Hey everyone!
I hope this post finds you all doing well. Life in Vail these past few weeks has been both challenging and amazing. A lot of people asked me what my expectations were for the summer before I got out to Vail, and to be honest I didn't really have many. The only thing I really asked was that the Lord would challenge and grow me. A bold request, I know, but He has continued to do that physically, mentally, and spiritually.
This past weekend the majority of our team participated in what we called an "Adventure Race." It was this amazing race through the Vail Valley. We formed teams and essentially it was a race to see if the student teams could beat the staff team. Let's just say, the staff smoked us. Anyways, this race took us a good 8 hours to complete and it consisted of 26 miles of biking through mountain trails and paths along the creek, as well as a good 7 miles hike up the Vail Mountain. It was an intense 33 miles, but 33 miles that I never would have completed had I attempted the race on my own. My team determined from the beginning that there was no way we would win, so we simply set out to have fun. And we did...a lot of laughing and enjoying each other's company as well as the beautiful creation we passed along the way. The Lord really showed me the importance of encouragement and community. He is continually showing me how vital every member of the team is to the entire team's success. Our entire project group is learning just that, as our staff team left this past Thursday morning. For the next 5 weeks this project will be student led and will really become our own project, flavored in whatever way we desire. It will be incredible to see how the Lord really calls people to step up and lead in areas that will cause them to step out in faith.
Work is going really well. I am really getting to spend some good time and have good conversations with one of my co-workers. You can be praying for this relationship and that the Lord would give me the eyes and ears to recognize the opportunities that He gives me to minister and love on her. Work has also be really enjoyable, and the number of children we have each day is really picking up. Yesterday, we had about 21 children, including 2 babies, so it makes for a really interesting and somewhat chaotic day. But all together, work has been awesome and I really love my co-workers. Each day it proves to be exactly where the Lord has called me to work for the summer. Please pray that I would learn to how to best love my co-workers at the exact place they are at in life and that I would be bold and full of joy.
The last few weeks the Lord has really answered a lot of prayers and is really challenging me spiritually. He is continually reassuring me that His plan is perfect and is really allowing me to see that He is in control of my life and I am exactly where He has intended for me to be this summer. He is giving me peace about a lot of areas of my life that I have been holding on to for a long time and really showing me that there were a lot of things I needed to surrender to Him so that He could best use me this summer. Isn't it amazing how the Lord constantly reminds us of His faithfulness?
I mentioned earlier that as the staff led this past week the last 5 weeks of project would be student led. I also mentioned that I really asked the Lord to challenge and grow me this summer. Well, the Lord has answered that prayer to be challenged as I, along with another girl named Brittany, will be leading the women on project this summer. I feel very inadequate to be leading these women, as there are 26 other women on project, all of who would make excellent directors. However, I am extremely excited about how the Lord will grow me through this experience and I am continually encouraged by the 3 others on our director team. I really want to love and serve the other members of this project, so please pray that the Lord would show me how to best do that. No doubt He is going to challenge and grow me through this position and I pray that as a servant team we would be able to create and environment where everyone on project would really be able to engage with and experience the Lord in His fullness.
I hope everyone has a restful 4th and that the summer continues to treat everyone well.
In Him,
Lauren
Friday, July 4, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
the last few weeks
Hey everyone
Sorry it has been so long since I've updated last. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, but a really great time as well. The last two weeks at work ( a children's day camp at a local resort) have been a whole lot of fun. I am really enjoying my co-workers; they are all really outgoing and really make me feel welcome. Going to work is something I find myself looking forward to, which makes for fun days of hiking and hanging out with the children. We haven't had many children thus far, but this week should pick up a lot and from here on out we should have somewhere around 20 children a day.
The last two weekends have been really refreshing as well. Two weekends ago our group went on an incredible hike to an area called Hanging Lake. While the hike was somewhat intensive, there was a beautiful waterfall and lake at the top of the mountain that were completely worth the trek. The next day we spent the afternoon trekking through the woods with an activity called "The Great Rescue." Everyone was split into our family groups (which is like our small group/Bible Study) and we had to find the four lost people in the woods. It was a great activity which really helped us to meeting people's physical and spiritual needs. It was a great time for us to refocus on what our purpose is in the Vail valley this summer and an excellent reminder of what it means to get to know and love on those who do not know the Lord. The Lord has placed some great coworkers in my life thus far who I really have been called to love on and get to know. Please pray that I would be intentional in those relationships and continue to remember that it is the Lord who is working through me to meet these people and their needs.
This past weekend was also a great refreshment as we had a women's retreat. We spent Friday evening around a campfire in the mountains, sharing about the areas we were struggling and even more importantly about the areas that we are seeing God show up in our lives. It was a great time of community and fellowship, as well as a great encouragement to see all that God is doing in and through His children. We also spent Saturday afternoon and evening talking with one another and being real about the things which we were experiencing this summer. I left the weekend feeling very refreshing and reconnected with the Lord who has called me to serve the valley this summer. It was a great time of solid community with the women and also some great time just meeting with the Lord and praying through the coming weeks here in Vail.
The Lord is moving in incredible ways already in the valley. Many of my friends on project are having great conversations with their coworkers, simply about life and even about spiritual things. I am so excited to see how those relationships continue to develop and how the Lord will continue to move those conversations into sharing the Gospel and all that Christ has done in our lives. Please pray for big things in the valley this summer. All too often I have such a small view of the Lord and do not believe that what seems impossible can actually be done. I am expecting amazing things from the Lord this summer, and I want to invite each of you to pray with me for that. I hope everyone is doing well and that summer is treating you well.
By His grace alone,
Lauren
Sorry it has been so long since I've updated last. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, but a really great time as well. The last two weeks at work ( a children's day camp at a local resort) have been a whole lot of fun. I am really enjoying my co-workers; they are all really outgoing and really make me feel welcome. Going to work is something I find myself looking forward to, which makes for fun days of hiking and hanging out with the children. We haven't had many children thus far, but this week should pick up a lot and from here on out we should have somewhere around 20 children a day.
The last two weekends have been really refreshing as well. Two weekends ago our group went on an incredible hike to an area called Hanging Lake. While the hike was somewhat intensive, there was a beautiful waterfall and lake at the top of the mountain that were completely worth the trek. The next day we spent the afternoon trekking through the woods with an activity called "The Great Rescue." Everyone was split into our family groups (which is like our small group/Bible Study) and we had to find the four lost people in the woods. It was a great activity which really helped us to meeting people's physical and spiritual needs. It was a great time for us to refocus on what our purpose is in the Vail valley this summer and an excellent reminder of what it means to get to know and love on those who do not know the Lord. The Lord has placed some great coworkers in my life thus far who I really have been called to love on and get to know. Please pray that I would be intentional in those relationships and continue to remember that it is the Lord who is working through me to meet these people and their needs.
This past weekend was also a great refreshment as we had a women's retreat. We spent Friday evening around a campfire in the mountains, sharing about the areas we were struggling and even more importantly about the areas that we are seeing God show up in our lives. It was a great time of community and fellowship, as well as a great encouragement to see all that God is doing in and through His children. We also spent Saturday afternoon and evening talking with one another and being real about the things which we were experiencing this summer. I left the weekend feeling very refreshing and reconnected with the Lord who has called me to serve the valley this summer. It was a great time of solid community with the women and also some great time just meeting with the Lord and praying through the coming weeks here in Vail.
The Lord is moving in incredible ways already in the valley. Many of my friends on project are having great conversations with their coworkers, simply about life and even about spiritual things. I am so excited to see how those relationships continue to develop and how the Lord will continue to move those conversations into sharing the Gospel and all that Christ has done in our lives. Please pray for big things in the valley this summer. All too often I have such a small view of the Lord and do not believe that what seems impossible can actually be done. I am expecting amazing things from the Lord this summer, and I want to invite each of you to pray with me for that. I hope everyone is doing well and that summer is treating you well.
By His grace alone,
Lauren
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
-hey everyone
I hope you all have had a great week so far. This past weekend up until today has been really busy, but really wonderful. So..about that mud. The 5k was truly an experience. We get to trail head where the run was beginning, only to find the firemen making the mud pit out of snow and dirt. Needless to say, that mud was freezing. We started the mud run which was mostly up the mountain, so I should probably be honest and say that I ran far from most of the 5k. We had to run the track 3 times and each time we ran through the mud pit. I decided to be a little crazy and dive through the mud the first time, which heavily decorated my legs, torso and face with mud. So, then comes the fun part when we were all finished with the race and we were standing in the freezing cold waiting to be rinsed off by the fire hoses, only to find that right as we step forward to be rinsed they run out of water. thanks guys. it was a very cold night, but extremely fun and something I would definitely do again.
I should have prefaced the paragraph before by saying that the 5k mud run was part of a huge event going on this weekend called the Teva Mountain Games. There were all sorts of events and people from all over the world competing in different trail running, kayaking, fishing, and mountain climbing categories. Something really cool about this event, besides all of the incredible athletes, was that the Bouldering World Cup was held for the first time on US soil this past weekend. It was an amazing opportunity to see all these men and women with incredible strength and talent climb these "impossible" climbing courses.
Sunday was a great time of fellowship for our team. We spent the evening hiking up to this really beautiful area during sunset. We sort of spent the time as a group talking about our vision and really praying for the valley. We also split up into groups of three, which will be called our G-3 groups. These groups are formed by team members who are working together this summer (in my group this is not true because I am the only one working at my job site) and the purpose behind these groups is to meet during the week for a time of discipleship and talking about what the Lord is doing in your life. This time is meant to invite your coworkers who are searching for truth or may be seeking out what it means to be a believer of Christ. Just talking through ideas with the two other girls in my G-3 group was so encouraging and seems to be a great source of accountability as to how I am getting to know my coworkers. As we left from this time and starting hiking down the mountain, IT BEGAN TO SNOW. It was awesome and we got a few great pictures of a wintry sunset.
And finally, the last important part of this incredibly long post. Today was my first day of work! Just to recap, I am working at a local resort at a children's day camp. Today we only had one child for half the day, but next week it will pick up a lot more. At the most we should have 20 children during the day, but today was a great intro to the job. I really enjoy the people I'm working with, each of them are so kind and really talkative. Today has really made me excited for this summer and I hope that some great relationships are made there.
Altogether, I am really encouraged about all that the Lord is doing. He is truly teaching me what it means to trust in His sovereignty and ultimate control. A lot of prayers have been answered and I truly feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be this summer. Our team is uniting in awesome ways and I know the Lord is going to challenge me in a real way this summer.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will continue preparing our hearts and the hearts of those we are coming in contact with this summer. Also, please pray that I would really learn what it means to radically love those I meet, with a love that covers a multitude of sins. Thank you all for your continued prayers.
In addition to the pictures I posted last time, here are more. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=2733508#/album.php?aid=2243516&id=2733508
In Him,
Lauren
I hope you all have had a great week so far. This past weekend up until today has been really busy, but really wonderful. So..about that mud. The 5k was truly an experience. We get to trail head where the run was beginning, only to find the firemen making the mud pit out of snow and dirt. Needless to say, that mud was freezing. We started the mud run which was mostly up the mountain, so I should probably be honest and say that I ran far from most of the 5k. We had to run the track 3 times and each time we ran through the mud pit. I decided to be a little crazy and dive through the mud the first time, which heavily decorated my legs, torso and face with mud. So, then comes the fun part when we were all finished with the race and we were standing in the freezing cold waiting to be rinsed off by the fire hoses, only to find that right as we step forward to be rinsed they run out of water. thanks guys. it was a very cold night, but extremely fun and something I would definitely do again.
I should have prefaced the paragraph before by saying that the 5k mud run was part of a huge event going on this weekend called the Teva Mountain Games. There were all sorts of events and people from all over the world competing in different trail running, kayaking, fishing, and mountain climbing categories. Something really cool about this event, besides all of the incredible athletes, was that the Bouldering World Cup was held for the first time on US soil this past weekend. It was an amazing opportunity to see all these men and women with incredible strength and talent climb these "impossible" climbing courses.
Sunday was a great time of fellowship for our team. We spent the evening hiking up to this really beautiful area during sunset. We sort of spent the time as a group talking about our vision and really praying for the valley. We also split up into groups of three, which will be called our G-3 groups. These groups are formed by team members who are working together this summer (in my group this is not true because I am the only one working at my job site) and the purpose behind these groups is to meet during the week for a time of discipleship and talking about what the Lord is doing in your life. This time is meant to invite your coworkers who are searching for truth or may be seeking out what it means to be a believer of Christ. Just talking through ideas with the two other girls in my G-3 group was so encouraging and seems to be a great source of accountability as to how I am getting to know my coworkers. As we left from this time and starting hiking down the mountain, IT BEGAN TO SNOW. It was awesome and we got a few great pictures of a wintry sunset.
And finally, the last important part of this incredibly long post. Today was my first day of work! Just to recap, I am working at a local resort at a children's day camp. Today we only had one child for half the day, but next week it will pick up a lot more. At the most we should have 20 children during the day, but today was a great intro to the job. I really enjoy the people I'm working with, each of them are so kind and really talkative. Today has really made me excited for this summer and I hope that some great relationships are made there.
Altogether, I am really encouraged about all that the Lord is doing. He is truly teaching me what it means to trust in His sovereignty and ultimate control. A lot of prayers have been answered and I truly feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be this summer. Our team is uniting in awesome ways and I know the Lord is going to challenge me in a real way this summer.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will continue preparing our hearts and the hearts of those we are coming in contact with this summer. Also, please pray that I would really learn what it means to radically love those I meet, with a love that covers a multitude of sins. Thank you all for your continued prayers.
In addition to the pictures I posted last time, here are more. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=2733508#/album.php?aid=2243516&id=2733508
In Him,
Lauren
Thursday, June 5, 2008
good news and a mud pit.
-hey everyone
I hope the last few days have been great. For those in NC, I've heard it's been pretty hot. Quite the opposite is true in Vail this week, we are actually expecting some freezing rain/snow today.
The last few days have been filled with job searching and interviewing, but finally the search has come to an end. Yesterday, I got a job at a local resort called Beaver Creek. It is actually about 7-8 miles down the road, which means I will have to take 2 buses to work each morning. So, it wasn't exactly ideal. And then I went to interview yesterday and I realized that it was exactly where I needed to be this summer. I will be working as a child care provider for a children's day camp at the resort. Our team has several working restrictions, such as we can not work after 5pm or on the weekends. And this job is everyday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, so it fits perfectly within my schedule. I will be working full time at the camp with children up to the age of 6. I am the only one from my team working in the area, but I will be working with a group of 6 other girls around my age at the camp, which is a great opportunity to foster some really good relationships with them over the summer. Overall, it seems like a great fit. It's a very relaxed and laid back environment, which fits me perfectly. It has been so encouraging to see how the Lord provided once again and how well this job just fell into place.
I don't start working until Tuesday morning, so the next few days will be spent doing some hiking and just exploring this beautiful valley. And, exciting news: on Saturday evening I will be running in a 5k, which is a first for me. It's not just a 5k either, the last 100ft is a mud pit. Exciting..I know.
I have also posted some pictures of the valley area that I took on a hike with my roommate two days ago. Enjoy the scenery and hopefully I'll post more soon! You can view the pictures at:
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=2733508#/album.php?aid=2242259&id=2733508
Love you all and hope to talk to you soon.
In Him,
Lauren
I hope the last few days have been great. For those in NC, I've heard it's been pretty hot. Quite the opposite is true in Vail this week, we are actually expecting some freezing rain/snow today.
The last few days have been filled with job searching and interviewing, but finally the search has come to an end. Yesterday, I got a job at a local resort called Beaver Creek. It is actually about 7-8 miles down the road, which means I will have to take 2 buses to work each morning. So, it wasn't exactly ideal. And then I went to interview yesterday and I realized that it was exactly where I needed to be this summer. I will be working as a child care provider for a children's day camp at the resort. Our team has several working restrictions, such as we can not work after 5pm or on the weekends. And this job is everyday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, so it fits perfectly within my schedule. I will be working full time at the camp with children up to the age of 6. I am the only one from my team working in the area, but I will be working with a group of 6 other girls around my age at the camp, which is a great opportunity to foster some really good relationships with them over the summer. Overall, it seems like a great fit. It's a very relaxed and laid back environment, which fits me perfectly. It has been so encouraging to see how the Lord provided once again and how well this job just fell into place.
I don't start working until Tuesday morning, so the next few days will be spent doing some hiking and just exploring this beautiful valley. And, exciting news: on Saturday evening I will be running in a 5k, which is a first for me. It's not just a 5k either, the last 100ft is a mud pit. Exciting..I know.
I have also posted some pictures of the valley area that I took on a hike with my roommate two days ago. Enjoy the scenery and hopefully I'll post more soon! You can view the pictures at:
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=2733508#/album.php?aid=2242259&id=2733508
Love you all and hope to talk to you soon.
In Him,
Lauren
Monday, June 2, 2008
and so it begins...
-hey everyone
I've finally made it! Vail is just as breathtaking as I heard it would be. Coming out of the Denver Airport and traveling through all of the mountains, many which still have snow caps, was incredible. The beauty of the Lord's creation is seen in it's true fullness in the Vail Valley and makes it undeniable that He has prepared a great adventure for my team and myself this summer!
After arriving on Saturday afternoon, all of the team members and directors (total of 45 people) introduced themselves and had a short summer orientation cookout at a beautiful home in the valley. I must admit that I was very overwhelmed by the size of the group at first being that I thrive more in a one-on-one situation, but each day we seem to become closer and make those numbers seem much smaller. Later that night we went for a short scavenger hunt of the valley area and then headed to bed, because we were all exhausted. (side note--Vail sits at an altitude of 8150 ft. and it has been quite an adjustment for everyone)
Sunday morning our team got up and attended The Vail Church, which the church we will be partnered with this summer and where we will be worshiping on Sunday mornings. The community within the church was very solid and they were all very inviting and excited to see us. Sunday night we were broken down in our family groups, which are our small groups that we will be having Bible studies and prayer times with in the evenings throughout the summer. We spent our time sharing our life stories with each other and it was incredibly encouraging to get to know the people in my group and the lives that they came from. But more importantly it was so amazing to see how the Lord has healed each of them in various areas of their lives and how He has brought us together this summer, to grow together and to love the valley area.
Today has been a fun filled day of job searching. Can you sense the excitement in my writing? It was a very long day, and in some ways a discouraging day for the team, as places in Vail were not needing as much help or hiring as much as we were told they would be. But, the Lord is faithful and He is sovereign. I applied at several places and I actually had a call back from a local resort, so we'll see how that unfolds.
Now for how I'm really doing... I am really enjoying the Vail valley area. It is extremely beautiful and the weather has been wonderful. Through a lot of prayer and sharing with our family groups I have been so encouraged about the summer and how the Lord is going to show up in some incredible ways. The last 6 months have been a time of incredible growth for me, and I am continuing to pray that the Lord would change and mold my heart and life.
Please be praying for our team as we are all searching for jobs and trying to find where it is that the Lord has called us to minister this summer. Please pray for our soon-to-be coworkers and employers, that we would love them radically and that we would show Christ to them.
I have been very long winded, but I hope you are all doing well! I will try and update as much as time permits.
-Lauren
I've finally made it! Vail is just as breathtaking as I heard it would be. Coming out of the Denver Airport and traveling through all of the mountains, many which still have snow caps, was incredible. The beauty of the Lord's creation is seen in it's true fullness in the Vail Valley and makes it undeniable that He has prepared a great adventure for my team and myself this summer!
After arriving on Saturday afternoon, all of the team members and directors (total of 45 people) introduced themselves and had a short summer orientation cookout at a beautiful home in the valley. I must admit that I was very overwhelmed by the size of the group at first being that I thrive more in a one-on-one situation, but each day we seem to become closer and make those numbers seem much smaller. Later that night we went for a short scavenger hunt of the valley area and then headed to bed, because we were all exhausted. (side note--Vail sits at an altitude of 8150 ft. and it has been quite an adjustment for everyone)
Sunday morning our team got up and attended The Vail Church, which the church we will be partnered with this summer and where we will be worshiping on Sunday mornings. The community within the church was very solid and they were all very inviting and excited to see us. Sunday night we were broken down in our family groups, which are our small groups that we will be having Bible studies and prayer times with in the evenings throughout the summer. We spent our time sharing our life stories with each other and it was incredibly encouraging to get to know the people in my group and the lives that they came from. But more importantly it was so amazing to see how the Lord has healed each of them in various areas of their lives and how He has brought us together this summer, to grow together and to love the valley area.
Today has been a fun filled day of job searching. Can you sense the excitement in my writing? It was a very long day, and in some ways a discouraging day for the team, as places in Vail were not needing as much help or hiring as much as we were told they would be. But, the Lord is faithful and He is sovereign. I applied at several places and I actually had a call back from a local resort, so we'll see how that unfolds.
Now for how I'm really doing... I am really enjoying the Vail valley area. It is extremely beautiful and the weather has been wonderful. Through a lot of prayer and sharing with our family groups I have been so encouraged about the summer and how the Lord is going to show up in some incredible ways. The last 6 months have been a time of incredible growth for me, and I am continuing to pray that the Lord would change and mold my heart and life.
Please be praying for our team as we are all searching for jobs and trying to find where it is that the Lord has called us to minister this summer. Please pray for our soon-to-be coworkers and employers, that we would love them radically and that we would show Christ to them.
I have been very long winded, but I hope you are all doing well! I will try and update as much as time permits.
-Lauren
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