Boys Adrift

The retreat ministry at HoneyRock is slowing down a little.  By slowing down, i mean that we have only been having guests on the weekends so we have had some time during the week to do other things.  Last week we went downhill skiing (I snowboarded) on Wednesday.  We had a couple inches of fresh powder so that made for a pretty good day.  This week I will be doing work projects around camp on Wednesday and Thursday.

This last weekend was very different compared to previous weeks where we have dealt with a lot of suburban  middle and high schoolers.  This week we had an inner city group and i was working with a full age range church group.  It was a refreshing to work with all ages at once and to find ways to encourage small children, middle schoolers, and adults who have been coming to HoneyRock for longer than i have been alive!  It was amazing to see them experience community with one another and be challenged by being out in God's creation.

By this point you are probably wondering at the title of this blog post, "Boys Adrift".  This happens to be the title of a book that i just finished reading by Dr. Sax, a MD and PhD Psychologist who has been studying the changes in American culture and how that has affected the motivation of young men to succeed in life.  Boys Adrift is a must read for parents, those involved in ministry, and those in their 20's who are wondering what has happened to them and around them.  I would place myself in 2 of those categories so the book has been very instrumental in my learning about my self and about how to frame ministry that i am involved in.
-Things i have learned about myself:  1- I am very competitive.  This may sound like a strange thing to learn at my age, but i have always thought i wasn't competitive because i didn't play competitive sports.  2- There are educational reasons why I have disliked school.  3- I like to have some control over the environment that I am in.  4- I am very visionary.
-Things i have learned about ministry:  Most boys thrive on low levels of competition whereas most girls thrive on having experiences together.  Thus it is best to frame activities for mixed groups in such a way that there are some levels of competition and opportunities to have shared experiences.  This plays out on the micro scale with a few well timed words of encouragement to the macro level of setting up an activity or even a whole retreat.  It is important to have some level of gender specific ministry so that better mentoring and more intentional programming can take place.

I feel that this week i have received several confirmations on my calling to experiential education ministry that will probably take place in the camp setting.  One of them was through reading Boys Adrift and getting excited about encouraging people from that mindset.  Also several adults that I worked with told me that thought i had found my calling and they were very encouraged by my ministry to them.  I also have seen ways that God has been working in groups and in lives around me.  It is exciting to see the ways that God has been working in my life, through my life, and in the lives of those around me.  I have a lot more to learn about camping ministry and i am excited venture further down that road.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a statue of a Hodag :)

Wow, It's February!

Hi Friends and Family!  I really not quite sure where the last few weeks went.  So much has happened that it could easily been several months but yet it has flown by.  I have had the opportunity to work with a number of different groups, primarily middle school and high school ages, that have come from schools and churches.  Most groups that come are from the Chicago area or southern Wisconsin.  So for them, they are coming north to "get away" and grow in their relationships with God and each other.  My role has been to create space for groups to have these experiences, teach lessons, and lead activities.  Doing these things has been challenging and rewarding.  It has been wonderful to learn more about how to connect with and engage people in ways that will be meaningful to them and point them toward Christ.

I have also had the opportunity to officially visit Wheaton College, tour the campus, look at the grad program options and talk to some of the professors.  The particular program that i'm looking at is designed in such a way that it would really tie together my previous educational and camping experiences in a way that would allow me to have better understanding as I serve in future camping ministries.  I don't know if or when I will do this, but it is encouraging to know that such an opportunity is available.  The trip was also encouraging because it allowed me to see how HoneyRock fits into the greater mission of Wheaton and the role HoneyRock plays in the educational experience.

God is continuing to teach my how to be humble in many ways.  I am thankful that God's Spirit is working in my heart continually assuring me that he is in control and that i can trust in Him in all things.  I am learning the importance of listening to Him and listening to others.  Thus if i were to sum up what i have been learning over the last couple weeks, i would simply say, "Listen!"  The following set of goals have become important to me. I share them so that you can get a glimpse at how God has been working in my life.
-Be intentional
-Spend more time alone with God
-Spend more time with other people
-look for ways to be positive and encouraging with everyone
-actively trust God in all circumstances
-Listen first and speak second and only with gentleness

This weekend we have a couple church groups coming followed by our staff super bowl party.  Most certainly the next few days will be filled with excitement.  Blessings...

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God"


PS here are a couple pictures; broomball and big hill tubing :)