Back to School, and Starbucks

Last year in IMT, I was required to write monthly newsletters to chronicle my adventures in Tulsa. I would describe my experiences, discuss things I was learning, share prayer requests, and occasionally I would ask for money. Ideally, this blog will serve a similar purpose. Although I probably won't ask for money. But enough with the introduction.

Since I've been home from camp, life has gotten crazy, and fast. I had 2 weeks between Deerfoot and school, and I didn't want to waste them. I flew to Florida, bought my granny's Buick, and drove it home. I only ran out of gas once. Florence, SC wasn't on my list of planned pit stops. But visiting friends at UNC and UVA was well worth the trip. I also applied for a job at Starbucks, where I am now employed as a Barista. No, I will not give you free coffee. The hardest part about those 2 weeks was knowing that my IMT family was going full steam in their second year of the program, and knowing that I wasn't with them. I spent way too much time sitting at home playing the hypothetical game.

But once classes began, I had no time to play games of any sort. 8am classes have taken their toll on my sleep schedule. I'm studying Mechanical Engineering, which I attempted once, and failed. This time will be different. If not, I'm out of excuses. Fortunately, I'm convinced that if I keep my priorities straight, and my focus on God, then it will be a lot harder to fail. At anything. Speaking of priorities, it has been great to be back at CFC. Crunk fo' Christ is a guys' small group/Bible study that was conceived my freshman year with a group of buddies. Now, a lot of the guys are seniors, eager to make a difference on the campus of UMD before taking the dreaded step into the real world. When I think about the guys in CFC, I can't help but get excited. They are some of the most gifted, passionate guys you will ever meet. Sure, we all have our fair share of struggles, but I can't wait to see how God uses us to change the world.


Other notable uses of my time have been intramural soccer, doing homework, taking naps in my car in various parking lots on campus, and trying to win as many fantasy football leagues as possible. Balancing everything has been a tough act, but it's a challenge that I'm eager to overcome. I've wasted enough time at UMD, so this time I'm determined to make the most of it.

Summer Days

If you want to understand Deerfoot Lodge, you really need to experience it for yourself.  Words fall painfully short in describing such an indescribable place, but I'll do my best. If you're ever looking for a good reason to believe in a God who created the universe, check out the Adirondack mountains.  Every summer, 70 college-age guys sacrifice the luxuries of facebook, running water, and girls to be a part of something much bigger than a great summer camp. Deerfoot's mission is to "build Godly young men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping." I've been a part of many communities, but none quite like the Lodge. In the summer of 2005, after 6 years of being a camper myself, I applied for the 8 week Guide Program. During these life-changing weeks, I made lifelong friends, and grew more than I could have imagined. In the summers since then, I've done more of the same.

This summer, I had the privilege of serving in the role of Point Section Chief. I worked with the other senior staff to facilitate the running of camp, the performance of the counselors, and most importantly, our effectiveness in carrying out the mission statement.  I lived in a large, one room log cabin with my assistant(s).  I was directly responsible for the counselors and campers in the 12-13 year old age bracket: the Pioneers.  Of the approximately 200 Pioneers at Deerfoot over the course of the summer, I loved some, had to work really hard to love others, and tried to make sure they all experienced God in a new way.

I grew a lot this summer.  Being a camp counselor had become comfortable for me after 3 summers, but I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into with this new role.  When over 30 campers and staff were infected with swine flu during the first 2 weeks of camp, I began to realize what I had gotten myself into.  Along with the other senior staff, we prayed and fought our way through, and by the end of camp, we had all become pros at our positions.  There were times when I felt so inadequate to be a leader of such solid guys, but it was during those times that I learned the importance of finding my identity in Christ, and leading in a way that points others to Him.  Looking back, there are countless ways I could have done a better job, but I know that I was there for a purpose, and I'm confident that my purpose was accomplished.