I am at Camp Yavapines, an Arizona Conference youth camp near Prescott. I find myself serving as a camp pastor for 220 “tweens.” Perhaps you may be wondering why I am in Prescott, Arizona, instead of in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Thunderbird Academy is located? That would be a good question. Let me bring you up to date on recent developments.
On Friday, the last day I recorded in this journal, I did not even have Tween Camp on my mental radar. I had long considered it dealt with by people who had assured me as much in the days prior.
I went to Show Low, Arizona on Sabbath morning to preach. I was not concerned at all about Prescott. Last week I had made appointments into the new week in total confidence that I would be in the office tending to the many unfinished items on the campus, not the least is a Town Hall for Thunderbird parents and stakeholders to be held this coming Thursday. I also had meetings with the new administrative assistant for Thunderbird, not to mention some parents coming to enroll their children at Thunderbird. Painters, plumbers, cleaners, landscapers, were all on my immediate calendar for the new week.
But, alas, this was not to be. Late on Saturday night I received a text from the Camp Director, who was unaware of any arrangements to the contrary, asking what time I would be arriving at camp on Sunday. I was shocked, but did not let on as I communicated back with him and eventually discovered that in fact I was still scheduled to be camp pastor for the week. No reprieve was forthcoming!
Don’t get me wrong; I knew I would enjoy myself—which I am doing as. I knew I would find a special sense of satisfaction speaking to a group of young minds in various stages of their spiritual walk. That is what makes me tick in a very dedicated corner of my soul. But the part of me that is called upon to consider consequences and cause versus effect in my life was shouting at me. I ignored the voice and made arrangements to hitch a ride to camp (Penny was already scheduled to attend a funeral in California on Sunday, so no ride from her was available.
I packed all my piles of papers and “to do lists” from both offices and home into two briefcases and a satchel. I stuffed some clothes and toiletries into what remained of the paper-weighted satchel and arrived just in time to speak to the tweens for the Sunday evening service. I truly love every moment of it! The down side is that I am spending the lion’s share of the day in a borrowed office at camp, making phone calls, answering e-mails and texts, and trying to catch up on the paperwork and documentation that have to be produced for TAA before the beginning of the year. I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I will have to spend some hours in the evening with uninterrupted time with the computer.
There is the update. Living the good life! Loving what I do! Trusting God will continue to lead and make things happen. Just today, we secured the donation of a Cessna 182, which in turn became the catalyst for a decision to re-open the ground school for students wanting to take flying lessons. We think it can be done without putting the academy or the conference at risk. In the meantime, we are working the details to ensure the aircraft is on our campus before the first day of school. There is simultaneous work taking place on the cafeteria, the homes, the chapel, the exterior doors and frames, the landscaping, and soon on the library and student center. All new staff is on campus already. Some returning staff members have not returned from their summer hiatus. 27 days remain until the first day of school—probably 20 days before we have to have everything in place. What a ride! God is Good!
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