Camp Forest Springs Adventure Ministries Staff 2011!

This summer they will be growing, teaching, praying, kayaking, climbing, canoeing, packing and preparing food, leading alongside youth pastors, counseling, managing the details of many trips, handling the care of the camp gear and vehicles, caring for hundreds of campers, caring for each other… Thank you for your love, prayers and support!

Tim Petersen— Adv. Ministries Associate

From: Rib Lake, WI, Grad. Emmaus Bible College

· Pray that God would allow me to encourage our staff and to share Christ’s love with our campers

· Pray for safety as we drive many miles

· Pray for good balance of family time and ministry at Camp

· Pray for salvation for our children

Andrew Dittman—Trip Leader (Paired with Jodi)

From: Grad. from Philadelphia Biblical University

· Pray that I will continue to learn what it means to rest in the truth that God is in control

· Pray that people will see Christ in my daily life in a way that draws them to Him

Alex Schubert—Trip Leader/High Ropes Facilitator

From: Omaha, NE, Grad. from Grace Univ.(2009)

Future Plans: Pursuing God’s will whatever/wherever it might be!

· Pray for wisdom for ministering to the kids this summer

· Pray for safety for all the wilderness trips

· Pray for open hearts for the message of Christ

· Pray for patience, wisdom and strength as I lead wilderness trip and facilitate High Ropes Course groups

Adam Beasterfield—Specialist/LTD

From: Rib Lake, WI, Grad. From North Central Tech College

Future Plans: Starting a wilderness program in Montana after LTD

· Pray that I will be able to serve the trip leaders this year

· Pray for starting to build ideas for next summer

Jesse Tschanz—Trip Leader (Paired with Elizabeth)

From: Blair, WI

· Pray that this summer I would become more like Christ

· Pray that I will learn to be a better servant for both Elizabeth as well as the rest of the trip staff and campers this summer

Dan & Laura Jacobson—Adv. Min. Director and wife

From: Rib Lake, WI

· Pray Colossians 1:9b-12

· Pray for wisdom in leadership

· Pray for wisdom in taking care of each other this summer (& beyond)

Clark Hilty—Trip Leader (Paired with Anna)

From: Richmond, KY

Future plans: To work in Camping and just grow into a Godly leader. I’m still working on figuring out where I best fit in this ministry.

· Pray that I would develop a servant heart that would be reflected in how I work with all my wilderness kids

· Pray that the Lord would break the cycle of performance based living in my life. That I could find true rest in God.

· Pray that my humor would be used for God’s glory and not my own.

Norm Hoyt—Educational Min. Director (Norm was the Adventure Ministries Director for 17 years)

From: Rib Lake, WI

· Pray for wisdom as he mentors Dan and the trip staff this year.

Elizabeth Houser—Trip Leader (Paired with Jesse)

From: Medford, WI, Grad. from Bethel University

Future plans: Graduate school for Athletic Training at Indiana State Univ.

· Pray that my eyes would be open to God’s presence in my everyday life and that I would take advantage of every opportunity to make a difference in the kids’ lives on our trips.

Jodi Bender—Trip Leader (Paired with Andrew)

From: Whitehall, WI, Grad. From Montana Wilderness School of the Bible, attending UW-La Crosse

Future plans: I don’t know, but if the Lord allows, I would love to use God’s creation (Outdoor activities) to share the gospel. I also have a desire to be involved in missions somehow, somewhere.

· Pray that the Lord continues to direct my heart to His goodness and that I will be teachable.

· Pray that I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, even if His leading doesn’t go along with my will or doesn’t make sense.

· Pray that I can be bold in proclaiming the sweet gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet speaking and living grace.

· Pray against a critical heart, and for a love for the kids that is selfless.

Anna Boyer—Trip Leader (paired with Clark)

From: Minneapolis, MN, Grad. from Northwestern College, MN

Future plans: Serving as a teacher of missionary kids in Mali, Africa (web.me.com/annavboyer)

· Pray that the LORD would grow in me the heart for servant ministry.

· Pray that I would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and counsel in order to be the LORD’s hands and feet during ministry this summer

Mindy Schweitzer—Trip Packer

From:Winfield, IL, Attending Wheaton College (IL)

· Pray for wisdom in how to support/encourage the rest of the trip staff

· Pray for next year, going back to school, trying to figure out God’s will for my future.

· Pray that I will build and maintain good friendships with other staff (especially girls in the staff cabin) this summer

Réanna Baumgarten— Adventure Ministries Coordinator

From: Westboro, WI

· Pray for Reanna as she manages the many details of trip coordination and food preparation with Mindy.

· Pray for opportunities to serve and help the trip leaders this summer.

Spring!

Spring was a season of preparation. We'd like to give you a glimpse!

Building a firewood shelter on Camp's Flambeau River property. Split wood is now filling it and drying for next year's river trips!


Building a dock on the same property





Training staff and trip leaders to be First Responders--my sister Jodi being practiced on :)





And on a more personal note--our garden's in!


The apple tree in our yard

And for you who may be curious--we live in the upstairs of this house. Very comfortable! We are so thankful for the generosity of our landlords! We have great neighbors, too. :)

"Life Together"

As the dust begins to settle on our “big move” we are beginning to feel normal here. The days become routine (this time of year anyway) and the many “new” things about working at camp are becoming “regular” things. Behind the brochures and the promotional videos of smiling young people are the budgets that need to be balanced, the broken gear that needs to be fixed and a lot of buildings that need to be cleaned. Behind the nametags and the smiles, CFS staff are people who have problems, get hurt, and hurt others at times, just like everyone else.

As we have entered this “Christian community,” I have been reading Dietrich Bonheoffer’s book Life Together. He wrote the book as a reflection on community life in the small underground seminary he taught at in Germany before he was captured and killed by the Nazis. His reflections have been helpful when it comes to the unusual challenges that come with life among believers. He talks of the despair and disillusionment that are inevitable if a person has an idealistic picture of what this kind of life can be. The only Biblical truth is that we are sinful people living among other sinful people. It just so happens that we live among those whose sin is covered by the blood of Christ. As this relates to church bodies as well, I thought I would pass along some of his thoughts for those who may struggle with surprise at the sin of their brothers and sisters. This passage is my prayer as we begin our work, and a prayer request for those who have asked for ideas.

“We enter into that common life not as demanders but as thankful recipients. We thank God for what He has done for us. We thank God for brethren who live by His call, by His forgiveness, and His promise. We do not complain of what God does not give us; we rather thank God for what He does give us daily. And is not what has been given us enough: brothers who will go on living with us through sin and need under the blessing of His grace?... Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I, too, stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Thus the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes incomparably salutary, because it so thoroughly teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words or deeds, but only by that one Word and Deed which really binds us together-the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.”