forget the superbowl commercials...these olympic commercials are awesome!
(insert olympic theme music here)
GREAT NEWS!! I just got back from Sioux Falls where I recruited more summer staff and spent the evening with our friends Mike and Sarah. Sarah and I met our very first day of Gustavus and the rest is history. I am confident we will never ever run out of things to talk about.
Here's the deal: Sarah and Mike are going to the Olympics! FOR TEN DAYS!!! Mike is from Vancouver, and just moved to the states when he married Sarah. So he's a local, and knows his way around (a head start from everyone else trying to take in the olympics and take in a new town...)
They fly out on Wednesday and I have sent very serious instructions with Sarah to keep us in the loop with all of her behind the scenes, day-by-day information. I'll keep you linked up with her blog and we can all live vicariously.
Two words for Sarah and Mike: Lucky Duckies.
Here's the deal: Sarah and Mike are going to the Olympics! FOR TEN DAYS!!! Mike is from Vancouver, and just moved to the states when he married Sarah. So he's a local, and knows his way around (a head start from everyone else trying to take in the olympics and take in a new town...)
They fly out on Wednesday and I have sent very serious instructions with Sarah to keep us in the loop with all of her behind the scenes, day-by-day information. I'll keep you linked up with her blog and we can all live vicariously.
Two words for Sarah and Mike: Lucky Duckies.
hello, dear friend. i've missed you so
While in Sioux Falls, Sarah and I stumbled upon World Market. WORLD MARKET! The four in Omaha closed last year, leaving a small void in my heart. I love it because there a variety of things packed into this store that turn out to all be things that I adore. Classic furniture pieces, throw pillows, fondue sets, books on heirloom tomatoes...
Here. I'll take you on a tour and explain why I love this place like I do. We'll start here with Sarah, showing us the Easter baskets covered in petals and ladybugs. Bright and colorful, some shaped as watering cans and others as white picket fences, I would like one in every color.
This is a wide view of the store, showing the big pictures they sell (I always like what I see) as well as area rugs, curtains, furniture and food from all over the world.
They sell dishes, like these beauties ready for Valentine's Day...
and sparkly decorations. Sarah and I paused at this area and wondered who actually gets to purchase these fancy hanging decorations, and wondered where they live and what do they do. It seems like the sort of thing we adore in the store, and would adore at home, but just have never seen them in use. 
And olives. Honestly. A store that devotes an entire shelving display to olives, selling every kind of gummies one aisle over is just a store that demands more fans.
Sarah and I left with brand new journals and a valentine card. Their gift bags, wrapping paper and stationary area is also always a delight. And this time I even found Mrs. Meyers DISH SOAP GARDENIA SCENT!!! COME NOW!!!
Here. I'll take you on a tour and explain why I love this place like I do. We'll start here with Sarah, showing us the Easter baskets covered in petals and ladybugs. Bright and colorful, some shaped as watering cans and others as white picket fences, I would like one in every color.
This is a wide view of the store, showing the big pictures they sell (I always like what I see) as well as area rugs, curtains, furniture and food from all over the world.They sell dishes, like these beauties ready for Valentine's Day...
and sparkly decorations. Sarah and I paused at this area and wondered who actually gets to purchase these fancy hanging decorations, and wondered where they live and what do they do. It seems like the sort of thing we adore in the store, and would adore at home, but just have never seen them in use. And olives. Honestly. A store that devotes an entire shelving display to olives, selling every kind of gummies one aisle over is just a store that demands more fans.
Sarah and I left with brand new journals and a valentine card. Their gift bags, wrapping paper and stationary area is also always a delight. And this time I even found Mrs. Meyers DISH SOAP GARDENIA SCENT!!! COME NOW!!! mpr interview
A good friend just passed this along. It is a Minnesota Public Radio broadcast interviewing Renee and Jonathan, who survived the earthquake. (the picture above is Ben, Renee and Jonathan)So often the church has such horrible spokespeople saying stupid things on behalf of God. But Renee absolutely embodies peace in this interview, is so thoughtful and seems wise beyond her years and wise even in the midst of this horrifying season she is living through. I am proud of her ability to speak truth in this dark time.
She is inspiring and their interview left me excited to be a part of God's mission in the world.
leadership
I always wanted to go into ministry of some sort. I remember telling people if I could find a job that combined kids, Jesus and the outdoors, then I would have found my perfect fit.
The first book I read is called, "Leadership and Self Deception" a book published by the Arbinger Institute. It was a quick read, written in story form. I took a lot from this book and felt convicted many times. Central to the main theme of this book is how we assign blame to others when we feel (and know) we, ourselves, have fallen short. And how this human habit of casting the blame often leads to feeling like the victim and feeling like others around you are incompetent and lazy. All actions and motivations will stem from this attitude overtime, and we can either sit in our misery and frustration, or see our coworkers as human beings and decide to jump on board and help the cause of the organization. This is a complete general overview of the book, and honestly just one tinsy point...it's more of a whole concept to take in.
So camp ministry seemed like an easy choice. My favorite conversation is wondering 'how the faith is passed on.' Camp Ministry is this conversation lived out in real time between counselors and campers (and often visaversa!).
Lots of my gifts fit this job well. But there is one part of this job that I just haven't felt equipped for yet. Managment. Overseeing and managing 70 college students who have campers on five different site at Carol Joy Holling, not to mention the other two camps we run and the numerous day camp groups that all go out...is just a lot to take on. I like to have a good feel for what is going on at each site, with each counselor, with each camper. But with this big of an operation, we have to rely on systems of communication, empowering and entrusting our site coordinators who head up each site. And make sure that our ten days of staff training paint a picture of the summer ahead that excites, motivates and raises responsible, creative counselors.
To say this overwhelms me, is a serious understatement.
So I've done some reading lately, trying to build my own knowledge and abilities for the job I feel called to do. I want to do it well.
The first book I read is called, "Leadership and Self Deception" a book published by the Arbinger Institute. It was a quick read, written in story form. I took a lot from this book and felt convicted many times. Central to the main theme of this book is how we assign blame to others when we feel (and know) we, ourselves, have fallen short. And how this human habit of casting the blame often leads to feeling like the victim and feeling like others around you are incompetent and lazy. All actions and motivations will stem from this attitude overtime, and we can either sit in our misery and frustration, or see our coworkers as human beings and decide to jump on board and help the cause of the organization. This is a complete general overview of the book, and honestly just one tinsy point...it's more of a whole concept to take in.The second book I read this week is called, "Tribes" by Seth Godin. I have followed Seth's blog for a year now, and this book was just as insightful and helpful as his daily blog posts. This book is a motivator, helping the reader see how they can be a leader no matter where they fall in the hierarchy of their workplace. And how creative change, new ideas and belief in a cause will always be more interesting to be a part of than the status quo. I got a collection of Seth's books from my coworker, Casey, and I have already cracked the next book in the stack. He's fun to read and gets lots of wheels turning in my head all at the same time
If you have any other helpful books on how to lead, how to organize a team of 70 college students, how to motivate and empower, please comment below. I'm wide open and ready to learn.
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