Brackenhurst Ministries: Camp Staff Reunion and Southside Church Retreat

On Friday evening, shortly after the arrival of the camp 2010 team, twelve members of the Southside Church mission team drove into WinShape and were immediately blind-folded as they began their first activity! They spent the next hour or so diving into an experience that will help them jump right into the Kenyan culture this June. After analyzing this activity and their team members, the group continued bonding by drawing pictures that represent their life story. It was after the team had shared some of their spiritual stories, that they realized they did not even know each other's last names! I was instantly impressed with their willingness to open up and connect! At midnight, we hit Waffle House and shared goals and laughter over a lot of scattered and smothered! John Hightower, the team leader, opened up on Saturday morning with words from 1 Samuel 7:12, and challenged us to think about "Ebenezers" in our life. After more team sharing, they headed out to the ropes course for team building activities. They learned what it was like to trust and lean into eachother and to think through and solve problems as a team. After lunch, discussions about possible projects began that carried them through the end of their retreat. As the group was packing up, one team member said he was so excited after this weekend that he's ready to go and serve now! I'd say that marks a successful team event!

Southside begins their retreat blindfolded

A little teambuilding

Pray for the 2010 Southside team as they prepare for Kenya this June

As the Southside team was heading out, previous Camp counselors began rolling in! This summer, 2010, marks the 10th summer of Camp in Kenya, and many of camp's previous counselors gathered at WinShape on Saturday & Sunday to celebrate a decade of camp in Kenya! We spent most of our time catching up on everyone's current life, sharing stories from Kenya, and meeting new friends who have all served at Camp Brackenhurst (now Camp BlueSky). Saturday night, we did relive our glory days by darning a harness and helmet and hitting up the zipline and giant swing! Squeals of joy and excitement broke the night's silence as everyone zipped or swung through the dark. After all that fun, we headed back inside to compare pictures and watch old camp dvds. What great memories! On Sunday morning, the 2010 camp team as well as the reunion folks joined together for a time of worship, led by Ryland (05-09) and Beth (06-09). Then Pete (01) shared the Word as he talked through this year's theme and some of camp's spiritual history. He concluded by challenging us that we are all called to be missionaries wherever we are in our life. Then the old staffers gathered around the 2010 team to pray for them, and then the 2010 team prayed for the old staffers as we all serve and minister in our respective communities. As the 40-odd people representing 10 years of camp slowly walked forward, many people (myself included) were truly touched by the Lord's hand at work in all of our lives and across the globe! We truly serve an awesome Father!