Spring has sprung, and I think it springs faster every year we get older. Outside, the little tiny white flowers that are scattered through our yard are coming up and blooming. Some would call them weeds, but our daughter loves them! Speaking of weeds, baby Ruth Elizabeth, who was born October 19, 2008, is growing fast. She has already outgrown some of her friends who are a few months older. She has been such a joy in our lives as we watch her grow and learn every day! Right now she’s so close to turning over by herself and will start some real food soon. And just this weekend her first tooth started to poke through!
After Ruth’s birth, Lauren has gone back to work as a full-time nurse, and Josh has been doing part-time work in a number of carpentry and woodworking areas, mostly working for a custom wood furniture builder. We’ve been able to share working and at home responsibilities, which has been great!
In the summer of 2007, we had an opportunity to work at a camp in upstate New York for the summer. Both of our skill-sets fit very well into camp life, which helped us make the most of that time. Prior to that summer, and much more since that summer, we have been constantly in conversation about where our goals and desires would take us, both vocationally and geographically. In a large part due to how much we enjoyed our summer at camp in New York, we’ve been exploring the idea of working at a camp that operates year-round. During the past few years, a number of our very close friends have made the transition into full-time camp ministry, and we’ve been able to visit to work and play along side them, which has renewed our desire to pursue camp ministry.
Through many conversations and prayer, we have made the decision to move to Bozeman, Montana and work at Yellowstone Alliance Adventures for the summer! We have been out visit Montana on four different trips, and to YAA on three different occasions. Two of the trips were to volunteer for work projects, and we will be taking a third team out for a work trip in May. We are excited to be working alongside Seth and Cathy Coates at YAA for the months of June, July and August, and we feel that the positions we have been offered at camp fit us well. Josh will be playing a key role in the maintenance and facilities department while also participating in various program areas as he is needed. Lauren’s primary role with be as Mom to Ruth, but will be expanding and updating the healthcare role at YAA.
YAA is a family centered Christian camp that resides just south of Bozeman, nestled into some of the mountains there. They have a full summer camp program which targets both kids and families, and their facilities are used year-round for retreat groups and community organizations. The camp was founded in the 1960’s, but has existed in its current form with a full-time director since 1995.
For the positions that we are taking, we are required to raise the funds that will pay our salary, as the other full time staff do. We also need to have people who would be committed to prayer for us and the ministry of YAA. With our previous experiences at camps, both as campers and as staff, we see the great impact that it makes in the lives of the children and their families that attend. We will continue to leave updates and pictures throughout our time in Montana.
