End of Week 6

Thankful. As week 6 has come to an end, two God-filled weeks have passed in a blur since my last post. The team's week at Morrow was followed by a nice 24 hour day of rest in Long Beach, WA. Dunes Bible Camp was our next week. It was a blessing to see many familiar Corban faces as staff at Dunes, and a joy to serve with them.
I was a single counselor with no assistant of a cabin of 10 absolutely amazing girls. Slightly overwhelming and fearful emotions filled my mind at the beginning of the week, but these emotions quickly turned to joy, thankfulness and blessing. My cabin at Dunes was incredible. We all bonded incredibly deeply, incredibly quick. The girls taught me what it was like to be a "girly girl", as well as how hard their lives are and the backgrounds they come from. My heart broke for them. Restoration and purpose was the forefront of most of our conversations, and it was absolutely amazing to see how the Holy Spirit worked in theses girl's lives throughout the week. They are all so beautiful, and I know God is going to use their dedication and perserverance to accomplish great things for His kingdom.

Some highlights from Dunes:
- Sand castle competition on the beach: Winning with "Mr. Sand"
- Dance parties in the View Room
- Camp fire testimonies
- 1 on 1's with my girls on the giant chairs
- Cabin devotions on the beach at sunset
- SNEAK ATTACKS!
- Talent show, "Is it Time Yet?" skit
- Dinner dress up nights
- Ultimate frisbee fer dayz
- My cabin being so chatty and giggly at night
- Cheyenne's awesome stories

Pinecroft:
After our week at Dunes, we began the 9 hour trek to somewhere in Washington that was basically in Canada: Camp Pinecroft. This camp was small, but absolutely wonderful. The mission of the camp is solid, and leadership incredible. Numbers were lower than years past camper-wise, but it was all part of God's will, and awesome to get to engage so much with the smaller sized group. Counselors for the week was our Corban team, and one other summer ministry team from Ecola Bible School. We bonded super well with them, and it was a blessing and huge encouragement to serve with them for the week. Bill, Justing, Julianna and Christine, we love you!! One of the highlights of the week was having boating/tubing on the river ever afternoon. This was an awesome bonding time with my cabin, and a captivating joy to experience in God's creation. Yes, my arms are sore and body tired, but it was definitely worth it.

This week, I clearly noticed something that has been unfolding over the summer, that God has revealed to me. Since week one, in every single one of my cabins, I have had at least one girl who struggles with severe anxiety and depression. At the beginning of the summer, talking with them about it scared me because I did not know the answers or how to help these precious, beautiful, hurting girls understand the height, depth and power of God's love. By His grace, and lots and lots of prayer, God has given me the Holy Spirit, teaching me a lot about how to encourage girls who struggle in this particular area. By week 6, I was confident that God had taught and strengthened me in this area, and I believe He will continue to use me to help girls who struggle with this. When we got to Pinecroft, one girl in particular stood out to me. Though we barely had the chance to talk or spend time together yet, I could tell. I knew she was struggling and weighed down in this area. Crazy how much the power of God can reveal, huh? As the week unfolded, I was able to talk with this girl and help her begin to heal from this pain.
I have no power to change them, and I can tell these girls how beautiful and valuable they are over and over, but ultimately, God is the only one that they can truly find this satisfaction in. I am honored and humbled to be used by God in this way this summer, and pray He will be the source of their satisfaction, joy and worth.

At school I definitely keep myself more than busy, and end the day exhausted, with not much sleep before the next day begins. However, at the end of week six, I've never been so worn out in my entire life. All energy and focus I have is strictly from God, because I am completely drained. Prayer that I would be filled and finish our last two weeks stronger than ever is a huge thing for me right now. I want to be intentional, used by God and focused these next two weeks. I'm excited for Trout Creek, where we head today, and also Tadmor, our final week. Thank you for your prayers and support as I continue on this awesome journey that God has blessed me with this summer.

Humbled to be His servant,
Jess

Onward to Morrow

The omniscience of God is something camp has constantly reminded me to submit to. God works out His divine plan in ways that my human mind of desires do not always understand. My week at Camp Morrow had me apply that on a daily basis.
I went into the week with presuppositions, role playing how the week would play out as we road tripped in the van to camp. Once I got there, God showed me that my plan and His were not the same, and we'd be going with His plan and not my own.
Because of lower camper numbers than anticipated, our team ended up not counseling. Bryce, Kelsey and I were on work crew, and Ricky was in charge of games for the week. Believe it or not, work week is more tiring than counseling! Loading two trailers full of firewood, clearing out storage, and helping set up, run and tear down games can be quite the job, especially in 100+ degree weather.
"God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good." This phrase was said multiple times a day at camp, and served as a good reminder for me throughout the week. No matter what, God is good. I need to live life remembering that through every circumstance.
It was really cool to see how God used each of us throughout the week, even though we didn't serve as counselors. Camp Morrow is an incredible camp, and it was amazing to see from an "outsiders" perspective how effective the week was in the campers lives, and how much God was glorified, and the Holy Spirit was working in and through both the people, and the camp itself.
There were two camp teams from Ecola Bible School, and various staff from other places who served at Morrow this week. It was awesome to get to know them, see their servants hearts, how God was using them, and get to know them.

Some highlights from the week were:
- Learning how to slackline
- 1,200 water balloons. Yep. Enough said.
- Kevin and I speaking Spanish and Chinese for "border patrol" in Bible Smugglers game
- Stargazing instead of watching the fireworks on the 4th of July
- Learning that even in the low times of my faith, I am still supposed to abide in Christ, and it is when I remain in that place that He will lift me up and be most glorified.
- Ultimate frisbee
- Seeing the transition from day 1 to day 5 in campers minds, heart, actions and attitudes.
- Getting to observe what Godly leadership and being filled with the spirit looks like.

One confession/ regret that I have from this week: I did horrible at taking pictures. Weird, right? I don't know what my deal was! I do have a few, but I did not document the week near enough. I will not let it happen again this summer, I am determined. :)

My team is thankful for a good night's rest before arriving at Dune's Bible Camp in Ocean Park, Washington. Campers arrive tomorrow, and we will begin a full week of counseling. We are excited for the upcoming week, and ready to counsel again! Several Corban students and employees will be working at camp this week: Jared Hernandez, Heidi Stowman, Kara Maron, Katharine Hormann, Brian and Sandy Elliott. We are excited to have some familiar faces as we serve together this week!

Tanalian: A piece of my heart remains in Alaska

Do you ever have those moments occur when you get this deep feeling, knowing that you will remember that
time forever? I had a lot of those at Tanalian over the course of our two absolutely amazing weeks serving there. The night before we left, as we had a huge bonfire by the beach with all the campers, singing worship songs, taking pictures, and laughing both creating and reminiscing about memories created over the past two weeks. At this bonfire, tears filled my eyes as I realized how much the past two weeks had impacted me. I got that feeling deep down, and I chose not to fear, because I know I will remember them for years to come.

Week One: High School Camp

First of all, Alaska truly is the most beautiful place I have ever been. We flew a bush plane through the

glaciers and mountains, over rivers and lakes to get from Anchorage to Port Alsworth, and I was beyond captivated. (And, since it was my 21 birthday, I not only got to be the co-pilot, but he let me fly the plane!) Our creator amazes me significantly the more of the world I see. Chapel was sometimes distracting, as the windows gave sight to a breathtaking view of the mountains and lake. In addition, we went on a hike up to a fresh glacier waterfall. I filled up my water bottle with the water from the falls, and it was some of the best water I've ever had. The mist that came off the rocks, the clearness of the water, the rushing noise of the falls...ah! So great.

We arrived to camp on a Saturday, with plenty of time to get to know the camp, staff and activities before campers began to arrive on Monday morning. The first week we served with the full-time summer staff, along with a group from Southern California, Canada, and South Carolina. They were all a blessing to serve with, and we bonded really well. It was really cool to see how God uses a body of believers who all share a common purpose to skip past typical "get to know you" stuff, and still develop a deep connection and friendship simply from serving Him together. It was really encouraging to see that develop over the two weeks that we were there.

For High School camp, I co-counseled with the most wonderful girl ever, Brittany Wilson. She is from South Carolina, and I am 100% convinced that God destined for us to not only be co-counselors, but to become super close friends in just two weeks. I don't know how or why God planned for us to live so far apart, and not meet until now when we connected so deeply so fast, but I'm thankful it happened nonetheless! She was beyond supportive, inspiring and encouraging every moment of every day. Her genuine love for Jesus and servant-filled heart, as well as wisdom when it came to God and all that He is, was incredible. I couldn't have made it through the week without her. We had so many good memories together. Love you, Britt!
Our cabin High school week was absolutely incredible. We had 5 girls: Lei'lani, Chelsey, Ciera, Kaylee, Valerie and Girlie. We bonded as a cabin and had many late nights full of giggles and crazy ideas. We had a lot of fun together, but also had some really good conversations about God and His love for us. I was blessed to have the opportunity to pour into these girls lives for the week, and talk with them about struggles, family situations, personal growth, living their life for Christ, temptations, and how beautiful God made both them and the world they are blessed to live in. The Holy Spirit evidently worked in their lives, and I was blessed to be a part. Not only was I blessed by the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work through me to pour into them, but they impacted my faith and relationship with God more than they even know. I love the way God works! I am so blessed to serve Him.

One thing I really appreciated about Tanalian was that counselors weren't only bound to connecting with their campers in their cabin. By the end of the week, I knew just about everyone's name, it was so great! It was awesome to become friends with so many of the campers outside of my cabin as well, creating lots of memories with and having good conversations with them as well.


Week Two: Junior High Camp

Before my high school girls had all left, the Junior High group was already beginning to come in. I was tired and emotionally drained from the awesome week of High School camp. I was also extremely sad they were all leaving, cause I knew I would miss them immensely, and the likelihood of me seeing them again soon was not very high at all. I was able to sneak away for a couple hours in the afternoon and take a nap, which was much needed. I leaned on God A LOT during the transition period. Of course, He is good, all the time, and He helped me through it. I co-counseled with Girla Sorensen the second week, and she was just phenomenal. I admire her so much! She is a native Alaskan, and her story is so inspiring! She can connect with the native girls on a different level than I ever could, because she grew up just like them.
Alaska is much like a different country in a lot of ways, having the native villages still being very influential in culture and how they live their lives. This was something I learned a lot about in my time at camp, and was completely naive to before. If you would like to learn more about this, and the background of where these kids come from, please let me know, I would be happy to talk with you about it!
Junior High camp was a lot harder for me than the first week, but God did so many amazing things! When the week came to a close, I was amazed at seeing how much the Holy Spirit had done from day one, to day seven. Hard hearts were softened, heaviness was lifted, burdens were given up, and God's love was accepted.
We had a blast doing all kinds of stuff from late night pillow fights, to jumping in the lake, to water fights and singing at the top of our lungs. My cabin was sweet, and I love them all so much. Katrina, Chassy, Amber and Tatyana. I admire these girls so much for all they taught me about what it means to be strong. These girls are brave and have gone through hard things, but they know they are created by a God who loves them, and created them beautiful.

Leaving Tanalian, the staff there, the South Carolina group, the beauty of the creation we were
surrounded by, all the awesome campers and the memories and conversations with them, and so much more, was far more difficult than I ever anticipated. Since I was 15, I have had to say goodbye to people and places I love on a fairly regular basis. I have become quite good at "psyching myself out" and being able to say goodbye well. When it came time to leave camp, I cried. That doesn't happen. I don't do that. My heart just broke and I had developed such a heart for the camp, campers and ministry going on there! I have so many new friends there, and I didn't want to leave; I wanted God to keep using me there! No matter how much I wanted to stay though, the plane was still leaving, and I knew this was only the beginning of my summer adventure, that God still has more in store for me and my team this summer. The transition has been difficult, but I am trusting in what God has planned, keeping Him as my refuge.


 One of the many things God has been teaching me lately is "stand firm." I see these two words occur over and over in Scripture. I know it occurs in  the Word several times for a reason. I also see the application to those words in both my own life, my team's lives and the lives of those around me daily. Onward I go, standing firm and choosing joy in all situations. My favorite worship song we sang at camp, and yes, I have been playing it over and over the past few days is called "Glory to God Forever." Click here to listen to it.

Prayer Requests:

- Pray for Alaska and the people there. They live difficult lives, and need the love of our Savior.
- Pray for my campers as they go home and their "camp high" wears off, that their faith would be strong and they would continue to live it out.
- Pray for health in our team. I have completely lost my voice, and am struggling with not being able to talk. I got sick during junior high week for about two days, and have been recovering since then. I also strained my voice from singing loudly and yelling during games. I go all out during camp, but I need to remember to not completely drain myself. :)
- Bryce has become very sick, and needs rest as well.
- Pray for me as I have been missing my family a lot. I have been counseling youth about the age of many of my siblings, and it makes me quite homesick.

Thank you for your prayers, they really do make a huge difference, and are extremely encouraging. Also for the letters I have received; they have made my day every time, and really make a difference in how my week goes!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, if you have made it all the way to the bottom! I know it was a long post. :)



Some of the crazy events/stories/ quotes from the weeks include:
- I tried Caribou heart
- Got attacked by a bat
- Only woke up once in two weeks where it was actually dark outside
- Got to pray for a counselor with other staff as she prayed with a camper to accept Christ
- Killed a mosquito in between my pinky and ring finger. Yes, I got that good at it! ;)
- Competed in NYO (Native Youth Olympics) as an event one day

- Tucker: "give me a T!" 

Everyone: "T" 

Tucker: "Go T!" 

Everyone: laughter...yeahhh!!! 

- being the president in paintball and shooting Drew (the other president) 

- saw a moose 

- playing rabbit sticks, reach the beach, and capture the domesticated farm animal

- chasing Caleb through the forest in capture the domesticated farm animal: he dives to the ground and goes through the bushes and SMACK he hit a tree. Rolls out and says "they call me Rambo..." 

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A Few More pictures! Look on my Facebook Page for the complete Album :)

It's Go Time

It's all come down to this. It's midnight, and my room is empty. It's just me and my two duffle bags, my sombrero and my Bible.

 It's late because I have the jitters about what tomorrow means. What it holds and the new adventure that it begins. The wonders of what stories the girls will have that will be in my cabin this summer, the conversations I will have with them, the people I will meet, and most of all, the ways God will graciously choose to use ME as a vessel for people to see HIM. Basically, my mind is all over the place with different thoughts and wonders of what this summer holds. I'm so excited I can hardly contain it!
My room is empty not because I am taking all my belongings to camp, but because I have packed everything up so it is ready to move right into the dorm when I get back from camp. It feels weird, but yet great simultaneously.

As I sit here in my empty room with my bags packed and heart filled with prayers that God will use me for His glory this summer, I am reminded, and oh-so-very thankful for one thing in particular: GRACE.
I can't prepare for what he has ahead. I don't know what I will need to say when, or what conversations or events will occur week to week, or day to day. I am weak, unable and lack wisdom, yet God, the God I serve, who is full of grace, has chosen me. He has a plan, and He knows I'm unable to prepare with my human strength. Which is exactly where I believe He wants me to be. It is here, if I remain  at His feet, that He can use me most.

I am reminded of 2 Corinthians chapter 12, where Paul talks about a "thorn" that was placed in him. He asks the Lord to take the thorn out; but check out the Lord's response: In verses 9-10 of this chapter it says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Camp Team departure time has arrived. It's go time: time to go share the love of Christ. Time to go be a disciple. It's what I was made to do.

My team covets your prayers during this time as we begin our summer adventure, heading to Tanalian Bible Camp in Alaska where we will serve for the next  two weeks. To see our full summer schedule (and where I will be when if you want to send me a letter! :) click here.

Because of His agape love.

Welcome! Bienvenidos! Välkommen!

Welcome to my Blog: Agape Traveler!

I have created this blog to document my travels as I continue the journey God has destined for me. Traveling is a passion of mine, inspired and driven by the agape love of Christ that dwells within me. This passion not only drives me to travel, but to share the agape love of Christ with those I encounter and connect with on my traveling journeys.

The first journey that will be documented is my summer as a part of Corban University's summer Camp Team program. You can find out more about my team here. We will be traveling to 7 different summer camps around the Northwest over the course of 8 weeks this summer. You can see my summer schedule and contact info here.

I will not have access to phone or internet during the week, only on days when we are traveling to our next camp, or the very few "rest days" we have thrown in.

I desire to update this blog weekly with different stories, lessons and encounters the Holy Spirit provides for me and my team through our ministry this summer. Expect plenty of pictures too! :)
This is a way for friends, family, prayer warriors and anyone else who visits my blog to get to be a part of the opportunity God has blessed me to experience hands-on this summer.

Your prayers are first and foremost what is most coveted by me and our team. The power of prayer alone has more power than I can comprehend. I am reminded of the story of Peter escaping from prison by the miraculous power prayer by the church in Acts 12. Thank you for your prayers and support as we journey this summer, sharing the agape love of Christ with those we come in contact with on our travels.

Because of His agape love,

Jessica