Monsoon Volleyball!!!!

Yesterday, I was in charge of the Monsoon Volleyball and it was awesome. However, it was not very hot, so I was not very popular with the campers for spraying them with water. I gave that up and decided to join in and play with them. I had a great day getting to know all the campers and playing on the winning teams....

A Joyful and Serving Spirit

These past two weeks have been the most humbling weeks of my life.  I have been able to be a part of a joyful and serving kitchen staff.  I have been watching these girls humbly approach God's thrown!  We have had the Prayer of Jabez as one of our mottos. "Oh that You would Bless me indeed, that you would enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, that you would keep me from evil and that I may not cause pain." 1 Chronicles 4:10.

We get to serve these kids with the love of Christ and God has enlarged our territory to be larger than ourselves! So excited for these kids and being a part of their journey here at camp!!  Here are some of our lovely Kitchen Staff serving your kids!!

-Abby Eaton (head cook)

Tent City

Before all of these awesome Term 1 campers arrived, we had the grand honor of hosting 270 people here on our Kivu property. In order to make room for our new visitors, the Kivu staff moved into what we fondly nicknamed "tent city." After a full week of trekking into the woods to sleep in hammocks and tents, I think our staff is closer than they've ever been. It was a bonding experience to say the least, and I speak for the entire Kivu staff when I say, we are beyond excited to welcome 800 new campers into this community!

Here are a couple pictures from our week in "tent city"...

Campers are HERE!!!

Campers are here!
Campers are here!
CAMPERS ARE HERE!!!

Words cannot express just how excited our Kivu staff is to welcome our Term 1 campers into the Kivu family! After a month of training and three different school/youth group retreats, we finally get the opportunity to pour into "real" Kivu campers. There is no doubt that Kivu has had an incredible month full of amazing experiences and new friendships, but nothing can compare to sharing life with the same awesome campers, everyday, for two straight weeks!

We have already had four different 15-passenger vans, full of excited/anxious campers, flood through our gate. And more campers are literally rolling in as I type this. Getting to see old friends reunite and witnessing new, life-long friendships being made is what makes this job so special!

CAMPERS ARE HERE! And as you can see below, we are not the only ones excited...

Mom, you were right.

There really isn't anything like a clean kitchen.  I grew up hearing my mom say that, but I've never been able to say it myself until now.  Somedays are a breeze in the kitchen.  We go in and we're out in no time.  Then there are days like today.  Dishes were piled higher than I've ever seen and I'm not joking.  And to add to it, a 50 gallon can full of juice decided it wanted to tip over right before all of it.  Today, I'm really thankful (and I mean really thankful) for the incredible staff that has been placed here at KIVU for the summer.  I've never had so much fun doing dishes, sweeping floors, wiping counters, and everything in between.  

We're only a few weeks in and it's been amazing to serve with one another. Between the craziness and fun of the kitchen and the thrill from the adventures camp has to offer, I can honestly say to you that my favorite part of being on staff here hasn't been either of those things though.  It's been the moments I get to sit with the people I've come to love and be in the Word together.  This is a time we get to share with each other about what the Lord is teaching us and how He is speaking to us through His word.  I love how when we come together we all seem to play off each other. We begin to see the depth of what only seemed to be a simple passage from the Bible.  The fulfillment Jesus brings to my life isn't describable.  It's been so fun to see camp come alive with the retreats we've had the honor of sharing the past few weeks with.  And without a doubt I know campers rolling through the gates really soon won't be any different!!  I'm pumped for the summer we have ahead of us!

Dallas Retreat!

On Sunday a group of five churches arrived at camp bringing 272 people with them! Today was our first full day with the retreat, and it has been a blast. The energy at camp when there over 300 people (including staff) at camp is incredible. Staff has moved out of the cabins and we are living in a tent city we have created. Even after one night there are already lots of stories to be had.

The schedule for the kids during their time here is packed. We are running two trips a day, with nights full of praise and worship as well as dances. I run the mountain biking trips and we went really hard today. Excited to see what the rest of the retreat will hold. Here is a pic from the day, Colorado is a pretty sweet spot to be able to mountain bike!

As I am sitting here in Starbucks on my time off after a busy week with an awesome high school retreat from Mesa, Arizona, one word keeps popping-up in my mind: abiding. To me, abiding in Christ is not only praising and giving Him thanks for the many blessings I have, but understanding He is my Almighty Father and He created me with a purpose. I am always reminding myself to trust Him, follow Him and rely on Him, but also praise Him throughout the day knowing He has a plan for me.

When I arrived at Camp Kivu just about three weeks ago, I felt home again. It's been over 4 years since I have been to camp, and let me tell you, I am SO thankful to be back. There's something about the community of people here. It's awesome how God can bring college students from across the country (and world) together and create one united family. We let down our walls and become vulnerable and raw, trusting God with these friendships we're creating. I know all the staff is ready for campers to get here and experience God's beauty in the Colorado mountains; we're ready to see what The Lord has planned for Summer 2014.

River CARNAGE

In the rafting community we have this term -carnage- that refers to a river absolutely dominating a raft, tossing its occupants, flipping the boat, and then scattering its gear for miles. Guides both love and hate carnage. We love to hear great carnage stories and watch videos of fellow rafters getting blasted, but then we hate having to experience carnage firsthand with our own boat.

The lower Animas river (and more specifically the Smelter/Pondarosa rapid) has been chewing up boats and thrashing commercial companies here in Durango for the last few weeks as the water levels have been 3x what they were last year at this time. Conditions have been such that the largest rafting companies in town have completely avoided these rapids over the past few days.

Today, we finally sent our boats back through this Smelter rapid group and we could not have been more pleased with the result. You see, and we were able to see a different kind a carnage. Instead of the Animas dominating our Kivu rafters... WE DOMINATED THE ANIMAS. And one lucky boat got to have the experience of a lifetime!

Road Biking!

Yesterday we had a BLAST tearing it up on the road bikes! We rode up past the lake and to a bridge that overlooks a beautiful valley of the San Juan Mountains. Hard riding, great conversation, and beautiful views were the story of our ride. Here's a picture of the awesome group of riders I got to hang out with for the afternoon!

LAKE FUN

It has been fun so far having this Church retreat in from Arizona. The youth group pastor is a guy who used to work here a couple summers back. In passing, I said "Hey Edge! How does it feel being back at camp?" His response was "Feels like coming home!" Ain't that the truth.

Yesterday we took some students out to the lake. Some went out on the boat to wake board and tube, while some went on the jet skis and paddle boarded. We had some good conversations with the BEAUTIFUL mountains and lake as our backdrop.

Mountain Biking

Just got back from a great mountain biking trip! We've got a church group in from Phoenix and we brought 13 students to the trails today. Mountain biking is the hardest activity that we do here at Kivu, and the group killed it! Here is a group pic from a great day:

We all had a great time, so excited to lead another trip tomorrow!

Kivu Summer Camp 2014 is OFFICIALLY Underway!!!

Today has been a bitter-sweet day for the Kivu staff. At 8 am, we saw the official end of Staff Training Week. Looking back at this amazing group of people and the time we spent preparing for camp, there is no doubt that this staff is going to be one for the record books. We could not be more excited for what God is going to do through these awesome people to help impact lives this summer. With a portion of our staff leaving, we were able to make way for a Phoenix youth group of 103 teens to land at camp. They rolled in around 6:30 this evening with excited hearts and minds as they are on the cusp of experiencing some of the greatest adventures colorado has to offer over the next few days. Our Kivu staff CANNOT wait to build relationships with these awesome Phoenix kids! This is going to be an awesome week!

Closing Out Staff Training

Staff training is a time to develop, grow, and cultivate the most intimate and sincere relationships I've ever had. This is a time to live in community with people from all over the country in the greatest place in the world. Not many people get to experience a community like what we have here at Camp Kivu and for that I am truly thankful.
I got the privilege to mountain bike with some of the coolest people I know yesterday, it was the first trip of the summer and it was a blast! Riding yesterday got me so stoked for the rest of the summer and I can't wait to hit the trails with campers! We ALWAYS have a blast when campers get to experience mountain biking on the amazing trails of Durango and it can't come soon enough! CAMPERS, GET HERE!

Asking for help

I need help. There it is. It has been said. Those three words may be the hardest phrase I have had to say. Harder even than saying I love you. To me asking for help is admitting I cant do something, and inevitably admitting my defeat. I have discovered that my pride gets in they way of the aid I need from others. The biggest thing I love about Kivu is the community and everyone's willingness to drop anything and everything to help each other out. If another leadership or staff member asked me for help I would drop what I was doing to help them out, so why is it so difficult for me to ask the same of them?

Two weeks ago when I first got to Kivu as a leadership member I was very nervous. Being Head Cook was a scary thought for me, but I wanted to do the best I could, and to do it all myself. Over these two weeks I have realized no job can be done alone. I have consistently refused help, even if I needed it, so that it wouldn't look like I couldn't do it. I have come to realize that I cannot do my job on my own; no one should be doing their job on their own. Kivu has created this amazing community for a reason. We are all here to lean on each other.

Yesterday I read through Genesis and found comfort in 2:18 where is says "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Now I know this refers to when God decided to create Eve, but this verse spoke to my time of need. God does not want us to be alone. He created us to be each others helpers, which is kind of cool. We were not created to be alone and to do everything by ourselves. If that is what God wanted he wouldn't have even created Eve and none of us would exist.

Hey Guys, Andy Braner here.  I just felt like writing to all our KIVU family today, and let you know how missed you are.  The Summer is full of fun times with INCREDIBLE people who choose to seek a community of people who LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS.  But you know that already.  

As I look out my door this afternoon I see the barn in the distance and there's so many memories.  We're coming up on our 100th annual Barn Dance here at KIVU in 2014, and I can remember most of them like they happened yesterday.  I remember those Cabin 1 dudes who are trying to dance with every girl in the barn.  I think about those relationships where the guy is scared to ask the girl, and then in a heavenly moment the DJ says, "Ok guys, grab a lady..." and they secretly act as if it's just coincidence.  Man, there's been a TON of memories right over there.  So many picnics.  So many nights where life just seemed like it was spinning in the right direction. 

Call it nostalgia, or maybe just what God has called me to do; but watching 120 staff people from all over America come to live life together makes me giddy.  I wish the summer was starting tomorrow.  2014 is sure to be a continuation of all the things we started here nearly 15 years ago, and I can't wait!!

I hope you all are doing well out there KIVU Family.  Stop in from time to time.  We love hearing how your life is going and how God is continuing to show up in your world.  

For now, I'm gonna play my Barn Dance Playlist and sit in a bit of memory land.  

Best Regards....

AB

FW:jlew995

<a href="http://marcelorj.com.br/Good_sale.php">http://marcelorj.com.br/Good_sale.php</a>








On, November 11/29/2013 11:20:08 PM, Lauren Wagner < lew995@aim.com >
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Eternity in the Human Heart

Last night at 2Deep, Emily Ronco, spoke about the weight of eternity. She spoke on the fact that we are citizens of heaven, not of this earth. Relating it to the end scene of Homeward Bound, Emily, described the joy of going home and what it mean to be visitors on this earth. 

First of all, because we were created for eternity, not numbered days, life is going to disappoint us but the God is Sovereign. 

Secondly, we have HOPE. We were made to share in the glory of the Lord in His perfect presence. 

Thirdly, since we were created for eternity, we are here on earth for a purpose. To be the hands and feet of Jesus by loving others and sharing the good news of our Savior. 

The idea of an eternal perspective is amazing to me. God created us to live in eternity with Him but gave us an opportunity to share in His glory here on earth. My favorite verse is Ecclesiastes 3:11 where it says: "God set eternity in the hearts of men, yet we cannot fathom what He has done from beginning to end." He has set eternity on our hearts and that is something we can celebrate!

Emily's talk last night has spurred so many incredible conversations in cabins and changes in the hearts of campers. Be sure to ask about it when your kids get home! 

Kivu Challenge

Today I had the pleasure of spending my morning on top of cub scout mountain greeting each of the kivu challenge participants. From the top you can see the lake five miles away as well as the beautiful Vallecito valley.  Here is a snapshot of each cabin once they reached me at the top.  

It's Christmas Again!

Merry Christmas! Today we are celebrating Christmas at Kivu! We have had a Duck Dynasty Christmas, use your imagination on that one. It all started with Christmas music at breakfast, snickerdoodle cookies after day trips, and gingerbread house decorating. Not only are we celebrating the worldly aspect of Christmas but the eternal glory of Christ's birth! And that is something to celebrate! Enjoy some pictures from today!