April showers 4/10/06

April showers 4/10/06

 It's been a season of showers at camp....blessings of all sorts, surprising and refreshing.

You know how good your sleep can be during a thunderstorm....you wake refreshed, and the very earth, the grass, the air is all sparkling and clear. The sun pours in, the birds are singing, the trout are jumping....

OK, I'm getting a little carried away. But several things like that have happened here at camp just now.

One tiny thunderstorm was namedAbigail Rose, born to Josh and Leah on March 26. She's the happiest kid at camp...doesn't seem to have a care in the world!! A joy to hold and tickle and talk to.

Other blasts of freshness:

Visitors from all around the world -- the Aquaponics seminar. Wonderful visionary people, developing better ways to feed the world...and meanwhile appreciating our hot breakfasts!!

A dozen trout, a gift from the Father-Son fishing retreat last weekend. I cooked three of them up that day...what a feast!! I can't catch em but I sure know how to dispose of em!

The fruit stand reopened.... the best local eggs, honey, tomatoes....

Campers eager to sign up -- a little shower of blessing every day. We have just ten days left of discounts for early registration, so the mail is pouring in.

Volunteers eager to sign up -- this is a huge thunderstorm of blessing, because God lays it on their hearts to give of their time and talents to serve here....nothing I can say or do would convince a mom or a college student to make such a sacrifice. God sends them to us.

Friends who came last week to labor in the ol' beat-up mobile home, to make it sparkle and shine for the next occupants.

Scripture verses that jump out and renew you and inspire you.

God's presence. Christ's love.

   Joel