In our first week of “ministry” here at the Seventh Spring camp we had lots of opportunities to bond as a team as we began to learn how to encourage one another and give each other feedback. We are also sharing our personal stories and testimonies.
While emotions have been up and down as we settle in, there are a few things that really stand out when I look back on the past week.
The cabin we are sanding and refinishing is swarming with stinging insects; some of them are GIANT! Instead of running away in fear, my competitive spirit naturally turns this scenario into a game. The bare-handed-swatting-versus-insect-stinging-scoreboard has me comfortably in the lead:
Jack – 11 kills.
Insects – 0 stings.
Two of the girls were stung, but they aren’t playing.
(Swatting at insects is also good practice for volleyball. And, I love games that I can win, like Settlers of Catan. Speaking of Settlers, I am currently scheming of a way to construct/draw/build a portable version. Rumour has it that Team Shemah really likes it…)
This weekend the Arad Baptist Association pastors gathered at the Seventh Spring camp where we are serving. It just so happens that the older Baptist pastors share a love for volleyball as I do. It also just so happens that the Seventh Spring camp has a grass volleyball court. The court was perfectly sized, lined with rope, and netted slightly shorter than regulation (which just so happened to be perfect for slamming). Spencer, Elizabeth and I were invited to play, while Peter and Loren helped prepare lunch. We played a few games of surprisingly decent team volleyball. Spencer found his inner jujitsu and mastered a killer serve. Jack jammed his fingers spiking, but tallied a few kills. The moment of the match came at the net when Elizabeth (5’, 7.5”) sized up to Romi (6’, 5”), our ministry host for this month. After Elizabeth threw down a few spikes, she one-handed stuffed Romi on his first (and only) attempt. Point! Volleyball was definitely the highlight of my week!
Sunday morning, I had the privileged of preaching at Biserica Cristena Baptista Sistarovat. When I asked Michael what he wanted me to preach on, he said, “the joy of being a Christian.” I instantly thought about the same message I preached at Spring Woods Baptist Church in July. Since he did not inform me until Saturday night, I figured preparing a sermon on the fly did not bode well for my sleep patterns. The sermon went well, and Michael seemed to do a fine job of translating, though I could not really tell.
Finally, our week ended on a peaceful note with a star-gazing night full of tall tales and quality team bonding.
Stay tuned for highlights from our second week and sermon notes! Pictures are below.
Please also pray as we will be visiting and sharing in two churches on Sunday!
Peace,
Jack
Pictures from last week:
The church building
Jack & Michael outside after church
Loren, Sarah, Elizabeth & the sisters of Sisterovat
Inside the church – the revitalizing river of reconciliation
Jack & Michael talking about the sermon
Volleyball!
Picture of Seventh Spring campgrounds:
