Oakes Thus Far...

Howdy!
I have now completed about four and a half months at the Oakes and I thought I would give everyone a bit of an update of what's been going on in England and with me since my jump across the pond. When I first arrived in mid September the team first went to Wales for a week of team bonding and fun. Once back at the Oakes, we hit the ground running with three weeks of intense training. The team was trained in everything from puppet training to child protection awareness. I think my favorite memory of training was when the team was working on our lifeguard certifications. All of the team had to go in the Oakes' pond in late September and fetch dummies out of the freezing, muddy water. Despite some interesting experiences, we each are now certified in food and hygiene, first aid, and life guarding.

The lifestyle at the Oakes is fast paced and very busy! We have completed about 10 camps since October to December. I have had the opportunity to dorm lead on 3 camps where I have the chance to spend the weekend with girls ranging from ages 8-15 years. I've also had the privalege to housekeep over a camp. Housekeeping is where you are incharge of delegating all the household jobs and seeing that the Oakes is kept clean and tidy. On one occasion I was able to help out as the cook's assistant in the kitchen. All other camps I have worked as NDLT (Non dorm leading team) where I run the camp activities (Games, ropes, golf, camper morning devotions, etc), help with serving in the kitchen, and clean the Oakes.

A normal week at the Oakes would look like this:

Monday: Day off

Tuesday: Work Day- where we help with the maintenance of the Oakes (painting, raking leaves, repairing, etc)

Wednesday: Camp Prep Day- this is when we receive our delegated jobs for the next camp and begin preparing things like music, games, crafts, etc.

Thursday: Study Day- the team has the opportunity to learn from the management and local pastors on different things ranging from spiritual growth to discipling/teaching kids to practical things like financial planning.

Friday: We typically clean the Oakes in the morning for the incoming camp. Then we have of the day to rest before the camp starts that evening.

Saturday: Camp

Sunday: the team will be involved with camp until it ends in the afternoon. Afterwords, we all pitch in to clean the Oakes after camp. Then we finish off the evening with a team meeting where we review the camp together before we rush off to attend evening church.

As you can see, the team is very busy! God has blessed the Oakes with a wonderful team this year. In fact, it's the largest team the Oakes has had thus far! We have a lot of different cultures on team this year including people from Hungary, France, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Canada, and Wales. We have quite a unique situation living and working together with so many different cultures and personalities. I have definitely learned a lot from the people on team like humbleness, patience, sacrifice, and certainly practical things about different cultures. Please continue to pray for us as we live and grow together.

God has been teaching me a lot throughout my time at the Oakes. When I first arrived it was definitely through relying on God daily for strength because I was adjusting to a new home and being away from family and familiarity. God was faithful in sustaining me and eventually providing me with good friends. I have also learned the necessity to pouring into myself spiritually through prayer and Bible study even though my schedule may be crazy and hectic. Also, I've been recently challenged on living out Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This is something I'm daily trying to apply to the work that I do, my attitude towards those whom I work with, and the way I walk with God daily.

Please continue to remember me and the Oakes team in your prayers as we enter the next quarter of our year. Thank you and God Bless!

The Visa is Here!!

Well, here is a "wee" update on what is going on with me. I have about a month until I leave for the Oakes. My departure date is September 16th. I'm getting pretty excited because things are really starting to come together now! I received my approved visa this morning!! There was much excitement at the Yoes home when that came in the mail! :) We are praising God for that blessing! I want to thank those who have been giving in prayer and financial support. I have been immeasurably blessed by y'all!

Looking Ahead

Hello Everyone!
I wanted to give y'all a little taste of what my year will be like at the Oakes! The mission is to communicate the Gospel of Christ to children and young people. Ages anywhere from 8-18 have the opportunity to hear the Gospel message, be encouraged in their faith, and also enjoy a vacation. Students and kids come to the Oakes either individually, with their church, or with organized groups similar to a YMCA program.

The Oakes operates year round running from mid September to the end of August. Located on 8 acres in Sheffield, England, the Oakes is a beautiful 36 roomed Georgian house. Campers will have the opportunity to enjoy low ropes, archery, rafting, a rock wall, and many other activities. A typical day for a camper would include Bible study, Dorm times, multiple opportunities to enjoy the Oakes activities, Tea time (also known as dinner :), outdoor games, and a bonfire.

When camps are in session, my participation as a Team Leader will include everything from cooking and kitchen service to leading a Bible study. I will have the privilege of spending time with campers 24/7 during their stay. I help facilitate their activity time, recreation, bonfires, and everything they have on their agendas. When the Oakes does not have a camp in session, I will help with the daily household maintenance of the camp, participate in leading Bible studies, and have the opportunity to receive weekly Bible training. Some of those classes include studying the overview of the Bible, Luke's Gospel, Evangelism, and True Discipleship. The Oakes informs it's Team Leaders that we should view our year as a training opportunity preparing us for Gospel ministry in the future. The Oakes main training aims are:
1. To equip me with the skills and experience to share the Gospel, particularly with children and young people, through every aspect of my life.
2. To help me learn how to handle the Bible in order to prepare for ministry at three levels: personal, small group, and large group.
3. To encourage me to develop a servant spirit where I genuinely desire to serve God above all else, put the needs of others before my own, and give 100% in everything I do for God's glory.

I am so excited about all the opportunities I will have to serve, grow, and learn next year! Please pray that God would give me the energy and patience to interact with the campers, that God would open doors for me to present the Gospel to the kids, and that lives would be transformed.

The Process

As I begin to write this morning, I can't help but get excited!! The past couple months have been a great learning experience for me. If you are not already aware, I am moving to the UK next year to serve at a Christian camp called the Oakes Holiday Centre. In December I graduated high school, and without a clear path in front of me, started working two jobs while I sought God's will for my future. In December, a friend encouraged me to pursue the Oakes; however, in fear I ventured away from that option. Phrases such as "too far" and "for too long" rang in my head at the utter thought of leaving the familiarities of home. However, God began peeling back things in me that showed an unwilling heart to choose God and what He wanted over comfort. The next few months God worked with me to remove the things in my life that had replaced Him and began developing in me a deeper love for Him. At the end of March I was again approached about the Oakes being a place for me to serve in the coming year. This time though, I prayed about it in order to know if this was something God wanted me to pursue. After much prayer, counsel, and spending time in the Word I felt like this was something I was suppose to pursue. I wish I could sit down with you over coffee and share everything God has done during this whole process. I get so enthusiastic and excited over how faithful God has been to me!!

Very quickly I would love to share with you one of many things God has taught me throughout this process. There is a particular passage of scripture that has been my resting place, my encouragement, and my assurance during these past six months.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:9-10
No one enjoys feeling weak or vulnerable, and let me tell you, I have felt completely weak the past four months! I've struggled countless times with thoughts of "I can't do this!" and "I'm going to fail!" However, I have found that my weakness is when I am made strong in Christ! God's grace has been most definitely sufficient for me! Please know that I'm not claiming that I have "arrived" and have mastered this lesson, but rather I am learning to, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!" (Emphasis added Philippians 4:4)
I am truly excited for what God has in store this next year! The challenges ahead no longer look like mountains but rather opportunities for God to mold me more into His image. More than anything, I am elated to see how God will grow and use me as an instrument in Sheffield next year. I would be completely honored if you would continue to check in to the blog in order to see what I am doing in England. Also, I would be extremely blessed if you would continue to pray for me throughout the next year! I can not express my gratitude to you who consistently lift me up in prayer! Thank you for your love and support!