WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? SUMMER STAFF
What's in is for me? This is a question we rarely hear from our summer staff (because they are so servant minded) but it's a good thing for us to think about. We've said it so many times you may get tired of hearing it, but that's ok... We have the best summer staff ever! So they don't talk a lot of what they will get out of the summer experience, and they often don't realize what they are getting out of it until after summer or years down the road.
Being on summer staff is not easy. It requires a lot of extra time compared to a 9 to 5, and you always gotta be on your A game. It's weeks of pouring yourself out and being exhausted. But it's obviously for a great reason, sharing the Gospel! It's a strangely cool thing how God gives us this strength to do what we need to do until it's done, then you crash. During that time you just get this God given strength that is unmatched by any energy drink known to man. And during that time, is part of what summer staff "gets out of it".
What is it exactly? It's hard to capture all of it, but it's life skills, learning how to discipline and be disciplined with grace, being responsible for _______________ you name it, making lifelong friends that will be there when it matters, learning a great work ethic, what it's like to be without a lot of technology / off yer phone... Many things like that. But also it's a couple months of being trained and built into. Our goal is to help train these kids and young adults into the Christian leaders of tomorrow. We love seeing former staff and interns go on to be youth pastors and a number of other ministry leaders.
We often hear from former staff and interns of how easy their current job is because of how hard they worked while at Shamineau. They also tend to be great employees, so if you need one, let us know.
Another fun thing for us long timers to see is all the growth. Not only over one summer, but over many years. Above you see one of the many baptisms from last summer. With such great people and the great environment of camp, God really moves and works in the lives of the staff as well as the campers so this is a fairly common thing. I made that step myself a number of years ago. I just didn't when I was younger and thought it was time to be obedient in that area. So after a wakeboard video shoot from our old wakeboard camps, on a cold September day, I was dunked in Lake Shamineau.
So what's in it for me? Well for me personally and a ton of other people, it's being transformed and living transformed for Him. You just won't generally get that working at Super Value. But as summer staff pour themselves out, God fills them up and uses them for eternal impact.
Please pray for our staff this summer. We will have more kids and families here than any previous summer. Nothing is more effective than prayer, so thank you!
