THINGS IVE LEARNED

Humility is not thinking less about yourself, but thinking of others more. Therefore, pride is thinking you are above or below others, making everything about you. I learned this during training week at Pine Cove and was more or less forced to put it into practice. I tried making everything about me by exalting myself, which didn’t work. Then I made everything about me by “humbling myself” and no one cared. I was at the end of my rope when I heard the aforementioned definitions and I re-evaluated why I am ministering in the first place; maybe, its to feel good or succeed socially. Putting those definitions into practice means doing everything for Christ, serving out of love for Him and only caring if He notices and therefore obeying Him by putting others before me. 

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During my last week at Pine Cove, I got sick again. At this point in the summer I had been taught a better work ethic and I was determined to not leave my team or my campers. I had to begin each day on my face and with my hands open asking God to be my strength through. I knew I couldn’t reach the Pine Cove standard on my own. That week went minute by minute, prayer by prayer. Each flash of pain was a reminder that I have nothing to offer God. One day I specifically remember was when I felt like I was on the verge of throwing up until noon. Stomach in knots, mouth watering, head light, fevered, every five minutes or so the pain would increase and I thought the time had finally come to hurl but it would subside and pain me again later. I learned that I have literally nothing that God needs and even when my body can go through the motions of ministry, I wont be making any fruit. Its only when He is on my side because I am humbly seeking Him alone, that He provides the fruit, no matter what condition I am in physically.

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After Pine Cove, I went Journey Camp as a camper, to Camp Cedar Cliff as a counselor, and then on a family vacation. Next I’m going on a mission trip and then the race. Week after week I have had to say good bye, some people for just a year, others forever. And I have many more goodbyes coming up. Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 has been a comfort to me this summer. Its made me understand that everything from Gods hand (which is everything) is for our good. That He has put me where I am for a reason and He is putting me somewhere else soon for a reason. When I anticipate the future or reminisce the past, I miss what God has for me now. There is “a time to give birth and a time to die…, a time to weep and a time to laugh,” and “A time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 NASB).

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At the camp I used to work at, every summer I would go home and my heart would ache for the friends I met and the beauty God endowed that place with. It would be food for my soul when I got to go back to camp. Leaving Pine Cove was different. At Pine Cove, we placed more value on Christ above relationships, above comfort, above sleep. So when I left, I was still able to pursue Christ and access what made camp so special. I miss those people but my heart is still full; I was glad to leave my best summer yet, because my heart yearns for Him and not His creation. Its not about the people. Its not about the place. Its about my love for Jesus.

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I have no idea what other people are going through and therefore I should treat everyone with the love and tenderness Christ has shown me. Often times those I dislike the most need unconditional love the most.

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Joy is the opposite of depression.

During severe depression one is always sad, their heart is always empty. They can be happy on the surface but have a looming cloud of sadness hanging over them – a hole in their heart. No matter what, they are sad.

If someone has joy, then even in the worst, its still good. Even through heartache, the heart is still full. 

Depression comes from putting value in anything but Christ – aka, the world. The world says, because of who I am, I am worth something and loved. Its a love that is earned and therefore temporary, no exceptions. It feels great until you lose something and therefore lose worth and love. Joy comes from finding value in Christ, who says that despite of who I am, I am loved. Its a love that I cannot earn nor lose. Joy is a house built on the rock of Christ, depression is a house built on the sand of the world – Matthew 7:25.

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PINE COVE REVEW

Pine Cove is a ministry that I am thankful I got to be a part of and it exceeds all other camps I have been to or worked at. However, I don’t want to praise the ministry over the creator and I recognize it has many flaws just like all ministries. Nonetheless, it has been around for long enough to go through the crucible and come out the other side which is why it is such a good ministry right now.

The leadership hold themselves to a very high standard and submission to God, which allows them to unhippocritically hold the summer staff to a high standard. Therefore the quality of ministry to campers, staff, and host families is raised. But more than any of this, the Lord has had His hand on this place for a very long time and that is the only explanation for why Pine Cove exceeds anything else I have been a part of. The Spirit has created an environment where we do not praise, but support one another; where most everyone is comfortable calling each-other higher; and where discipline is sweet. At the end of the day, Pine Cove will eventually fade and die, but our Creator wont; which is what I love about Pine Cove: they point everyone to God and not themselves.

cons: the leadership did an okay job at making sure we were well trained, not quite to the Pine Cove standard. There were a few minor things that new staff had to FIO (figure it out, a common acronym at PC) that hinder us from doing our jobs and could have easily been taught during training. 

verdict: 10/10