Putting a house on the market with 3 children is quite a task! We placed the For Sale By Owner sign in our yard several weeks ago due to the peer pressure of our home group. It was good to see it up. Chris & I continued to clean out closets, go through boxes in the garage and basement, and have made a huge pile to donate to King's Ranch. Knowing that we must sell our house regardless of when we move to Mentone has motivated us to continue the work. We even packed up Christmas decorations, winter clothes, and other things not needed now and moved them to our future home on Ponderosa's camp property.
We have gotten a few inquiring calls about the house and that is a feat within itself. Finally a call came that someone wanted to see the house. Oh wow, all the packing, sorting, and piling had to cease so the cleaning and straightening could be done. Chris and I worked tirelessly through the afternoon, evening, and on through the next morning. By nonn on Saturday, it smelled wonderful and everything was put away nicely. The realtor showed up with the man and they walked through the house in 12 minutes!!! Wow, all that work for 12 minutes. With 8 houses on their agenda and this was the first time they had been out together, I guess that is typical. Not sure if I can work this much for 12 minutes of walking through, but I guess that is just part of it.
At least the house is clean, King's Ranch will be getting a HUGE donation of various clothes, household items, and such, and our basement is getting cleaned out slowly but surely. There is good in everything and I'm thankful for a nap in a clean home. God's timing is always perfect and it will be in this case too. May the perfect family walk through here and know it is home.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Retreats
Over the last several weeks, we have been able to help out with the teen and elementary retreats. Each one was a weekend to remember!
Teens enjoyed gross games, gym games, chapel time, as well as the skyswing and zip line rides over tiki torches in the late evening. Although the threat of bad weather was all around us, Ponderosa's position in the valley helps everyone stay nice and safe. The rain came, but the storms spared us from moving into a safe place. It turned out to be an incredible weekend of worship and reconnection with the One True God!
Elementary weekend brought many new campers and some wonderful, warm weather to enjoy horseback riding, canoeing, and an interesting kickball game with an obstacle course built in! Of course, some thought it would be fun to swim in the river. While it may have been fun, it was definitly COLD!!! This did not stop the brave souls who wanted to swing from the rope swing and enjoy the warm sunshine. Chapel time was especially meaningful with a time of commitment and a challenge to share the Gospel with at least one person.
Each moment we spend there just confirms the calling even more. This is our mission field. Those young, precious lives are so impressionable and we are excited about what the future holds! Thank you Father God for Your calling and Your provisions as we seek to serve You...
Teens enjoyed gross games, gym games, chapel time, as well as the skyswing and zip line rides over tiki torches in the late evening. Although the threat of bad weather was all around us, Ponderosa's position in the valley helps everyone stay nice and safe. The rain came, but the storms spared us from moving into a safe place. It turned out to be an incredible weekend of worship and reconnection with the One True God!
Elementary weekend brought many new campers and some wonderful, warm weather to enjoy horseback riding, canoeing, and an interesting kickball game with an obstacle course built in! Of course, some thought it would be fun to swim in the river. While it may have been fun, it was definitly COLD!!! This did not stop the brave souls who wanted to swing from the rope swing and enjoy the warm sunshine. Chapel time was especially meaningful with a time of commitment and a challenge to share the Gospel with at least one person.
Each moment we spend there just confirms the calling even more. This is our mission field. Those young, precious lives are so impressionable and we are excited about what the future holds! Thank you Father God for Your calling and Your provisions as we seek to serve You...
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Stepping Out of the Boat
It's hard to believe that we are into the middle of March! Spring break is one week away for the school and we are about 11 weeks from school ending...that means summer camp is just around the corner! We spent the month of February as the mission spotlight at Westwood Baptist in Alabaster. Several Sunday evenings were spent talking with home groups and this morning Chris & I talked with all the Adult Bible Study classes. We presented about our journey, discussed the various ministries of Ponderosa, and asked for everyone to prayerfully consider how they can partner with us. It is exciting, encouraging, and exhausting! Excitment about the road ahead, God's timing, and how He will work out all the details. Encouraging to have people pray with us, for us, and to see them get excited about our passion for this ministry. Exhausting as we work full-time jobs, help during weekend retreats, prepare our home to sell, pack in preparation for moving, and long to be at Ponderosa to help prepare for camp! It's a good exhausting, but exhausting none the less. We will continue to send letters, meet with potential partners, and be diligent in asking others to partner with us. We must reach 100% of our support before moving onto the camp property. In all this, we know that God's timing is perfect!
Please pray about your partnership with this ministry and supporting us as we GO...
http://www.ponderosabiblecamp.com/staff/staff.html
Please pray about your partnership with this ministry and supporting us as we GO...
http://www.ponderosabiblecamp.com/staff/staff.html
Friday, February 3, 2012
Mission Focus
The month of February is an exciting time for us! Ponderosa Student Ministries is the Mission Focus at our home church, Westwood Baptist in Alabaster. With such a mission minded church, we are excited about sharing our passion for this ministry with the entire congregation. Another post was about Ponderosa not just being a camp, but here is a little more information! This will be shared as the SpotLight Focus throughout the month. Thanks to Westwood for partnering with us in this journey of faith!
Who are we?
Ponderosa Student Ministries is considered a parachurch organization. Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism. Ponderosa teaches the Bible as the true and accurate Word of God and the authority for faith and conduct. Please read our statement of faith if you have any doubts about what we teach.
http://ponderosabiblecamp.com/about/statementoffaith.html
Ponderosa Student Ministries exists to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to students by giving them opportunities to experience God's power, presence and peace; through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to accomplish this by providing camping opportunities, Bible classes, and correspondence lessons that promote the spiritual, moral, social, and educational growth of students.
· Ponderosa Student Ministries is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1947 and operating from its current location since 1976.
· Ponderosa Student Ministries is a member of Christian Camp and Conference Association.
· Ponderosa Student Ministries is a division of Children's Bible Ministries, Inc.,
· Our National Office is located at the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center in Townsend, TN.
Ponderosa Student Ministries is the parent ministry for the following ministries:
Ponderosa Bible Camp
God has called Ponderosa Bible Camp to be a ministry that clearly and boldly shares the Gospel of Christ to all who attend. Ponderosa Bible Camp offers affordable, week-long overnight camps during the summer, as well as weekend retreats in the spring and fall. Sessions are available for different age groups, starting with elementary and going through high school.
Ponderosa Bible Camp has a great reputation and has been operating since 1976! It is an affiliate of Children's Bible Ministries, a non-denominational ministry focused on children and teens. It is located atop Lookout Mountain in Mentone, AL on the banks of The Little River.
Ponderosa Retreat Center
Bring your Youth Group, Children's Group, Singles, Men's or Women's Group, church board, Sunday School class, Choir, etc. Conduct workshops, conferences, retreats, or camps. Have your family reunion or romantic wedding here at this lovely mountain facility.
You can provide your own food and cook for yourself or we can cater your meals and serve you. The food at Ponderosa has a great reputation! Rental groups consistently tell us "this is the best camp food our group has ever had!"
DeKalb County Released Time
Released Time Bible Classes are open to every Public School student in DeKalb County, AL in grades 2nd - 6th. Students with permission of a parent or guardian can be released from school during one PE class each week and go to an off-campus location (usually a church next door) and attend a Bible class. Released Time Bible Classes are exciting, fun, off-campus Bible classes with age-appropriate Bible lessons for 2nd thru 6th Grade students. These Bible lessons are Christ-centered, true to the Bible and full of encouragement for your child. Students in Grades 2 thru 6 who choose to participate in this program have the potential to earn a free week of summer camp at Ponderosa Bible Camp! Students will earn points for attendance, bringing their Bible, and returning their completed Released Time homework! The points add up to a potential scholarship to summer camp!
Mailbox Club
Ponderosa Student Ministries is pleased to offer free this free discipleship program. The Mailbox Club is an exciting, through-the-mail, Bible correspondence class with age-appropriate Bible lessons for 1st thru 12th Grade students. These Bible lessons are Christ-centered, true to the Bible and full of encouragement for your child or teenager. Students in Grades 1 thru 12 who choose to participate in this program have the potential to earn up to a $50 discount off the price of a week of summer camp at Ponderosa Bible Camp.
Why We Do It:
Ponderosa Student Ministries exists to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to students by giving them opportunities to experience God's power, presence and peace; through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to accomplish this by providing camp facilities, Bible classes, and correspondence lessons that promote the spiritual, moral, social, and educational condition of students.
Ponderosa Student Ministries is a non-profit ministry impacting students year-round with the Gospel of Christ through these areas of ministry:
Ponderosa Bible Camp
Ponderosa Public School Ministry
Ponderosa Mailbox Club Ministry
Ponderosa Hospitality Ministry.
How We Can Partner With Them?
The staff members of Ponderosa Student Ministries/Ponderosa Bible Camp
are faith-supported missionaries.
What is a faith-supported missionary?
Faith-supported missionaries are required to continually help raise funds to help this ministry meet its payroll budget needs. These needs are communicated to individuals and churches so that others can embrace their vision and support the missionary prayerfully and financially.
God blesses this biblical model of partnership in several ways. In addition to the necessary finances, the missionary receives more effective prayer and a network of ministry partners. Members of a missionary's support team gain God’s blessings for being faithful and engage more fully in a life-changing ministry.
How We Can Support Ponderosa?
Pray for their needs:
Pray that the Ponderosa staff will:
· Impact the lives of students with the Gospel.
· Faithfully follow and help disciple these students throughout the year.
· Stay encouraged, biblically rooted, and focused on what God has called them to do.
· Raise their portion of the ministry's budget each year so that they can dedicate their time to ministry.
Send Financial Gifts:
As you give, ponder these biblical guidelines:
As you give, ponder these biblical guidelines:
· “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
· “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
· Give first...not from what’s left.
· Give joyfully...not grudgingly.
· Give faithfully...hot haphazardly.
Want to Learn More?
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Updated System
Ann and I talk lots about ways to improve communication with campers, those who have attended, and how to make registration easier for campers. She did her research and found Ultra Camp. This is an online system made just for non-profit organizations like Ponderosa. She sent me a text over a week ago saying that it was going live! I created the Dorough Family an account, updated all our information, and now I'm ready to go. This is an exciting step for Ponderosa. This will help streamline registrations and payment plans can be set up. Try it out!
Visit the website
www.ponderosabiblecamp.com
Locate the account login tab across the top of the page and begin creating your account.
Visit the website
www.ponderosabiblecamp.com
Locate the account login tab across the top of the page and begin creating your account.
Ponderosa, not just a camp!
The car is packed, the kids are bouncing with excitement and already asking, "How much longer til we get there?" I'm texting Ann letting her know we are on our way. This is the normal routine of making our weekend trips to the Ponderosa. Then someone who hears us talking about it so much asks, "So what is the Ponderosa, exactly?" Wow, in all my excitement and preparation, I have failed to really tell everyone about this wonderful place and all the ministries involved. So here it is...
Ponderosa Bible Camp is nestled in the mountains of Mentone, Alabama on 82 acres of God's glorious creation. The camp is affiliated with Children's Bible Ministries (CBM) of North America which has just celebrated 75 years of ministering to students! Ponderosa Bible Camp holds camp throughout the summer for students of all ages. Spring and fall retreats are held for both elementary and teen aged students. A week of camp in the summer is packed with swimming in the pool, canoeing at the river, arts & crafts, chapel time, God and I time, gym games, water games, the huge slip n slide, field games, archery, obstacle courses, God Smugglers, riflery, horse back riding, the screaming sky swing, zip line, and so much more! You bond as a group with your counselor, SALT member, TEAM member, and all your cabin mates. Your cabin prays together, has devotionals together, and works to win honor table in the dining hall. Speakers come each week of camp to lead the devotions during chapel and there is also a missionary focus throughout the week. Ponderosa Bible Camp's goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn first hand about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is incredibly affordable so that all students will have the chance to spend a week or a weekend at camp.
When camp is not in session and it is not a retreat weekend, Ponderosa Retreat Center is available to serve others with the gift of hospitality. The facilities can be rented so groups can hold their own retreats while enjoying the beautiful creation and delicious food prepared by the talented cooks of the Ponderosa. Another ministry of Ponderosa Student Ministires (PSM) is the Mailbox Club. This is the coorespondance ministry that allows students of all ages to complete Bible lessons through the mail at no cost to them. After each lesson is completed, students mail the completed questions back to receive the next lesson. This is a great way to stay connected throughout the year. Students can earn discounts towards camp for completing mailbox club lessons.
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Released Time is another facet of this ministry. 2nd - 6th graders at each of the DeKalb County Schools can participate in the Bible Classes held through Ponderosa's Release Time. Students are invited to miss one PE time each week in exchange for learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With parental permission, students are checked out to walk across the street from the school to a church or community center where Bible lessons are taught. Students are then checked back into school for the remainder of the school day. What an exciting opportunity to teach students about Christ during their school day! Students earn discounts for camp through attending and participating in Release Time Classes.
Ponderosa is so much more than lessons in the mail, classes during school, and a camp. It is the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to impact students in a very real way. This ministry is all about impacting students so that they can experience the love of Jesus Christ and learn to boldly live as He instructs us in the Bible. It's an amazing ministry and we can't wait to be there full-time!
Ponderosa Bible Camp is nestled in the mountains of Mentone, Alabama on 82 acres of God's glorious creation. The camp is affiliated with Children's Bible Ministries (CBM) of North America which has just celebrated 75 years of ministering to students! Ponderosa Bible Camp holds camp throughout the summer for students of all ages. Spring and fall retreats are held for both elementary and teen aged students. A week of camp in the summer is packed with swimming in the pool, canoeing at the river, arts & crafts, chapel time, God and I time, gym games, water games, the huge slip n slide, field games, archery, obstacle courses, God Smugglers, riflery, horse back riding, the screaming sky swing, zip line, and so much more! You bond as a group with your counselor, SALT member, TEAM member, and all your cabin mates. Your cabin prays together, has devotionals together, and works to win honor table in the dining hall. Speakers come each week of camp to lead the devotions during chapel and there is also a missionary focus throughout the week. Ponderosa Bible Camp's goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn first hand about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is incredibly affordable so that all students will have the chance to spend a week or a weekend at camp.
When camp is not in session and it is not a retreat weekend, Ponderosa Retreat Center is available to serve others with the gift of hospitality. The facilities can be rented so groups can hold their own retreats while enjoying the beautiful creation and delicious food prepared by the talented cooks of the Ponderosa. Another ministry of Ponderosa Student Ministires (PSM) is the Mailbox Club. This is the coorespondance ministry that allows students of all ages to complete Bible lessons through the mail at no cost to them. After each lesson is completed, students mail the completed questions back to receive the next lesson. This is a great way to stay connected throughout the year. Students can earn discounts towards camp for completing mailbox club lessons.
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Released Time is another facet of this ministry. 2nd - 6th graders at each of the DeKalb County Schools can participate in the Bible Classes held through Ponderosa's Release Time. Students are invited to miss one PE time each week in exchange for learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With parental permission, students are checked out to walk across the street from the school to a church or community center where Bible lessons are taught. Students are then checked back into school for the remainder of the school day. What an exciting opportunity to teach students about Christ during their school day! Students earn discounts for camp through attending and participating in Release Time Classes.
Ponderosa is so much more than lessons in the mail, classes during school, and a camp. It is the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to impact students in a very real way. This ministry is all about impacting students so that they can experience the love of Jesus Christ and learn to boldly live as He instructs us in the Bible. It's an amazing ministry and we can't wait to be there full-time!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Peer Pressure
It's Sunday night and time for home group. Arriving at the Roach Ranch we're greeted with the usual friendly faces of our home group peeps. We have been with this group for 2 1/2 years now and they are truly family. We have been through so much together: broken ankles, kindney stones, open heart surgery, another broken ankle, more kidney stones, back surgery, mission trips to Brazil and Belieze, yard sales, moving, even more kidney stones, children going to college, the same ones moving back home, and much much more. This group will help you get intimate with God and challenge you to keep growing every day. They will pray with you, for you, over you, and around you. All I can say is that we were placed together for a reason and God has blessed us tremendously for committing to this family.
We're not starting a new study until February so the agenda was all about fellowship, eating, and updating everyone on the progress towards the Ponderosa. That's when it started, "So, how's the house coming?" Chris and I went through our laundry list of things we need to do like cleaning out the garage, straightening the closets, boxing up the extras that we don't really need, etc...you know, all those things you don't get to until you HAVE to do them. Well, needless to say this group was not letting it go with this. "So, what is the date the sign will go in the yard?" Of course we didn't have an answer for this. Then it came..."OK, we'll be at your house Saturday morning about 9:30 to start packing and put a sign in the yard!" Well alright then, here we go. Knowing this, I spent my day off Monday cleaning out and getting the playroom and the boys' room "on the market" ready. Ella's room is underway and the others will have to come this week. Saturday's focus is the garage. If it hasn't been used in the 2 years we've been here, we probably don't need it! Here we go, peer pressure at its best.
Although it's embarrassing to have others see those places in your house that you don't want anyone to see, our home group knows us and loves us anyway. Another reason we love our peeps more than I can describe. So bring it on, it's intervention time for the Dorough house. The sign goes up Saturday!!! It's amazing what peer pressure will do, but at least it's positive peer pressure.
We're not starting a new study until February so the agenda was all about fellowship, eating, and updating everyone on the progress towards the Ponderosa. That's when it started, "So, how's the house coming?" Chris and I went through our laundry list of things we need to do like cleaning out the garage, straightening the closets, boxing up the extras that we don't really need, etc...you know, all those things you don't get to until you HAVE to do them. Well, needless to say this group was not letting it go with this. "So, what is the date the sign will go in the yard?" Of course we didn't have an answer for this. Then it came..."OK, we'll be at your house Saturday morning about 9:30 to start packing and put a sign in the yard!" Well alright then, here we go. Knowing this, I spent my day off Monday cleaning out and getting the playroom and the boys' room "on the market" ready. Ella's room is underway and the others will have to come this week. Saturday's focus is the garage. If it hasn't been used in the 2 years we've been here, we probably don't need it! Here we go, peer pressure at its best.
Although it's embarrassing to have others see those places in your house that you don't want anyone to see, our home group knows us and loves us anyway. Another reason we love our peeps more than I can describe. So bring it on, it's intervention time for the Dorough house. The sign goes up Saturday!!! It's amazing what peer pressure will do, but at least it's positive peer pressure.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Our First Response Card
After candidate school, the list of things to make and do to prepare for raising support was a little overwhelming. We were ready to run out and talk to others, but there was much to be done before that could happen. We had our picture made as a family (especially since Ella was only 3 1/2 months old) to include on our prayer card. Then came writing the letter that would be sent to people about moving into full-time ministry. We also needed response cards. The list continues on and on.
Finally, we were at a good place with creating things and now we needed to start really practicing how we would ask others when meeting face to face. Creating the presentation was the easy part, we have to practice! Patrick & Lisa Dorough agreed to be our first trial run. With The Christmas Angel and all they have going on, it was great to get their take on it. They were incredibly helpful and encouraging. We have had several presentation opportunities and it is really exciting to see and hear others' reactions regarding us moving into full-time, faith-based ministry.
One of the best things is praying about our future partners. As I pray for God to direct our path, He will lead us to wonderful conversations about missions and different ministries with friends and family. Our support family is so important to us. We need the prayers and monthly financial support in order to even move to Mentone, AL. We received our first response card back with a partnership! We are at 4% of our 100% goal! This is a huge step for us. Please follow our progress towards our goal with the thermometer on the right side of this blog. We are praying for God's timing because we know it is perfect.
Finally, we were at a good place with creating things and now we needed to start really practicing how we would ask others when meeting face to face. Creating the presentation was the easy part, we have to practice! Patrick & Lisa Dorough agreed to be our first trial run. With The Christmas Angel and all they have going on, it was great to get their take on it. They were incredibly helpful and encouraging. We have had several presentation opportunities and it is really exciting to see and hear others' reactions regarding us moving into full-time, faith-based ministry.
One of the best things is praying about our future partners. As I pray for God to direct our path, He will lead us to wonderful conversations about missions and different ministries with friends and family. Our support family is so important to us. We need the prayers and monthly financial support in order to even move to Mentone, AL. We received our first response card back with a partnership! We are at 4% of our 100% goal! This is a huge step for us. Please follow our progress towards our goal with the thermometer on the right side of this blog. We are praying for God's timing because we know it is perfect.
Prayers, Prayers, and More Prayers
The more time we spent at Ponderosa, the more we felt drawn to this ministry. I felt a calling to the Ponderosa soon after our week of elementary camp in the summer of 2010. Chris saw us utilizing our location and circle of friends where we were currently to assist the ministries of Ponderosa. We prayed about it, spread the news as we could, visited the camp during weekends to help out, and prayed some more. Our home group prayed with us and for us as we shared our experiences and feelings. We raised money to remodel a cabin and scheduled a work weekend for our home group. They fell in love as well!
As time passed, we felt even more of a calling to this ministry. Chris and I finally admitted that this is where we needed to be. We filled out our applications, were approved by the board, and began our homework for candidate school. In just 3 months, our future had taken a huge turn. Although we are unsure of the timeline for moving to the Ponderosa, we know God is in complete control. He has called us to this ministry and we are being obedient to His calling.
We completed candidate school in December 2011 and have just begun asking others to partner with us so we can join the full time staff of this faith based ministry.
As time passed, we felt even more of a calling to this ministry. Chris and I finally admitted that this is where we needed to be. We filled out our applications, were approved by the board, and began our homework for candidate school. In just 3 months, our future had taken a huge turn. Although we are unsure of the timeline for moving to the Ponderosa, we know God is in complete control. He has called us to this ministry and we are being obedient to His calling.
We completed candidate school in December 2011 and have just begun asking others to partner with us so we can join the full time staff of this faith based ministry.
Elementary Week 2010
A day at camp was nice, a few days during Spring Break was great, but now it was time for a full week of camp! Chris, Caleb, Braeden, and I planned our summer vacation to spend a week at Ponderosa Bible Camp during elementary week. We stayed in the left side of the Duplex. A full size bed, bunk beds, and a pack & play filled the entire room. It was pretty crowded, but we were only sleeping there, thank goodness.
Elementary week was full of campers and we got our first experience eating in the dining hall. What fun!!! Adult/staff tables, kids' table, and campers' tables are lined up along each side with an aisle between them. Food is served family style with bowls held up to get refills. TEAM members scurried every which way refilling bowls, washing dishes, preparing food, and loving their time of service. Just as you finish eating, the chanting and singing begins, "Sing us a song Mr. Jeff, sing us a song. Sing us a song Mr. Jeff, sing us a song..." Delicious food and entertainment all wrapped up into one. The atmosphere and experience are just electrifying.
Eating at camp was just one experience. The schedule for each day included so many different activites and was just jam packed. Each cabin has a counselor, SALT member, TEAM member, and of course all the campers. Each week of camp a girls' cabin and a boys' cabin are paired up as a team for the competitions to accummulate points together. The days are filled with horseback riding, devotionals, arts & crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery, riflery, hiking, obstical courses, chapel games, water games, field games, Bible study, prayer, carpet ball, gym time, Snack Shack, and so much more. We went to missions time each day to hear from the missionary and every night included Chapel time. The counselors lead campers in praise and worship and the speaker would bring a message each night. What an incredible experience for those campers and us!
I attended several cabin time Bible study sessions to hear the lessons and discussions. It was amazing what theses young ladies were discussing in this time together. They were experiencing God in such a special, intimate way. Relationships were grown and developed for so many campers and those serving too. I also got to volunteer in the arts and crafts room. Mrs. Dawn has so much going on in there, it is unbelievable! You can create leather art, sand art, paint pottery to be fired in the kiln. You can also airbrush a t-shirt, create glass art for the glass kiln, and even have a chance to make your own pottery on the spinning wheel! It is amazing that she has so much going on and each child gets to make their own craft. Many campers made multiple crafts.
The week we spent at camp was a great experience. It only deepened my desire for this ministry. After seeing all that goes on during a week of camp, I can see the love that Ponderosa has for these students. The goal is to give every child this experience at an affordable price. These students were growing closer to Christ and developing a relationship and a foundation that I only imagined at their ages. This ministry is special and God is all over it!
The longing for this ministry began to grow even more after this week there.
Elementary week was full of campers and we got our first experience eating in the dining hall. What fun!!! Adult/staff tables, kids' table, and campers' tables are lined up along each side with an aisle between them. Food is served family style with bowls held up to get refills. TEAM members scurried every which way refilling bowls, washing dishes, preparing food, and loving their time of service. Just as you finish eating, the chanting and singing begins, "Sing us a song Mr. Jeff, sing us a song. Sing us a song Mr. Jeff, sing us a song..." Delicious food and entertainment all wrapped up into one. The atmosphere and experience are just electrifying.
Eating at camp was just one experience. The schedule for each day included so many different activites and was just jam packed. Each cabin has a counselor, SALT member, TEAM member, and of course all the campers. Each week of camp a girls' cabin and a boys' cabin are paired up as a team for the competitions to accummulate points together. The days are filled with horseback riding, devotionals, arts & crafts, swimming, canoeing, archery, riflery, hiking, obstical courses, chapel games, water games, field games, Bible study, prayer, carpet ball, gym time, Snack Shack, and so much more. We went to missions time each day to hear from the missionary and every night included Chapel time. The counselors lead campers in praise and worship and the speaker would bring a message each night. What an incredible experience for those campers and us!
I attended several cabin time Bible study sessions to hear the lessons and discussions. It was amazing what theses young ladies were discussing in this time together. They were experiencing God in such a special, intimate way. Relationships were grown and developed for so many campers and those serving too. I also got to volunteer in the arts and crafts room. Mrs. Dawn has so much going on in there, it is unbelievable! You can create leather art, sand art, paint pottery to be fired in the kiln. You can also airbrush a t-shirt, create glass art for the glass kiln, and even have a chance to make your own pottery on the spinning wheel! It is amazing that she has so much going on and each child gets to make their own craft. Many campers made multiple crafts.
The week we spent at camp was a great experience. It only deepened my desire for this ministry. After seeing all that goes on during a week of camp, I can see the love that Ponderosa has for these students. The goal is to give every child this experience at an affordable price. These students were growing closer to Christ and developing a relationship and a foundation that I only imagined at their ages. This ministry is special and God is all over it!
The longing for this ministry began to grow even more after this week there.
Spring Break 2010
After our day trip to meet the Nelson Family and visit the Ponderosa, we wanted to spend more time with them. So, they graciously invited us to spend part of Spring Break with them. This was perfect since Chris has a hard time taking a full week off being in business by himself and I have to work several days over Spring Break anyway. We loaded up the car and headed to Ponderosa Bible Camp for a nice little get away.
We arrived at camp and were greeted with so many friends who were waiting for us on the wall at the entrance! Jake, Jess, Allison, Kelly, and Jon David were greeting us with waves and smiles as we drove into camp. We unloaded all our things at Cannan Cabin and settled in for a great time. Caleb and Braeden felt right at home and ran off to play immediately. Chris and I got to spend time talking with Jeff and Ann about life and all that was going on with Ponderosa. I felt a connection with this family and the ministry that couldn't be explained, God was truly tugging at my heart. We spent the days looking at things around camp, hiking through the woods, seeing inspiration point, canoeing, swimming, trying out the old obstical course, and eating all the delicious Nelson family recipes! We visited the bluff and watched the sunset there after hitting golf balls off the drop off. One of the best adventures was having Josh take me through Fat Man's Squeeze, Ponderosa style! We wedged ourselves between two ledges, crawled through several passages, dangled from a ledge to plunge 10 feet to the nearest rock, then finally shimmied my way through an opening that did not appear large enough, but I made it! We were hooked, the adventures, food, and fun were just a bonus. Chris & I felt a connection to this ministry and all they were doing.
We arrived at camp and were greeted with so many friends who were waiting for us on the wall at the entrance! Jake, Jess, Allison, Kelly, and Jon David were greeting us with waves and smiles as we drove into camp. We unloaded all our things at Cannan Cabin and settled in for a great time. Caleb and Braeden felt right at home and ran off to play immediately. Chris and I got to spend time talking with Jeff and Ann about life and all that was going on with Ponderosa. I felt a connection with this family and the ministry that couldn't be explained, God was truly tugging at my heart. We spent the days looking at things around camp, hiking through the woods, seeing inspiration point, canoeing, swimming, trying out the old obstical course, and eating all the delicious Nelson family recipes! We visited the bluff and watched the sunset there after hitting golf balls off the drop off. One of the best adventures was having Josh take me through Fat Man's Squeeze, Ponderosa style! We wedged ourselves between two ledges, crawled through several passages, dangled from a ledge to plunge 10 feet to the nearest rock, then finally shimmied my way through an opening that did not appear large enough, but I made it! We were hooked, the adventures, food, and fun were just a bonus. Chris & I felt a connection to this ministry and all they were doing.
Visiting with the Nelson Family
Lake Winnie is a yearly destination for my brother and his family. It worked out in late summer of 2009 to go as a family. Mom, Brad, Angi, Katherine, Chris, Caleb, Braeden, and myself all loaded up to go to Lake Winnepesaukah Amuesement Park for some fun together. We enjoyed the rides, food, and family time together tremendously.
Since our family didn't get to take much time off for family vacations, Chris decided to make the most of this time by adding an additional day trip to our Lake Winnie experience. Prior to us meeting, Chris worked with Jeff Nelson at a large landscape company. After losing touch with one another, Chris found Jeff and Ann Nelson on Facebook. Since we were going to be passing near them while on our Lake Winnie excursion, we decided to plan a day trip. Chris missed their friendship and wanted me to meet the Nelson Family. Little did we know that this would be the start of something so incredible!
Jeff & Ann Nelson live and serve at Ponderosa Bible Camp along with their 11 children. Jeff was called to this ministry in 1998 while working at a large landscape company in Birmingham. He and Ann moved there and Jeff became the camp director. Chris lost touch with them when they moved and wanted us all to meet, so we did. We got the directions to the camp and planned to make the day of it on our way back from Lake Winnepesaukah. Caleb was 3 months shy of being 4 and Braeden was about 9 months old. Jeff and Ann gave us a tour of the camp, fed us lunch, and we all swam the afternoon away in the camp pool. It was great to hear stories of things Chris and Jeff used to do while working and about some of the people they worked with so long ago. It was our first experience with Ponderosa and the Nelson Family. Needless to say, we instantly felt a connection there. After coming home, I poured over every bit of information on their website. Chris and I prayed about it and became supporters of the ministries at Ponderosa.
Since our family didn't get to take much time off for family vacations, Chris decided to make the most of this time by adding an additional day trip to our Lake Winnie experience. Prior to us meeting, Chris worked with Jeff Nelson at a large landscape company. After losing touch with one another, Chris found Jeff and Ann Nelson on Facebook. Since we were going to be passing near them while on our Lake Winnie excursion, we decided to plan a day trip. Chris missed their friendship and wanted me to meet the Nelson Family. Little did we know that this would be the start of something so incredible!
Jeff & Ann Nelson live and serve at Ponderosa Bible Camp along with their 11 children. Jeff was called to this ministry in 1998 while working at a large landscape company in Birmingham. He and Ann moved there and Jeff became the camp director. Chris lost touch with them when they moved and wanted us all to meet, so we did. We got the directions to the camp and planned to make the day of it on our way back from Lake Winnepesaukah. Caleb was 3 months shy of being 4 and Braeden was about 9 months old. Jeff and Ann gave us a tour of the camp, fed us lunch, and we all swam the afternoon away in the camp pool. It was great to hear stories of things Chris and Jeff used to do while working and about some of the people they worked with so long ago. It was our first experience with Ponderosa and the Nelson Family. Needless to say, we instantly felt a connection there. After coming home, I poured over every bit of information on their website. Chris and I prayed about it and became supporters of the ministries at Ponderosa.
Our Family Journey
It's hard to believe it has been over 7 years ago because it seems like just last week. The emotions are so fresh in my mind and Chris & I refer to this journey often, it's the journey of our growing family that began with so many infertility issues. After marrying, we knew in our hearts that we wanted a family and we weren't getting any younger. With our 6 year age difference, Chris felt more pressure in this than I did, but I was also eager to have our first child. So many months went by without being able to get pregnant and then the months of regular OBGYN visits to then be sent to specialty infertility doctors...all of this was taking much too long. Once arriving at the ART Program, the infertility specialists, we were put on yet another timeline of over a year to answer some of our many questions as to why we couldn't conceive a child. It seemed as if time was dragging even slower than normal and going to school, teaching children, and seeing the parenting side that Chris & I could not achieve was heartbreaking. Finally, more and more tests were done and we were to get some more definitive answers. When the doctor's answer came, we were both devastated. Less than one percent chance of conceiving naturally! In their words, almost impossible. What a hard conversation to swallow. We went ahead with other strategies and methods that would increase our chances, but nothing yielded me being pregnant. Finally, after a roller coaster of emotions, I was done. We sat in that doctor's office and told her we were finished. I couldn't do the hormones, or the next method, or anything else. Our funds were too low for IVF and the statistics weren't in our favor anyway; we were finished, thanks for everything, but goodbye.
Finally, some relief came for the emotional roller coaster. Chris and I began to consider the possibility of no children for us. This was a tough time for us, but our faith in God pulled us through each and every moment of this journey with a closer walk with Him than either of us had experienced before. In 3 months time, He answered our prayers and we were expecting our first child! We learned through this, God's timing is perfect! Just look at us now, through God's grace and His provisions for our family, we have just added the newest addition: Ella Grace!
Finally, some relief came for the emotional roller coaster. Chris and I began to consider the possibility of no children for us. This was a tough time for us, but our faith in God pulled us through each and every moment of this journey with a closer walk with Him than either of us had experienced before. In 3 months time, He answered our prayers and we were expecting our first child! We learned through this, God's timing is perfect! Just look at us now, through God's grace and His provisions for our family, we have just added the newest addition: Ella Grace!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Where to begin?
A writer I am not, but what I am is very blessed and overwhelmed by God's goodness to the point I feel that I need to share. Our journey began over 10 years ago...Chris and I began dating after a trip to the lake with the Singles Sunday School Class from FBC Alabaster (thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Howton). With the age difference of a little more than 6 years, our paths would not have crossed except with the perfect timing of our Creator and Author of Life, our Heavenly Father! He placed us together and we both immediately knew this was it, the one. Often times we will ask ourselves, "Why did this happen to me?" or "What does this mean for me?" or even "What is God trying to teach me through this process?" Many times we don't learn by asking, we learn by walking in faith and seeking His will. Our pasts were full of ups and downs, several premature and failed engagements to a failed marriage; however, God promises not give us more than we can handle. We both struggled through the valleys and all that helped prepare us for one another.
Chris and I dated only 9 months before getting engaged and then were married less than a year later. This was the one and we were both confident of our future together. God began to work in our united life together immediately. We found a church home with nearly and newly married couples and the older couple leading our class who encouraged our growth in so many ways! The Biblical Portrait of a Marriage was our curriculum for almost 2 years. Each chapter brought a different aspect of marriage into discussion, some were strengths for us and others were weaknesses. None the less, we stuck together and grew not only as a couple together but also in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It was a great time for us. Couples we met there have become dear friends and have gone along with us and partnered with us through good times and difficult times.
As we celebrated our 10 year anniversary, it seemed as though we have been together forever but yet the time has flown by. It is amazing how time flies by! So where do I begin...with my best friend, my helpmate, my Bunches! Yes, Bunches is were I began with the blogging entries. Baby, sweetheart, and honey are not for us, we are Bunches to one another and we love it!
Chris and I dated only 9 months before getting engaged and then were married less than a year later. This was the one and we were both confident of our future together. God began to work in our united life together immediately. We found a church home with nearly and newly married couples and the older couple leading our class who encouraged our growth in so many ways! The Biblical Portrait of a Marriage was our curriculum for almost 2 years. Each chapter brought a different aspect of marriage into discussion, some were strengths for us and others were weaknesses. None the less, we stuck together and grew not only as a couple together but also in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It was a great time for us. Couples we met there have become dear friends and have gone along with us and partnered with us through good times and difficult times.
As we celebrated our 10 year anniversary, it seemed as though we have been together forever but yet the time has flown by. It is amazing how time flies by! So where do I begin...with my best friend, my helpmate, my Bunches! Yes, Bunches is were I began with the blogging entries. Baby, sweetheart, and honey are not for us, we are Bunches to one another and we love it!
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