Hello!
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| The staff lodge at Baker. |
I
can’t believe that I’m writing another post on this blog! When I wrote my last
post, I really thought it would be the last entry because I wouldn’t be
returning to Mountain TOP for another summer. But instead, here I am writing
again and preparing to be a director at Mt TOP this summer. So let me explain. It
all starts with how my study abroad plans (spoiler alert, I’m currently
studying in Bolivia!) changed and how God led me back to the mountain.
When
I first began my research on where to study abroad this time last year, I
narrowed my choice down to either Chile or Bolivia. I initially was more drawn
to Bolivia, but I decided to apply to go to instead Chile because it is a
slightly more developed and stable country. I accepted that going abroad meant
that I wouldn’t be able to return to Mountain TOP because my program would end
in mid-June, too late to work at MT. TOP. Instead, I decided that the summer of
2014 would be my time to get a traditional summer internship, study for grad
school entry exams, and figure out what exactly I want to do after I graduate.
I was so sure that I wouldn’t be back at Mountain TOP that I told all my
campers this summer that they definitely wouldn’t be seeing me next year (sorry
if any of you are reading this!).
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| I'm currently living in Cochabamba! |
I’ve
never questioned my desire to go abroad, but as this summer progressed I felt
more and more upset that I wouldn’t be able to return and be a director. I’ve
always wanted the chance to be a director and lead an entire staff through the
craziness that is a summer at Mt. TOP. So this August when the official dates
for Chile and Bolivia study abroad programs were released and I discovered that
the Bolivian program ended in mid-May rather than June, I was thrilled. I knew
if I returned mid-May then there was a chance I could return to Mt. TOP again.
So after some more research into Bolivia, I changed my plans and decided to go
to Bolivia rather than Chile.
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| Me speaking to the camp community last summer. |
However,
I knew that if I was going to return to Mt TOP staff, I wanted to make sure that
I was doing so because that’s where God wanted me to be and not because I
wanted to spend another summer in one of my favorite places with some of my
best friends. So I took a step back and listened to what God wanted. And what I
received were dozens of images of me being a director – making speeches, giving
messages, talking with adults, guiding my staff – and each image filled me with
immense joy. I wanted the responsibility that comes with being a director and
the opportunity to share all the gifts I’ve been given with campers and other
staffers. Confident of my call, I applied to be a director, and Support Staff
graciously worked with me to ensure that I’ll be prepared for this summer even
though I’m abroad right now.
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| Me and my old staff at Greeter Falls on R&R. |
As
a director, I’ll be in charge of ensuring the overall success of the camp and
my staff. This broad job description translates into me doing whatever I can to
try and make life at camp run as smoothly as possible. I’ll be communicating
with church leaders before they get to camp, greeting vans as they arrive,
waking campers up by honking my horn every morning, making announcements after
meals, giving messages at worship on Sunday and Friday, handling any
emergencies that occur during the camp week, and other things that I probably
can’t even fathom right now. I’ll also be trying to support the other members
of my staff by leading staff worships when we don’t have campers, planning fun
staff-bonding adventures for us to do Saturdays during R&R, leading staff
meetings every night, and trying my best to ensure that we all are able to work
and live together successfully and happily. I know that some of these jobs are
going to be very difficult, and I’m sure that there are going to be times this
summer that I’ll be unhappy, angry, or overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be
more grateful or excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Mt
TOP’s theme for this year is “Live Worthy”, based on Ephesians 4:1-6 which
read:
4 As
a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling
you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the
unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body
and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one
Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all.
I love that this theme acknowledges
that we are called by the same God to carry out His will in many different
ways. He blessed each of us with individual gifts and it is our job to listen
to what He wants us to do with those blessings. Right now in my life, I feel
that God is calling me to be on staff, and I can’t wait to work with my staff
to spread God’s message to our campers and the people we work with in the
counties. With humility, patience, and a lot of love I’m sure that this summer
will be successful even if that success doesn’t quite take the shape that I’m
envisioning right now.
So
in closing, I’d like to welcome you all back to this blog! I’m really looking
forward to sharing whatever adventures unfold over the summer months.
All the best,
Stacy
