Day (4)

Today we started off the morning with a discussion on Junior Staff, and the importance they have to our ministry and how we can make them feel important and give them as much thanks and praise as possible for giving up their summer to be servant leaders for us. We split into pairs and were given a word from the "7 steps of creating disciples" and Ashley and I's word was Consecration, along with readings from Roman's 3:22-24 and Matthew 7:24-27. We incorporated the Junior Staff into the message wit the idea that the passages were telling us that if you put faith in God then you have a strong foundation and you can find wisdom through faith. The main concept being- we need to build up our junior staff and encourage what they are doing. Today was also the beginning of the staff Hike HOOORAY! We packed up around lunch and got all our packs in the van's and headed out to put in at Massie Gap. Jack, Jared and Jennie all got car sick from the curvy roads- although Jack and Jared chewing probably had a little something to do with it too. Our hike was so pretty and was nice to be away from the property and out in Grayson Highlands, heading towards Wilburn Ridge. We stopped at Wise shelter to have a group talk on "how to handle adults in your group" and discuss countless scenarios that probably wouldn't happen (lots of sleepers again...) we finally got to our campsite, Quebec Branch and set up hammock and tarps and then went to go meet our surprise guests, Rob Blackburn (my minister in Asheville) and Malcom. They had chips and salsa all ready for us and fried some summer sausage for us while Rob gave us some advice for the summer he wanted to share. Malcom spent the night with us and helped us cook the Stove Top and mashed potatoes- I'm always so amazed at how little we eat out on trail compared to at home where it wouldn't even be qualified as a snack, but somehow we're always stuffed. Malcom had quite a lot to share with us, some of it was really confusing but still had lots of knowledge to offer. Malcom is a talker, he talked for almost three and a half hours straight at campfire just saying anything and everything on his heart while we didn't say a word and just listened, I don't know how he does it! We were pretty tired at this point and a little overwhelmed so a few decided to play the Candle Game (didn't take part in this one yet...) where you take chew and stand in a circle with the candle lit in the middle and each take a turn spitting at the candle and whoever extinguishes it gets a point and you keep going until you run out. Campfire was so nice just to get to sit and have fun conversations with everyone. Crazy how you can stay up with people till 1:00 even though you know you'll see them bright and early in the morning all day every day! Good tarp talk with the girlies! :)