However, my excitement began to build the minute we arrived at camp, and I was surrounded by green trees, crystal clear lakes, directors and staff members with fun Minnesotan accents, and a cozy little cabin.
Our 2 weeks of staff training were intense as we trained to guide rock climbing, repelling, dog scootering, high ropes, zip line, and extended canoe tripping. We took a staff canoe trip that pushed us 10-12 miles a day with plenty of portages, and our first day made the rest of the summer easy as we conquered the longest portage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
The day after we completed staff training, Jonny and I headed back onto the water for a week with our Guides in Training and Junior Guides (leadership programs for high school students). We had an amazing week quickly building friendships with them and hearing their life stories of great pain and difficulty. We were privileged to spend a week pursuing a deeper understanding of how the Gospel applies to every aspect of every day of our lives, and we focused on understanding how God views us with immeasurable love despite our felt brokenness. It was a unique trip for the summer as the relationships that we made on the trip have been able to continue through the summer. In the following weeks after the trip, Jonny and I were also able to take time to conduct further teaching times with them, and we have been able to both hang out and walk out daily tasks along side them.
The following week I stayed back at base camp while Jonny guided the group of boys from the same inner-city ministry. While it was nice to finally take a break from being on-trail, there was no lack of work to be done around camp while I eagerly anticipated Jonny's return.
A youth group from Fargo North Dakota came for a week of guided trips into the Boundary Waters. I had the privilege of guiding a fun group of 2 girls, 3 boys, and 2 men who had children in the group along with one of the guides in training. It rained and stormed for the first two days and we were so grateful to wake up on the third day to glorious sunshine. One unique aspect to being a guide is that even though I just met these teens, they respect me and are eager to hear what I have to say due to the fact that I become their mom for the week (cooking their meals, mending their wounds, and so on) but they also see me as Bear Grills since wilderness survival is my job. Therefore, I get to challenge them to deeper levels of faith and promote loving community. On the last night of every trip we always have an affirmation circle where every person in the group takes turns encouraging and affirming each other. This is one of my favorite parts of the week because it is so special to see the reactions of a teenager as their peers call out identity, life, and lovingly build each other up. This time was a reflection of the success of the week and it was particularly special to hear the children affirm their parents and vice versa.
Guiding certainly has its many challenges; unrelenting mosquitoes, crossing slippery, rocky portages with a 50+ pound canoe digging into the shoulders, subjection to unpredictable weather, sleeping away from my husband in a tent with snorers, discovering spiders in my sports-bra, bearing the weight of a pack heavier than myself, keeping the group motivated at the end of a long day when campsites are difficult to find...to list a few. However, I love my job! I am so blessed to live each day in a gorgeous place where most people go to vacation from their mundane jobs. I love cooking good food for my hungry campers. And above all, I am thankful to be in a position where I rely on the Lord every day for strength, love, wisdom, and guidance. To God be the glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment