It's great to be back!

I'm finally feeling like I'm back in the swing of things again and it's great! I'm finally running! I decided to enjoy my cabin and I really am.

Camp is overflowing with energy and excitement. Junior camp in the past has always stressed me out and I would usually sorta dread it because they wear you out so quickly. This week however I was determined to enjoy them and I was so excited going into the week. By dinner I WAS really tired already, but I'm thoroughly enjoying them. It is the first week that we have a full camp and it is SO exciting to see camp full and surging with energy. Last night in Chapel during worship all I could do was smile as I looked around, every pew full of excited and shining eyes surrounding counselors who are energetically doing the actions to the songs.

Cabin devos went great last night and even though we went 20 minutes over (haha opps :) they were all still paying attention and learning. I'm loving it, it's great. PRAISE GOD.

Prayer Requests:
- Energy and Strength because they ARE very tiring.
- Sleep because for some reason I'm having a hard time sleeping
- Health cause I'm getting sick

Sorry this is so short but there's a line for the computer. I have lots more I'd love to say though and hopefully I'll be able to.

Prayer Request

Energy and Strength and Health. The camp is swarming with 163 energetic 7-10 year olds! Keep us in your prayers this week! Thanks. :) I'm excited but already tired!

I am a missionary.

The above photo is from missionary Chapel during Teen 1 last week. The missionary (Pete and Liesl Hypki - en route to Mexico with New Tribes Missions) did the above illustration to show the support group for tribal missionaries. On the far right is the Tribal Missionary couple - the rest are support staff including but not limited to airplane pilot, guest house manager, accountant, IT technician, printer, teacher, supplier, local church body. It was a neat illustration because I had never stopped to think about how many people are needed (and how many positions are avialable) to send out foreign missionaries. Then, after all the various positions were on stage, they all flipped over their signs and instead of titles they simply read "missionary". Each of them is a missionary for each of them are helping advance the message of Christ. I paid alot of attention to two of the mulitple things that Pete pointed out in this lesson: 1. Many people are needed to support foreign missionaries besides just the missionary themself and we can help with foreign missions even from our own home 2. Missions here in the states, in your own home, in your own homefront field doesn't require all the support staff!

Many times Chiristians think that they are not "called" to "missions". However, the Bible commands us to go out and preach the gospel, make disciples. This is not a call for a few select to go, but for each of those who have a personal relationship with the Lord. We are called to minister to any and every person we come in contact with. God does call some people to reach out in love to others on a foreign field, but most He calls to reach out to their families (yes, those who have hurt you), their friends (yes, those whose opinion we highly esteem), their co-workers (yes, those who make our lives difficult), thier classmates (yes, those who show us up), their neighbors (yes, those who are nosey, annoying and persnickity) and even unto strangers (yes, the homeless, the rich dude, the widow, the child).

A few days after this lesson I was thinking of this very truth once again and was reminded that I am a missionary. And that this summer, Lake Lundgren Bible Camp is my mission field. I have been sent out by all of you to serve, to love - to make disciples. I know where my summer mission field is - where's yours?

Teen 1 (June 15-20, 9-12th grade) in Pictures

My drama class performing "Love of another kind". The two on the right also happened to be my campers :)

Canoeing with my cabin! :) That was ALOT of fun.

"Zac Efron", Me (a talent agent and classy lady) and "Carrie Underwood". We're dressed up for one of the new night .

The immigration workers at the name registration office and myself. :)

My husband George (also a talent agent) and myself (Georgie).

Rifelry with the g i r l s.

Ping pong with my cabin g i r l s!

This is what I call "camp hands". Dancers talk about "dance feet" and last year I talked about "custodial knees" and last week I had camp hands. The watch: necessary for telling time. The red marker: for marking what team I'm on for night (this one specifically says I'm a rock [instead of paper or scissors]). The black faded marks: the absolutely mandatory reminders that will be forgotten if written on paper. The bandaid: a cover up a night injury. The half black finger: the result of slamming your finger in the door (which by the way still looks the same, but I'm almost able to use it again).

I've only got a minute but I just wanted to update you all on how I'm doing. I'm still struggling but I'm more awake and my attitude is better. I'm slowly trying to get my finger working again. I'm typing with it today but it hurts to do so. It's still really swollen and stiff but I need to get it moving so I'm trying. It still hurts alot though. Yesterday one of my campers bumped my finger at lunch and I almost cried - I don't know what's with it! lol It's really weird and a tad bit annoying....

Next week I will be in craft shop with Rachel which will provide the break I need to get things straightened out and will give me time to get more sleep, catch up and plan devos, etc. I'm really thankful for the upcoming break and knowing that I'll have time next week is giving me more strength for this week.

In His grip,
Courtney Lynn

Encumbered (see Heb. 12:1)

I must keep this short since I'm in much need of sleep and will be doing that for my hour off. I have a few prayer requests to bring before you however. Things have grown increasingly more difficult since the last post. My g i r l s are great but my personal struggles have increased. There are many things I'm trying to eork through in my minf and heart and it is very difficult to counsel when you're trying to get yourself through just as many things as you are your campers. It leaves you feeling like a hypocrite and completely incapable of doing your job as well as being very distracting. On top of all my personal emotional and spiritaul struggles, I'm also struggling physically. I am really exhausted/tired (which is why I'm going to go sleep) and though I'm not sick (haha well not yet anyway), I feel really blah and have a number of pains I'm dealing with including but not limited to my finger. Tuesday night I slammed my finger in my cabin door. I got some ice and figured the pain would go away in alittle while. Well I took the ice off for the night but put some on again afterwards cause it hurt so much. It didn't go away overnight so All day yesterday I was walking around with ice: ice on, ice off, ice on, ice off (in addition to pain and anti-inflamatory meds). I'm trying to not do ice today to get myself using it more but it's still swollen and hurts with any pressure. The bottom half of my nail is a purplish black color and there's a good chance I'll loose thw nail (a horrifically disqudting thought to me). But the finger can't be used much. I apologize for my poor typing but I'm not using the finger and don't have time to go and fix all the mistakes. I am honestly really really really struggling and your prayers would be much appreciated. These campers deserve my all and they're not getting it - which makes me feel worse.

I'm sorry to write such a sorry and "down" post, but your prayers would be much appreciated in my struggle. I feel silly for struggling with something like my finger but it's a decent hinderance and it's amazing how much an injured index finger can effect your ilfe and attitude.

Another note: I've been told that misterious "s" has appeared in my blog again. "S" is the letter that the funky camp internet puts in place of the word "g i r l s" I tried everything last year to get around it anf all i could do was space it out. I will try to do that from now on - sorry about the confusion!

I'm excited!

Last week I planned to post are note of the same title and didn't get around to it, so I'm going to today. :) I can honestly say I'm really excited. Last week I was excited for the summer because the staff was/is bonding so well and because I could already see that God was going to do so much in and through us this summer. This week I'm even more excited because God has blessed me with a different attitude about my campers this summer and about my job here. I decided this year to enjoy my campers. In past years I have become so burdened and stressed by trying to get everything done and do everything right that I never was able to relax and just enjoy them. I didn't have the energy, I didn't have the time and I didn't always have the desire because I was so burnt out. This year, they're my focus and I want to just spend time with them. Enjoy them, get to know them, come along side them, encourage them, challenge them - be with them. Even the difficult campers God has given me a heart for. My biggest frustration is knowing how little time I really have with each of them and my biggest stress (by far) is figuring out what to do for devos that will be applicable to their lives.

It has been so neat to see how God has changed me over this last year and how (even though I felt so very unprepared going into this summer) He has been preparing me all year for this summer. I'm excited for this summer - it's going to be a good one.

Prayer Requests:
- That God would guide me in devos and infuse in me a passion for His word like none before so that the s may benefit and that I may be an example.
- For wisdom in handling in love my rebellious camper who likes to contradict or test almost everything.
- That I would have the strength to uphold the modesty rules but the gentleness in doing so that the s may see the why and be encouraged to uphold them themselves.
- That I would get my duties done and be able to enjoy my campers.

Thank you for the continued prayers, financial support and letters and packages!

Additional Note: For those of you who know my dear mother, it is her birthday today. :) Happy Birthday Mom! I know I am once again away from home on your birthday but know I am thinking of you today!

"Ready or not, here they come!"

Hopefully I'll have a post for you about training soon, but for now, I have twenty minutes to wrap up everything I need to do before campers roll in today! 10:30am is our staff meeting and from then on I'm scheduled til 3pm on Saturday. This week is our highschool week (9-12th grade) and I'll be counseling in BayBerry again. Please pray for the campers (who are often struggling with some weighty problems) and for the staff (who are preparing for the first week and still trying to get in sync). Pray for me also as I do not feel ready to do this. I keep switching between nervousness and excitement, but neither emotion is making me feel ready! lol I haven't had a chance to work on devos and that's my biggest concern right now. So please pray for me for wisdom, guidance and time to prepare devotions. I'm off! Hopefully I'll be able to update you on how I'm doing part way through the week.

Support Letter - June 12, 2009

Family and Friends,

It has been a fast and crazy but great week and a half of training! As this week wraps up, we’re preparing to launch ourselves into a busy summer. Come Monday, this place will fill with highschool campers, the décor will be up, the skits will be practiced, the camp will be clean, the sessions will be over and numerous volunteers will join the staff team to reach out to the campers this summer.

I want to thank all of you so much for joining me on this journey. It was such a blessing to arrive at camp to find all of you on my support list and to discover that my support minimum has already been met! Praise God! I am so excited about the summer and cannot wait to see what God does in and through myself and all the other SSTers.

Though I was off to a slow start the first two days, God led me to deal with my selfishness and has helped prepare me to run (see Hebrews 12:1). My schedule has afforded little discretionary time and only an average of six – six and a half hours of sleep each night, but God has been so gracious to grant me with enduring strength (and so far health) and a willing and persevering spirit. I know my attitude was not of myself and I firmly believe it was the result of the prayers of my friends and family. For those of you who have also supported me in prayer – thank you!

God has also answered the prayer of a unified staff team. It has been so neat to see us grow together and to see God working in everyone’s lives. God has placed each one of us on this staff team for a purpose – an exciting, yet sobering thought – and it is my prayer that we will all serve Him diligently to achieve that purpose.

One of the things that has kept me very busy this last week is my involvement in the skits. I’ve had the privilege not only to head up the planning and developing of this year’s mime (a four and a half minute piece acting out a powerful song), but also directing it as well. I threw myself into it, knowing from experience how impactful lyrical mimes can be if done well. In addition, I also have parts in two skits – one of which I have to impersonate sin. That role was a challenge for me because it contradicts my personality, but I have been told I’m doing well and I’m excited to be able to participate in this serious skit portraying out human struggle with sin.

Similar to most people, my own struggle with sin is deeply rooted in selfishness. It is selfishness that interrupts a close walk with the Lord and selfishness that keeps us from admitting our faults and surrendering once again unto His will. Last week I read the words of Psalms 51:10-13 (I don’t have space to write it out but I recommend looking it up). Though I’ve known this verse for years in song form, I have never paid attention to the words. I can identify with that passage so much and it instantly became the heart-cry of my summer. Gorgeous passage.

We serve a great and faithful God. May He continue to strengthen and sustain me and may He truly bless your summer. Let the race begin!

In His faithful and unfailing grip,
Courtney Lynn

It's been a crazy week! But I'm learning, growing and praising God. The staff is unifying well and it is apparent that so much from this last year has prepared me to better handle this summer and staff relationships. I committed to actively working on my relationship with God - no more letting it slide, complaining, apathy, selfpity - nothing. I'm done. Pray for that (and that I get more sleep), but praise so much for all that God is doing!

God has really blessed me to place both my best friend and I on SST after a year of being seperated by hundreds of miles for school before she returns to Montana again at the end of the summer. When we first went to camp together in 1999 when we were nine we made plans to be on SST together and counsel together when we grew up, and ten years later God has placed us there together!

Cleaning out the C cabins - the bathrooms were put in this year and made a MESS, so I was on a cleaning crew.

Chapel!

Rachel in a Courtney sandwhich :)


Missionary Staff Dinner at Missionary Staff Member Tonya's. It was a great night of staff bonding and it was an ab workout for the week!

The view of our root floats from her sweet loft.

The Staff that went to Tonya's: Tonya, Jenna, David, Sponz, Me, Doug

I decided to try and to conquer round robin pingpong and though I failed miserably the first 5 times, the second night I not only made it through the first round but I one! lol :)


Me playing roundrobin in my skirt in the last round right before I won! :) This has been a great staff bonding for us all.

Working on staff skits. I have two parts - A date and a sin :). I'm also helping develop the new musical mime for this summer - which I can't tell you anything about cause it'd spoil it.


T-Dog, Jordan , David, Sponz, Jordan, and Dan working on fixing the docks during work projects.


Our staff bonding work projects reclaiming the waterfront. I was working on the crew at the far right.

Warming myself at the fire on the SST outing. I was wearing 7 layers but Wisconsin hasn't gotten the memo that it's summer yet so I was FREEZING.


Driving to the SST outing.

Hanging at the SST outing at Morgan County Park.


My ies!!!! LeeAnnah, Rachel and I hanging out.


Checking my chore schedule for the next day. Between normal training and my returning SSTer scheduled chores (returning SSTers have more to do during training) I've had no time to get anything done and I'm WAY tired.

PQTs on the dock


I had kitchen for my chore yesterday and didn't have my first break (between training and hours in the kitchen) since 6:30am until 7:00pm. It was a long exhausting day - but I made it and it was a good day (I was just super tired).



As you all know my theme verse for the summer is Hebrews 12:1. This week I found my prayer and heartcry for the summer and that is:

"¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
¹³Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You."
~ Psalms 51: 10-13

I'm Off and Running! (well okay.... maybe I'm jogging...)

Well everybody - I made it.

"...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1

My last night home between packing a huge pile of to dos I managed to get only 2 1/2 hours of sleep! A sorry way to start a summer I must say. But God is good and my packing crisis cleared and I accomplished the "absolutely must dos" before I left. Yesterday afternoon was spent meeting new people and greeting "old" ones.

I'm going to be honest and admit that it was hard to be here yesterday and that though I'm doing better I'm still in the process of adjusting. It is a surreal feeling to be back here in a place so familiar, yet so far away from everything else I know, again for the whole summer. I can't believe it's already been a year! After I first arrived I just wished to go home - the summer ahead looks hard, not because there's something especially difficult about this summer, but because God wants me to give my all and I've been resisting. It didn't help that upon arrival I was already missing people from home, but that was no excuse and before the staff meeting I had spent sometime reading my Bible, in prayer and ready to try.

So I'm off to a jogging start. My prayer for myself, and something I hope you will lift up yourself, is that I'll start running. I'm tired, but I need to run - full fledged run without abandon. May I throw off my sin of selfishness and everything else that so easily entangles and may I RUN.

Have a great morning everyone - I'm off to breakfast!