right around the corner...

Camp is quickly approaching, and I know I'm continually saying this, but it is hard to believe that it is so close. We had two more staff members come already this week and starting Thursday we have at least two staff members coming every day until camp. The arrival of staff is always an exciting time. Things for camp start getting done and it means camp is right around the corner. On Saturday we make the move to the hotel where we will be having camp and where we will be until August 15ish.

Tomorrow afternoon another mission team arrives. It is a team of 30 from North Carolina that we are definitely excited about and then on Saturday we get another team of 18 from Virginia Beach. They will be continuing work on the camp property.

This past week we have continued work on the property and continued camp prep. On Thusday, Andrea, the Camp Director's wife and I went to Nassau to attend the high school graduation of about 10 of our campers. It was a quick trip, as we left the next day, but we were really glad we went. All of the campers were very appreciative and happy that we were there. Most of them will be Team Leaders and Junior Counselors this year so we will see them again soon. We also had the mastermind behind our zipline down this week for some upgrading and maintenance of the zip line. He made several improvements that are greatly appreciated and much needed.

I am really looking forward to camp and can't wait for it to get here. It has been so interesting helping plan everything, so I'm excited to see it all put into action.


Please pray:
- for our new staff arriving
- for the planning that is left to be done
- for both of the mission teams coming in this week
- and as always, for the campers that will be at Camp Bahamas this summer

On Monday we sent the team from Master's Academy off and started our week without a team. The 3 on 3 tournament went well with 4 Bahamian teams participating and 4 teams from the Master's Academy. Before the championship game a few of the students from the team shared their testimony. It was a fun night and they were a great team that we will miss.

This week we have had a little bit of a break, as we haven't had a team, but camp prep has gone into full swing. We took a day off on Tuesday and visited a coffee shop in another settlement where by my own doing/will swam with 12-15 sharks near the dock in front of the coffee shop. I questioned my sanity a few times, but I'm here typing this so all is well :)

Aside from the shark encounter...I have spent the week creating budget and expense reports (never thought I'd say this but...thank you Principles of Marketing), logging staff arrivals and departures, and re-doing the staff manual among other things. Some of the other staff members have been out at the property all week doing work that needs to be done and preping the property so the next mission team can get right to work.

We have two counselors coming in on Monday and on Thursday I will be heading to Nassau to watch some campers graduate from high school on Friday morning.

It's hard to believe that camp is right around the corner when it feels like there is so much left to do, but it will be here before we know it ready or not!

Prayer requests:
- camp...incoming staff, campers, day to day operations
- camp preparation
- that I and the rest of the staff would be constantly seeking God and His glory

And so it begins...

For those still on the edge of your seat...I made it safely to the Bahamas. I arrived in Nassau on May 26, took the ferry to Spanish Wells on the 27th, and remained in Spanish Wells with the Albury family until Saturday when we made the move to Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera where we will be staying for the rest of the summer.
On Monday we welcomed our first mission team of the summer. A team of 19 highschool aged guys and girls from the Master's Academy in Orlando, FL. They have been painting one of our new buses and working on the property. Along with that in the afternoons they have been doing basketball clinics for the youth in the community. At night they have played basketball games against the local guys and girls their age. On Friday they will host a 3 on 3 tournament for the island.

So far, my summer has started out just as the last two have. It is crazy to think that when August comes I won't be hoping on a plane that takes me back to fast food, my cell phone, and temperatures below 90. But it is a good feeling. Even in my times of doubt God is patient with me and reveals to me over and over again why He has me here.

We are getting ready to throw the camp prep into high gear; putting the last things together as camp quickly approaches. It is an exciting time and a time of anticipation for camp.

Please pray:
- for the mission team that is here now and the others that will be coming
- for the CB staff
- for camp that is quickly approaching