On Friday, we reviewed all the verses for the week and did a review of each days Bible study.  The girls were able to clarify questions from earlier days and have great discussions about what they had learned during the week.  We heard fabulous things about their Bible study times.  God was working in their lives and we so excited about how He will continue to work this next year and beyond.

After Bible study, we headed back to the cabins to pack and clean.  We had a concluding assembly time where the girls were able to share with the group some fond memories of the week as well as things they had learned.  We finished our assembly time with an awesome slide show that our photographer, Stacy Reaves, had put together.  After lunch, we had our last snack shack, prayed, loaded the buses to head home!

Ellen, Meredith, and Lisa so missed being the the arrival to the church, but the trailer was causing the SUV to guzzle gas and we had to stop to refill.  It’s amazing how much that slowed us down!

We want to extended a special thanks to all the Counselors and Junior Counselors who gave so much of themselves to be a part of our week.  Also to Lisa, our nurse, for taking such good care of  our sweet campers.  And Stacy so we could show you the fun we had!  I wish you could have seen how much they enjoyed and loved on your girls.  They were truly a blessing.

Parents, thank you for allowing your daughters to bless us this week!  They were fun, energetic, and full of life.  We feel honored to know them and to have been able to serve these precious young women this last week.  May our Lord richly bless each of your families.

Please enjoy the slideshow that sums up the week!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

By His Grace,

Ellen and Meredith

Our memory verse for the day was 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!”

Our main idea was the Bible tells us things that will keep our orchard from growing fruit.  We talked about what types of things can choke the fruit in our gardens.  They discussed that  those who have a personal relationship with Jesus are new creations and can live a transformed life!  The girls read and talked about Colossians 3:2-4, 3:15-17, and Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent, or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

Our evening activity was our annual skit night and bonfire.  Each group worked on a skit during the week and performed it that night.  We had some great lip syncs and funny skits.  We even had “Jan Kay Ranch idol”.  Every group did a fantastic job and each skit was very entertaining.  Next, we grabbed some bug spray and flashlights and jumped on the hay wagon for a ride to our bonfire.  It started sprinkling when we the fire was lit and we began to roast marshmallows, but thankfully, the rain stopped and we did not see it again!  After songs and smores, it was back to the cabins for showers and story time!  Our last full day was fabulous!

Memory verse for today was 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Main idea for today is God wants our garden to grow fruit.  We discussed  kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

After dinner we were treated to snow cones and cotton candy provided by the Jan Kay staff.  We then realized our Junior Counselors were missing and the hunt was on to see which girls could find their JC’s first and make it back to the town hall.  We then had a “Fashion Show” where the girls broke into their teams and decorated their counselors with materials provided.  The counselors then paraded down the runway to show off their new fashions.  After the junior counselors did a skit that the girls enjoyed seeing, we followed with praise and worship music.  Ellen then presented the Gospel.  After the presentation, she gave an invitation.  13 girls indicated that they prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior.  We celebrated and thanked the Lord together for our new sisters in Christ!!  We broke up into our Bible study groups to answer questions, work on the Bible study, and spend time together.  After a snack, the girls got ready for bed and had lights out.  Except for our 6th grade group(our Cheery Cherries); we had a spa party and enjoyed ice cream sundaes and stayed up late:-)!!  We gave the girls a special gift to commemorate their last year at camp.

Memory verse was Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Our main idea is that Our Gardner expects to grow fruit in his garden.  We taught that in order to bear fruit we must have a relationship with Jesus.  Once we have that relationship we have to make a choice in how to act.  We can live by the Spirit or by our flesh.  When we learn to have total dependence on Jesus, His life fills ours and the fruit will grow.  We discussed the first four fruits; love, joy, peace, patience.  There were some great discussions during Bible study time.

Our daily activities that the girls went to were; horseback riding; craft; Fruit of the Spirit Cheer and dance and putt putt.  That night we had water Olympics and a snack before bed.

Monday’s Bible verse was: John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Our Main Idea is that God is the Gardner and that he is the Creator of the world.  He watches over us and protects us just as a Gardner tends to his garden.  We talked about how we all have sinned and how God sent his son Jesus as the gift of eternal life.  Romans 6:23 and John 3:16

Monday evenings assembly, we divided into teams of 4 for our evening competitions.  The girls made up a team name and cheer.  We had the “Pink Lemonade”, “Jolly Green Giants, ” Sunflower Power” and the “Mavericks”.  The cheers were really cute and creative.  We then jumped onto the hay wagons to the horse pavilion to take part in the Human Rodeo.  Human Rodeo included: Shovel race, three leg race, broomstick horse race, water bucket relay among others.  After we had a snack of watermelon and fed the rinds to the camels that were roaming nearby.  The girls went back to their cabins to get ready for bed and begin their chapter book “Change of Heart” about a couple of girls going to summer camp.

Day one was great, full of fun and laughter!!