and blesses it and then turns and feed thousands and thousands of others. Just like that!
So what is Jesus asking of me? I have a “lunch”. Right now my lunch is my gifts and abilities- I organize people and events. I like doing that! I like getting to know people and seeing what their gifts are and plugging them into those events. That’s something I can offer Jesus. Right now, the call is to do that in Germany with English Camps. (I could take time to tell you how that call came to be- but that’s for another day) Jesus is asking for my lunch!
Well, that means I have to give it to Him doesn’t it? I have to give up my treasures: my home in the nice neighborhood, my secure lifestyle and employment, my church family and the people so dear, my time with my Mom, lunch with my sisters, my time with my big girls, my time sitting on the floor reading a book or rolling a ball (or in Evan’s case a toy car) with my grandsons. I give up all that is easy, all that is familiar.
Along with that, I have to give up my fears: where will we live? How will we pay for it? What will happen to my family here, will my friends forget me? Will my grandsons forget me? Then living in Germany: I look forward to living in our town because I like to walk and I’ll walk everywhere- to work, to the grocery store, to school, to church, - everywhere. But it never fails that someone driving by in a car will stop and ask for directions. Do I look German? I am wearing my white New Balance shoes- telltale sign that I am “American”- but they always seem to pick me and I trust it is because of my friendly face and they ask…something. I have no idea what these people are saying!
I digress.
I am reminded we all have a lunch. Jesus is asking us for our lunch. He is fully trustworthy! He will take our lunch if we offer it. He will bless it and it will be multiplied – for His glory. Pray for our family as we freely offer “our lunch” – our lives, our gifts, our talents- that He would take and multiply it for His glory!
Blessings!
Diane Kraines
I have heard the story of the boy and his lunch several times. I have even heard sermons on it. I love the story of the boy who was there with Jesus and His disciples when it was lunchtime and there were thousands of others there with no lunch. What did he have? Two fishes and fives pieces of bread. He was a fortunate young man- he had all of that. While the rest of the people had followed Jesus to this remote place to hear Him speak and learn more and more of what He had to say. They weren’t aware of the time- they just wanted to hear more. Maybe His words became their “bread” so they didn’t need anything else.
The disciples were concerned. They needed to feed this crowd. One finds a boy with a lunch. Well, I read this recently in my devotions. I am the person with the lunch. I like my lunch. I have been looking forward to it. My stomach is growling and I’m looking for a quiet place to sit and enjoy my lunch- alone. Why would I give my lunch to Jesus? At that moment, it feels like the most valuable thing in the world and it is mine! Why would I let Him take it? I am hungry! What is He going to do with it? I am afraid!
Well, I have to reflect on what Jesus does with that lunch- that is offered freely to Jesus. Jesus takes it and blesses it and then turns and feed thousands and thousands of others. Just like that!
So what is Jesus asking of me? I have a “lunch”. Right now my lunch is my gifts and abilities- I organize people and events. I like doing that! I like getting to know people and seeing what their gifts are and plugging them into those events. That’s something I can offer Jesus. Right now, the call is to do that in Germany with English Camps. (I could take time to tell you how that call came to be- but that’s for another day) Jesus is asking for my lunch!
Well, that means I have to give it to Him doesn’t it? I have to give up my treasures: my home in the nice neighborhood, my secure lifestyle and employment, my church family and the people so dear, my time with my Mom, lunch with my sisters, my time with my big girls, my time sitting on the floor reading a book or rolling a ball (or in Evan’s case a toy car) with my grandsons. I give up all that is easy, all that is familiar.
Along with that, I have to give up my fears: where will we live? How will we pay for it? What will happen to my family here, will my friends forget me? Will my grandsons forget me? Then living in Germany: I look forward to living in our town because I like to walk and I’ll walk everywhere- to work, to the grocery store, to school, to church, - everywhere. But it never fails that someone driving by in a car will stop and ask for directions. Do I look German? I am wearing my white New Balance shoes- telltale sign that I am “American”- but they always seem to pick me and I trust it is because of my friendly face and they ask…something. I have no idea what these people are saying!
I digress.
I am reminded we all have a lunch. Jesus is asking us for our lunch. He is fully trustworthy! He will take our lunch if we offer it. He will bless it and it will be multiplied – for His glory. Pray for our family as we freely offer “our lunch” – our lives, our gifts, our talents- that He would take and multiply it for His glory!
Blessings!
Diane Kraines
The relative calm before the storm
Well, we've arrived in Kandern and settled into our home for the next year - a sweet house, very comfortable. After a relatively quiet week of moderate activity and realization of just how tired we were, we're looking at the start of English Camp duty. It officially begins tomorrow although we've dabbled a bit over the last few days. Helping in the shopping for the camp, preparation of Bible teachings, Diane doing some cleaning at one of the sights this morning.
Keep posted!
Keep posted!
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