May 5, 2011 - STOKED!

Quite frankly I enjoy meetings... well let me rephrase I really enjoy productive meetings. On thursday afternoons we meet together as a planning team to plan Summer Staff training. Though I do get to have some imput I really am there to learn. It is quite the feat planning a three + week training that encompasses all areas of our ministry to get our summer staff fully trained and certified on the technical side of guiding but also balancing that with the fact the only reason we exist as an organization which is to minister to teens. We aren't just a typical outfitter. The purpose of our trips are to give students a fun experience but to more importantly create an environment where they are able to interact with God through His creation and challenging experiences. 

There are so many variable that go into training a group of 12- 14 people.

• Food: When you live an hour away from the nearest Costco you have to really plan this stuff out ahead of time. There is no quick trip for that forgotten item
• Location: The forest service has different maximum numbers so that there aren't large groups out in the middle of the backcountry so where can we fit that will still fit our needs. More trail names/ lakes/ rivers have been thrown around as options and all with Native American names that are hard to spell and say.
• Topics: There is so much to teach from technical expertise to ministry training as we sit looking at the schedule it can be a bit overwhelming. Like today when Shane pointed out that we go 8 days without a shower.... That Van will smell good on the way home.
• Just to name a few

For those of you that know me personally you know that I love the details. I love to make lists and plan so I really consider all this planning type stuff great fun. It is like a big puzzle that I get to help solve. 
When our director asked how I was feeling I blurted out "Intimidated" but as I got to thinking about it yes it is a little intimidating when you look at every hour of your life being scheduled for weeks on end. (really it is no different then college) but more than that I am STOKED! I am stoked to be in community and build friendships with the other Summer Staff. Stoked to gain more skills so I can minister to students using adventure and the outdoors.I am stoked to have lots of happy laughter and noise around the ranch, stoked to finally stop getting all the gear ready in preparation for the summer and have the summer to be here, I am stoked for warm weather and to ditch the wool socks (well at least for everyday wear) and most importantly I am STOKED to see what God is going to do in my life, in the lives of the staff and the lives of the students that we come in contact with.