welcome...

Welcome to my wing!

quick update

This can't be long, but just a quick update on my life.  I got to ABC Sunday night, and started moving into my room on Monday.  Sadly, my parents and sister had to leave Monday afternoon.  I enjoyed my time with them immensely  RA training began first thing Tuesday morning.  Tuesday afternoon, the athletes began arriving.  So far, things are going well, and I am enjoying being back at school.  New students arrive on Saturday, and returning students arrive on Monday.  Hope you all are doing well.

pictoral journal of the last week or so

Here I am in Alabama.  I can barely believe that my summer in Montana at Trail's End Ranch is complete.  I cannot even explain how much I have learned and grown this summer.  I was pleased when in my exit interview, Pat assured me "Becky, you have changed so very much from when you first came here."  To me, that is very good news.  I went into this wanting it to change my life, and it sure did that--Praise Him! Thank you all for your faithful prayers.  I felt them more then you will ever know.  You played a part in the ministry and the lives that were changed.

My last week of camp went very well...once it got started.  I had eight girls in my cabin, one of which was a CIT, which basically means she was more of a helper then a camper.  And she was a huge help at that.  She did devotions on modesty on Thursday, and did a great job.  She learned a lot from her study too which is awesome.  She came up to me afterwards and said "we don't teach girls this just because, we teach them this because it is in the Bible."  What a privilege it was for me to see this light go on for her.

One of the girls that was in my cabin came in with some heavy burdens and a very hard heart.  In talking to her Sunday night, she shared her anger and frustrations, "I don't want to be here, my mom made me come.  I don't want to be in the cabin with all of these girls.  None of them are as old or mature as me.  I just can't make friends with any of them, and don't want to be around them."  I encouraged her to try to overlook the differences and still try to make friends with them.  Shamefully, I must admit that I felt a bit defeated at this point and was afraid my last week was going to be horrible.  God had different plans though.  He gave me the strength to give this girl some tough love on Sunday night, and I barely had any issues with her from there on out.  Friday night as we were sharing with each other our favorite parts of the week, it came to this girl's turn, and her response was "My favorite part of the week was making friends with the girls here in the cabin and hanging out with them."  Talk about an answer to prayer!  It was so amazing to hear this out of her mouths and to see the joy in her eyes at the end of the week.  She wins the most improved camper of the summer from my cabins.  All the praise goes to the Lord!

On Saturday evening, we had a huge dinner for the staff.  Jim is an awesome chef and spoils us summer staff. We had prime rib, fried onions (like pieces of a blooming onion), baked potato, green salad, and homemade cheese biscuits.

It was a great time of fellowship and a delicious time of dessert--strawberry pie with cool whip.  After the meal, we had about an hour of down time, where I cleaned my cabin.  After that, we were all called back.  We watched the staff slide show and video, shared some testimonies, and then took communion together.  What an awesome way to end a great summer!

On Sunday, all the churches were combined, because Ekalaka was going through fair week.  We had the joined church service at the fairgrounds.  Each church shared one special music and one testimony.  It was very different, but yet still very good.  At the end, Bob shared the gospel message.  I must confess though that it was difficult to focus with all of the animals moving in the background.

After church, I had to say goodbyes.  It was a happy sad.  I enjoyed my friends at camp, but at the same time, I was eager to be with family too.

 This actually was taken last weekend. This is my dear friend, and prayer partner, Mandie.  She had to leave a week early for RA training.

  The four of us had a ton of fun together--Mandie, Aron, Daniel, and I

Lachelle and I 

Shalisha (the camp nurse) and I

After saying goodbyes and packing up the car, Emily, Suzie, Jenny, went back to Billings.  Suzie's flight left at 5pm, so that was our goal.  After dropping Suzie off at the airport, the three of us headed to Wal-Mart, and then to dinner.  The second time in my life ever having Chicago deep dish pizza.  I like it a lot, but could not get in a habit of eating it.  We then stopped at RedBox and went to Emily's house for a relaxing evening.  I went to bed early a little after nine and enjoyed a great night's sleep.

We left Emily's house around 9:30am for the ten minute drive to the airport.  I made my flight no problem, and had a layover in Denver, CO.  I was so thankful to see the sign say Nashville.  Nashville interprets in Becky's mind as "Tim, Beth, and Annette!"

I arrived safely, and am enjoying my time immensely in Alabama.  Annette Grace has gotten so big, and such a happy, beautiful, baby girl.  Tim and Beth are happy and beautiful too, haha!  Dad, Mom, and Sarah arrive later on today.  Hoping and praying for safety and alertness as they have been traveling all night long.

Aunt Becky and Annette

requesting travelling prayers

I can't believe it, but my summer at Trail's End Ranch has come to a completion.  I said goodbye to my last group of campers yesterday morning.  They were a fun bunch of gals!  I will tell you all about my week at a later time.  For right now, I am writing to ask for prayers for travel safeties in general for all those staff members traveling home within these next few days.  Daniel just pulled off camp for a long drive to Texas.  My travel plans are a bit more spoiled.  I will attend church this morning in Ekalaka, and then after church will head to Billings, MT with Suzie, Jenny, and Emily.  Suzie's flight leaves later today.  Jenny and I will stay at Emily's house tonight, and I will fly out roughly 10:45 am MDT.  I covet your prayers.  Prayers also as I am currently overtired sick, and want it better before I fly.  I am flying to Nashville, TN to be picked up by Tim and Beth.  I will stay at Tim and Beth's for several days until I head back up to school.  My family (Dad, Mom, and Sis) will drive down to AL Tuesday and Wednesday, so the family (minus Scott) will have some time together before I have to be back to school the twenty-second for RA training. 

Well, I better get back to packing up my cabin.  Thank you for your prayers!

completion of week 7 and Mt. Rushmore

Week 7 is complete, and it is so hard to believe that I only have one week left of camp.  The summer has flown by and I can't believe that I will have only been home for about 3 weeks of my summer.  This summer has definitely been a very growing experience.  It has been a privilege to see God at work here at camp.

Yesterday, Daniel and I went to Rapid City, SD to see Mt. Rushmore which I have never seen.  It was beautiful and a lot of fun to see that.  Here are some pictures.

Can't believe I have actually been to Mt. Rushmore.  It is definitely a masterpiece. 

I found the Vermont flag, but don't think I got a picture.  It was at the very end. 

We drove up over this mountain looking for a park you are supposed to be able to drive through and see a wide variety of wildlife, but we couldn't find it.  We did see a deer though!

It was a fun time being off campus and taking a break from campers.  This past week was probably one of my worst and one of my best weeks of camp.  Some of the issues my girls came in with were huge, but I simply hit it off with most of my girls so well, making it a fun week.  If you happen to think of it, please pray for my one camper who left this week unsaved.  She is unwilling to let go of her sin because she feels that it is what is holding her together.  She knows the consequences, and knows she needs to accept Christ, but is unwilling.  I am scared for her though if she continues in her current life habits.  Please pray for her.

This coming week I will be in my same cabin with Explorers (6-8th grade).  I am eager to see what the Lord has in store for the week, both for my girls, and for me!  

Mom and Sarah get back from Ecuador tomorrow evening.  Please pray for their last time in Ecuador and for safety in travel.  From their quick updates, it sounds like they have had a wonderful time.  They have been ministering through a VBS as well as a basketball camp, and have been able to reach well over one hundred fifty between the two ministries.  They have suffered minimal health issues, and we are praying that continues.  I am eager to see my whole family next week!

It is my prayer that the Lord radically change your life this week, bringing you out of your comfort zone so that He may be glorified, and that you may be forced to rely on Him.  I encourage you to focus on people this week, because people is all that will matter after death!

prayer requests

Sending out a quick request for prayer...

I have seven camper-campers in my cabin this week and am enjoying them a lot.  They are so much fun, and for the most part, everyone in the group gets along well.  Prayer though would be so appreciated with a few specific issues I am running into.

Two of my girls are trying to make enemies with me by breaking dress code so that I have to speak to them about it.  Please pray the Lord would change their heart that they would respect their body by being modest.  Pray for me that I would have the wisdom to handle it well.

These same two girls have a spiritual background, but are not living it right now.  I find myself getting discouraged because I feel they are taking quiet time too lightly.  I find myself getting riled up and have to pray to calm myself down, knowing that I can't make them have a quiet time, but instead it is the work of the Holy Spirit changing their hearts.  Please pray He does change their hearts, and helps me not worry about it.

I have a girl in my cabin who has recently stopped going to church because "we are good people, we know all of the stories, and we have our own Bible".  Please pray for this girl and her family.  Pray specifically on Thursday evening as my CIT will be doing a devotional on the importance of going to a Bible believing church (not just to preach at this one girl, because others are struggling with the same question).

Please pray for the staff in general as we are very tired.  Counseling especially is a very exhausting time: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  Many are getting sick, and we just want to be able to finish off strong.

I am so thankful that I have the promise that God will hear and listen to my prayers.  Please join me in lifting these requests up to the Lord...and don't forget to thank Him for the answer He has yet to give.  All praise and honor goes to Him!

pics and praises

Hello all, I wanted to post a few pictures for your enjoyment...

 The staff dressed up for a mystery dinner.  photo compliments of Daniel

Riley singing the eagle song for Sunday Night Live- don't you love the costumes? 

This week I have eight girls in my cabin including the one CIT who is a camper, yet a helper at the same time. It seems to be a great group of gals, and we are going to have a lot of fun together.  I am in outdoor life path this week which is awesome because I have been wanting to be in that path.  A praise is that one of my girls accepted Christ this afternoon while I was chatting with her.  Awesome to see God at work.  Well, my heart has a lot on it right now, and I am going to instead of blogging about it, going to take it directly the Lord!  Have a wonderful week!