Training in Oklahoma

Staff Training 2011

This past week, in typical Worldview fashion, flew by, while the days seemed long and so much happened in each day.

I was asked by my staff director today while we drove out of Oklahoma to Kansas, where we're staying overnight, what my favorite part of staff training was.  I had to think a minute because the week is so very full.

Here's what I concluded:

Airport Reunions. I love the airport reunion.  Arriving at staff training and being able to see dear friends that I haven't seen in some time face to face brings one of the greatest joys in my life.  It makes the goodbye we shared months ago worth it, because the reunion is so sweet.

My dear friend Michelle and I 

Bible Study each morning at 8:30.  Brandon Booth - camp director for the Southeast Team - teaches us each morning for about an hour.   This year we were working through some of the Psalms and seeing how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  We spent much time discussing the steadfast love that God has for us and His great righteousness, imputed to us through Jesus Christ. It is challenging and encouraging and refreshing to the soul.

Coast Time. This is where each of the three team split up and have their 'own time', getting to know each other, talking about expectations and being a team together.  I am so excited about our team this year.  We are already gelling together and I am thrilled to see how we work together in the coming weeks.

Side note on our team:  we were waiting for a session of training to start, and somehow, an impromptu game of "wiffle ball" developed, involving backpacks as bases, hackysacks as wiffle balls and flip flops as bats.  This summer is going to be exciting…

This is the 2011 West Coast Team. I'm loving it. 

T-Time! This is a time for the staff girls to bond and share their lives over snacks, stargazing, laughter and tears.  We shared testimonies, talked about the Gospel and love languages, did face masks and made the first (of probably several) runs to Starbucks.  I love this girls team.  I love the way we talk and share and I love seeing what each girl brings to the group.

Girl Staff on West Coast - I'm 3rd from the left

10 minutes after we leave campus for the first van ride.  It sounds weird, but I really don't enjoy the first van ride till ten minutes after we depart.  Leaving the other teams, whom you've gotten to spend a week with, saying goodbye to my brother and sister-in-law who are on a different team, leaving a few team members who will rejoin us later but have to say goodbye now…that part's not so great.  But about ten minutes later, you realize that you're with your team, on the road and camp is starting really soon.  It's a great moment.

Staff Training was amazing this year.  I am excited to get started and have camp begin rolling. 

There is so much more I could write: about how the worship team has clicked and how excited I am to see us lead the students in worship; about the amazing lightning storm we drove into on the way to Kansas last night; stories about Worldview descending on a bowling alley and taking it over;  about mealtimes and jokes and laughter and friendships; about Hampton Inns; about the hummingbird I got to see while I was doing my Quiet Time the other morning. 

It's been a good week.  There was so many "favorites" of last week. This was just a glimpse. 

Here's the entire WVA staff and directors team for 2011. 

My verse for the summer is also my prayer for the summer. Please join me in praying this for myself and for my fellow staffers and directors:

1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your work is not in vain."