It is hard to believe that we are now only one week away from the jumping off point for Day Camps 2013. I truly wish that I could feel that all our ducks are in a row, ready to push off from the starting point.
Of course much is in place. We have 3 Training Day Camp Leaders, Praise God! And 3 host churches ready to welcome the Training Teams, nearly all the foods are prepared for the Retreat Week and all the Workshop Leaders and Evening Speakers are in place. We have 14 wonderful Team Members, willing to go wherever God is calling them. For all these things and more, we must be thankful.
However…… we still need 7 more Host Churches (yes, this week another Church, in Calgary has opened its doors to us!)
And we now need 2 more Team Leaders (age 18+) since, on Thursday I found out that 2 potential Leaders have decided, for various reasons, not to apply to join the Teams.
This coming Monday is our final Committee meeting before the summer begins so there will be an opportunity for a group of us to look at these challenges and, hopefully, find a way forward. Fortunately there have been opportunities over the past few days for me to talk with several key committee members and make some tentative decisions around possible Team configurations.
I am getting used to still being hunkered down over the laptop long after my usual bedtime and also to the “Office” phone ringing at all hours, but that is only to be expected as Day Camps season approaches.
During a bit of “office” time I also need to do some support work for the sister Ministries of Day Camps. One of these-Senior Youth Camp (a week-long “sleepaway” Camp for 13-18 year-olds, held in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in mid-August), I hear is starting a Blog too. I’ll put up a link when I get the address.
Of course Day Camp thoughts and prayers are with me throughout every day.
My deepest concern is for the children, waiting to meet Jesus, waiting for the “Good News” and my hope is that no child will miss out on that meeting due to a lack of willingness among churches and communities to open their doors to them (and to our Teams).
My second concern is for this group of earnest young Christians, from many different denominations and varied home circumstances, all of whom have made a choice to offer themselves in Service to our Lord. I am as fierce as a lioness, defending her cubs and, oh! I so want each of them to be able to experience a full 6 weeks on Team, supported by a strong Team Leader!
So I count the days, wait and pray and try so hard not to leave one stone unturned.
At home this week I have said good-bye to Klara, my Boarder, I have managed to clean up and reclaim three quarters of my deck, I have been waiting with an increasing lack of patience to see the uni-paved pathway and walkway siding completed (no, they are STILL not finished), and I have cooked huge vats of everything from Chicken Chilli, to Strawberry Soup!
“Tigger” has gone off to his new home, and the shawl I knitted in lovely herbal-dyed sheep’s wool has arrived safely at the home of a friend who is going through a tough time. I knit lots of prayers into it and I think she really likes it!
Pastor Nick called one day this week and asked if I would be up to giving a bread-baking lesson at church tomorrow as we explore the Parables of ” The Mustard Seed” and “The Yeast”. I decided we would make Naan Bread, since time will not permit for the 2 “risings” required by most breaddoughs. Since I just made 24 individual Naans last week for the Retreat, I had the recipe handy and this afternoon I collected up my supplies ready for Nick to pick them up first thing in the morning.
So here is the Recipe. Delicious with all Indian foods from hot curries to cooling salads!
Naan
Makes 12 loaves
1 tsp. dry yeast- 3/8-cup warm water
- 1 tsp. sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- ¼ tsp. baking powder
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- 3 Tbsps. plain yoghurt
Stir the yeast and sugar into the warm water and set aside 5-10 minutes, until frothy. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder. Make a well in the middle and add the yeast mixture, oil and yoghurt. Mix thoroughly then turn out onto a floured board and knead for about 5 minutes until no longer sticky, adding extra flour as needed.
Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and allow to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled.
Punch down dough and divide into 12 balls. Roll each into a 7” x 5” teardrop shape. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
Bake in a 400F. oven for 5 – 6 minutes until lightly browned and puffy.