I have just got back from my most memorable trip to date. It was a 3 day trip of rafting then rock climbing then rafting again. There was 17 kids on the this trip ranging from 12 to 16 years old.
Two things have made this trip locked in my mind for awhile to come. First on the rock day. I was carrying ropes up over a path to our climb site. As i scrambled over a pile of rocks and started to descend I heard a loud hissing sound. I froze and looked down. About 2 feet away and one rock below as a 5' rattle snake. I had never seen a rattle snake in nature before and this one was right at my feet. Praise God that is just decided to slither away and hide in a rock instead of strike me. Once the snake was a little away i continue past carefully. The rest of the day had me thinking about rattle snakes though, that's for sure.
I said two things make this trip stand out to me. The second is a boy name Roberto. On the last evening of the trip we took all the campers on a walk to a grave yard and had them look around for a little while. Then one of our staff shared some of her testimony and then challenged the campers with a question; "What is standing between you and God?" We then had all the campers do a solo walk back to camp and then find a place in the field to write in their journals and read there bibles on their own. After a little time we as staff went around and talked with the camper to see where they were at. When i came to Roberto I noticed he had written and entire page in his notebook. I asked him what he was thinking about. He told me how when he came to camp he felt alone but now he doesn't feel alone because we've been talking to him about who God is. I talked with Roberto for about 15 minutes on salvation and sin and God. He even asked me how to pray for salvation so i gave him some examples and left him to think some more. About 10 minutes later i came to bring him back to camp. On the way he asked me how to start that pray. I respond "Dear Jesus..." He started repeating me and at that point and i knew he really wanted to pray for Jesus to come into his life. So as we walked back to camp i got to lead him in a pray for salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. Afterward he said he felt a lot happier. I know I sure did.
I don't think i have ever prayed with someone in that manner before. It is so incredible to see how God wants to use us in our lives if we make ourselves available. Please pray for Roberto and His new faith in Christ. I believe his family sometimes goes to Catholic Church. Where ever he goes he needs godly influence to surround and encourage him.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Apologies
As you have notice I have not be writing in my blog. This is because I'm not very faithful when it comes to things like this. So i ask you forgiveness. I have had a busy summer but I should have taken time aside to let you know what has been happening. I mentioned in my last blog that there was a possibility of my discipling a boy from the Canby Center Trip. That has happened and today we are going to the beach together.
He is a 17 year old that at one point was addicted to Oxy Cotton. About a month ago i got to help baptise him. And it has been an awesome thing to watch him grow.
Please pray for him that God would keep him from bad influences and that he would be convicted by the Spirit to make changes in the friendships he has.
He is a 17 year old that at one point was addicted to Oxy Cotton. About a month ago i got to help baptise him. And it has been an awesome thing to watch him grow.
Please pray for him that God would keep him from bad influences and that he would be convicted by the Spirit to make changes in the friendships he has.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Trips have begun!
I just got back from my first big trip. We left on Thursday 6/17 and got back on 6/19. This was a unique trip because the kids on the trip were not Christians. The trip was put on by an organization called Canby Center which is a educational ministry to youth who have been expelled from school. 10 kids were signed up to go and only 4 showed about. At first i was bummed, as well as concerned because the ratios of adults to kids was 2:1. However, God wasn't surprised; in fact I'm certain this was His plan to impact the 4 boys that went on the trip. In 3 days we went from a group that was some what disconnected to a group hugging and laughing good byes.
Before the trip began we were told that the kids coming were resistant to the gospel and so we need to be careful not to shut them off. However God gave ample opportunity to talk with the boys about our faith in Jesus. They asked questions which open to doors to conversations. I am convinced that God wanted these 4 boys to see adults live out a life of Christ before them. Be praying for these 4 boys and the seeds that were planted. Also pray for an opportunity for me to possible meet up with one of the boys and start a 6 week discipleship program with him.
And now i am leaving again today backt to wasco fair grounds near Maupin. Tomorrow is a training day in inflatable kayaks and then a group is coming that night. On Wednesday we are taking the group out rafting and some are going kayaking. I believe I'll be shuttling which means i follow the trip down the river with the van and trailer. Please pray for the group and for us to impact their lives for Christ (many of them will be Christians but it is very likely some will not be saved). I need prayer for being a shuttler because I've never really driven with a trailer before or backed up with one and I'm a little nervous. ( i did get a little training but it's still scary for me.)
Thank you all for your love and support
Before the trip began we were told that the kids coming were resistant to the gospel and so we need to be careful not to shut them off. However God gave ample opportunity to talk with the boys about our faith in Jesus. They asked questions which open to doors to conversations. I am convinced that God wanted these 4 boys to see adults live out a life of Christ before them. Be praying for these 4 boys and the seeds that were planted. Also pray for an opportunity for me to possible meet up with one of the boys and start a 6 week discipleship program with him.
And now i am leaving again today backt to wasco fair grounds near Maupin. Tomorrow is a training day in inflatable kayaks and then a group is coming that night. On Wednesday we are taking the group out rafting and some are going kayaking. I believe I'll be shuttling which means i follow the trip down the river with the van and trailer. Please pray for the group and for us to impact their lives for Christ (many of them will be Christians but it is very likely some will not be saved). I need prayer for being a shuttler because I've never really driven with a trailer before or backed up with one and I'm a little nervous. ( i did get a little training but it's still scary for me.)
Thank you all for your love and support
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Last 2 weeks
Thank you for your prayers. I have finished out my preschool job and my Spanish class. Now it is YD Adventures! Ho! There is so much to say but first i want to apologize for not writing sooner. Over memorial weekend i was gone for Rock Assistant training then a day and a half later i was headed out again for our 2ND raft guide training. I just got back from that on Sunday night.
Rock training weekend was a stretching for me. I'm not a big fan of heights but i had to learn to repel and climb so i can teach the groups we will be taking on these trips. I don't know if i will ever be comfortable with backing up to the edge of a cliff and walking over it but at least i know i can do it. I am looking forward to see the life changing affects this can have on youth. Rock climbing and repelling have some powerful analogies that can be drawn out to point towards Christ. The weekend went by pretty quickly. I missed the Friday training, Saturday was repelling, and Sunday we got checked off on competencies. The staff were surprised at how quickly i caught on for missing a whole day of training. Praise the Lord for the wisdom He gives us.
2 days after returning to the valley I was headed back out to Wasco County Fairgrounds to begin training on the Deschuttes. It was definitely warmer than being out on the McKenzie but still a little wet. The water level was much higher than anticipated and by the last day the river was running at almost twice the level it usually runs during the summer. This means a few things: We trained on the river when it is much more powerful than it will be, how the river looked at training will not be how it looks when we get out on trips( because water levels will drop and rocks will be exposed), and we may need to do another short training on the river to be prepared for new exposed dangers. The biggest issue was Oak Springs which is a class IV rapid because of how technical it is. Usually there are rocks exposed that need to be maneuvered around but right now so much water is flowing that it is all covered and instead there is a huge wave that tries to flip boats.
In fact probably to most intense part of the trip was the last day (that was when the river was the strongest) when i was in the lead boat and had just passed through Oaks Springs( i didn't guide, our trainers did). We had just got our boat into and eddy (an upstream current behind a large rock) to wait for the other boats. The next thing i know i hear whistle blasts and look upstream to see 5 swimmers (people who have fallen out of a boat) and a flipped raft. Instantly our guide had us back out in the main current to rescue the others from our group. I pulled in a couple people as they drifted by and at one point i help guide our raft so our trainer could focus on getting the other boat flipped and throwing a bag to the last swimmer. It was quite a moment probably not one i will quickly forget. Our God is very good a looking out for us. The only injuries were some bruised knees.
I am really excited to see what God is going to do this summer. I know i have said that before but it is really true. This is an incredible ministry to be a part of. Our certification day is next Monday. That is when they will decide if anyone of us first year staff can be certified as river guides and rock assistants. Please pray for us that no matter if we are certified or not God would use us all greatly this summer to impact youth for His Kingdom. Also this Saturday is my first group event. Its a group doing a high ropes challenge course. Pray that God would use me and also help me to learn quickly how to facilitate because i missed some of the training for ropes courses.
Thank you all for you prays and support.
Rock training weekend was a stretching for me. I'm not a big fan of heights but i had to learn to repel and climb so i can teach the groups we will be taking on these trips. I don't know if i will ever be comfortable with backing up to the edge of a cliff and walking over it but at least i know i can do it. I am looking forward to see the life changing affects this can have on youth. Rock climbing and repelling have some powerful analogies that can be drawn out to point towards Christ. The weekend went by pretty quickly. I missed the Friday training, Saturday was repelling, and Sunday we got checked off on competencies. The staff were surprised at how quickly i caught on for missing a whole day of training. Praise the Lord for the wisdom He gives us.
2 days after returning to the valley I was headed back out to Wasco County Fairgrounds to begin training on the Deschuttes. It was definitely warmer than being out on the McKenzie but still a little wet. The water level was much higher than anticipated and by the last day the river was running at almost twice the level it usually runs during the summer. This means a few things: We trained on the river when it is much more powerful than it will be, how the river looked at training will not be how it looks when we get out on trips( because water levels will drop and rocks will be exposed), and we may need to do another short training on the river to be prepared for new exposed dangers. The biggest issue was Oak Springs which is a class IV rapid because of how technical it is. Usually there are rocks exposed that need to be maneuvered around but right now so much water is flowing that it is all covered and instead there is a huge wave that tries to flip boats.
In fact probably to most intense part of the trip was the last day (that was when the river was the strongest) when i was in the lead boat and had just passed through Oaks Springs( i didn't guide, our trainers did). We had just got our boat into and eddy (an upstream current behind a large rock) to wait for the other boats. The next thing i know i hear whistle blasts and look upstream to see 5 swimmers (people who have fallen out of a boat) and a flipped raft. Instantly our guide had us back out in the main current to rescue the others from our group. I pulled in a couple people as they drifted by and at one point i help guide our raft so our trainer could focus on getting the other boat flipped and throwing a bag to the last swimmer. It was quite a moment probably not one i will quickly forget. Our God is very good a looking out for us. The only injuries were some bruised knees.
I am really excited to see what God is going to do this summer. I know i have said that before but it is really true. This is an incredible ministry to be a part of. Our certification day is next Monday. That is when they will decide if anyone of us first year staff can be certified as river guides and rock assistants. Please pray for us that no matter if we are certified or not God would use us all greatly this summer to impact youth for His Kingdom. Also this Saturday is my first group event. Its a group doing a high ropes challenge course. Pray that God would use me and also help me to learn quickly how to facilitate because i missed some of the training for ropes courses.
Thank you all for you prays and support.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Rafting training trip #1 done
I just returned yesterday from a 4 day training trip on the McKenzie River down by Eugene, Oregon. Boy oh boy am I tired. Every day was about the same. We got up at 6:00am in the morning, had breakfast at 6:30am, devotions with the Lord at 7:00am and then got ready for the river.
The river was cold and it was rainy most of the time, it even hailed at one point while we were on the river, and so "not cotton"/synthetic layers and wet suits were a must. It sure felt good to come home and take a shower let me tell you.
The best part about the whole trip was actually getting a chance, on the lower McKenzie, to learn and the guide. I learned all about how to ferry a raft( ferrying is paddling against the current). Basically you angle your boat to 45 degrees off the current and it ferries you to one side of the river or the other depending on where the nose of you boat is pointing. For example if my nose is pointed towards river right(if facing the direction the current is flowing it's the right side of the river) at a 45 degree angle to the current and have everyone paddle backwards my boat will go to river left. I learned a lot of other things which i won't bore you with. However I will say that by day 3 I got to guide a raft through a class 3 rapid twice which was very exciting.
I am so thankful to God that He has enabled me to be in this ministry and has gifted me to be able to learn how to river guide. I can't wait until next weekend when we go to rock climbing assistant training.
Please pray for us as a team the God continues to unite us together it has been such a joy to meet everyone that I am working with for the summer. Also i could use your prayers in these next couple of weeks that i don't lose my head as i wrap up working at a pre-school and finish my spanish class, all the while am training and studying up on my competence testing for rafting and rock climbing. There is a lot on my mind and i need some supernatural focus and peace to make it through these next 2 weeks.
The river was cold and it was rainy most of the time, it even hailed at one point while we were on the river, and so "not cotton"/synthetic layers and wet suits were a must. It sure felt good to come home and take a shower let me tell you.
The best part about the whole trip was actually getting a chance, on the lower McKenzie, to learn and the guide. I learned all about how to ferry a raft( ferrying is paddling against the current). Basically you angle your boat to 45 degrees off the current and it ferries you to one side of the river or the other depending on where the nose of you boat is pointing. For example if my nose is pointed towards river right(if facing the direction the current is flowing it's the right side of the river) at a 45 degree angle to the current and have everyone paddle backwards my boat will go to river left. I learned a lot of other things which i won't bore you with. However I will say that by day 3 I got to guide a raft through a class 3 rapid twice which was very exciting.
I am so thankful to God that He has enabled me to be in this ministry and has gifted me to be able to learn how to river guide. I can't wait until next weekend when we go to rock climbing assistant training.
Please pray for us as a team the God continues to unite us together it has been such a joy to meet everyone that I am working with for the summer. Also i could use your prayers in these next couple of weeks that i don't lose my head as i wrap up working at a pre-school and finish my spanish class, all the while am training and studying up on my competence testing for rafting and rock climbing. There is a lot on my mind and i need some supernatural focus and peace to make it through these next 2 weeks.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A new beginning
This is my first blog every so i guess i have finally joined the ban-wagon. My intention is keep my friends and family up to date with my ministry and life for as long as those two shall exist.
I have just been hired on as summer staff for a great ministry called Youth Dynamics Ministry. It is totally the Lord and totally unexpected. I went on a rafting trip with a friend on the last day of spring break. I only got to go on the trip because a couple other people had bailed out. As a result i was introduced to YD ministries because that rafting trip was one of their training trips for volunteer staff. During the trip the leaders mentioned a need for summer staff. Instantly my heart was pricked but I need to pray about it first.
I ended up pulling a Gideon and telling God that if YD ministries could work around some other commitments i already had then i would do it. Then i prayed that God would let it happen. A few weeks after my initial contact with YD ministries i was sitting done with Jeremy Bucher who is head of staff development for and interview. A few hours after my interview i got a call from him telling me that YD wanted me to join their summer staff.
Since that point i have been trying get prep for the summer. Training starts in just 2 more weeks but i still have my preschool job until the end of May and my Spanish class too.
I am so excited for this summer but its going to be very stretching because I need to raise my own support and i have never done that before. I trust God, though, that He will provide for me and stir up the hearts of others to give to this ministry.
I ask that you would support me in your prayers and also consider if you could support me monetarily. I need at least $1500 for the summer. So if 30 people give $50 i will have what i need.
God Bless,
Robbie
I have just been hired on as summer staff for a great ministry called Youth Dynamics Ministry. It is totally the Lord and totally unexpected. I went on a rafting trip with a friend on the last day of spring break. I only got to go on the trip because a couple other people had bailed out. As a result i was introduced to YD ministries because that rafting trip was one of their training trips for volunteer staff. During the trip the leaders mentioned a need for summer staff. Instantly my heart was pricked but I need to pray about it first.
I ended up pulling a Gideon and telling God that if YD ministries could work around some other commitments i already had then i would do it. Then i prayed that God would let it happen. A few weeks after my initial contact with YD ministries i was sitting done with Jeremy Bucher who is head of staff development for and interview. A few hours after my interview i got a call from him telling me that YD wanted me to join their summer staff.
Since that point i have been trying get prep for the summer. Training starts in just 2 more weeks but i still have my preschool job until the end of May and my Spanish class too.
I am so excited for this summer but its going to be very stretching because I need to raise my own support and i have never done that before. I trust God, though, that He will provide for me and stir up the hearts of others to give to this ministry.
I ask that you would support me in your prayers and also consider if you could support me monetarily. I need at least $1500 for the summer. So if 30 people give $50 i will have what i need.
God Bless,
Robbie
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