Refreshed

I've just come back from my vacation - I took a week off, with 7 friends, to canoe the Manigotagan River. We left Saturday, came back Thursday and I still had 3 more days to rest & relax before starting in again. Praise God for safety, beautiful weather, fantastic friends and a great time of refreshment.

Now I'm back at ICYA, and looking to finalize some plans for the summer. Summer is a key season for us, as youth are out of school and opportunities abound. We have a strong staff team this year and have made some changes on how our summer will look like this year. While this is encouraging, we still are in desparate need of prayer for these coming months. The intensity of ministry is high, and it is easy to lose heart, to cut corners, or to rely on ourselves rather than God. It is also easy to see our love for the kids begin to fade as the weeks wear on. I am reminded of I Corinthians 13, where we are admonished that no matter what we do, what we give, or who we are, if it is without love, it is worth absolutely nothing. Pray that God would continue to fill us to overflowing with HIS love. For the prayer warriors out there, our summer schedule is as follows:

July 3-7: I'm taking 50 kids & 10 leaders to Winkler Bible Camp to join their summer camp program - please pray for cooperation & unity between our staff and WBC staff, as well as great integration for our kids. Pray that God's spirit would really work in their hearts and begin something new in our kids lives.

SERVE (leadership camp) kicks off with a canoe trip - pray for safety, team work, and a time of solidifying relationships with God.

July 10-14: 2 canoe trips for younger campers - pray for safety and joy in experiencing God in his creation
- SERVE training camp; pray for good attitudes, unity and preparedness
- Gem Lake Wilderness Camp hosts 2 girls-only camps - pray for Jessica in her new role as summer program director, and for opportunities to minister to the children.

July 17-21, 24-28: Day Camps in the city - pray for joy, unity and energy for all staff/SERVE team as we minister to children in the inner city. Pray for wisdom in dealing with discipline matters and that God would use us mightily.

Canoe trips continue - pray for safety and energy for the staff

July 31- August 4
SERVE team is on a missions trip to a reserve. Pray for good connections to form between city/reserve kids. Pray for SERVE team to be a positive witness and a shining light for Christ. Pray for wisdom, discernment, unity and energy for the staff involved.

August 4-17

Backpacking trips commence (run for 3 weeks) - pray for safety and wisdom for staff, and for a sense of wonder and reliance on God for all involved

Gem Lake hosts girls/boys camps - pray for perseverance, joy and love for the campers

August 19-25

Gem Lake teens camp - often the highlight - and the hardest week - of summer. Pray for perseverance, energy and joy in serving the teens. Pray for parole officer relationships, that they would be receptive to their wards coming to camp, and for the teens, that God would bring out the perfect group of who NEEDS to be at camp to hear him. Pray that God's voice is heard in these teens lives.