Summer Beginnings!

We have had an awesome summer start! Staff training has revealed the high quality of young people we’ve recruited; there are numerous growth opportunities for them to experience in 3 weeks of workshops, adventure activities, skills training, community events, devotional times and overnight excursions. Recognizing the educational value of a summer at CP, a few of the 25 staff have even integrated internship requirements with their summer roles.



One highlight for me has been the Staff Covenant discussion. The Staff Covenant is a contract we create together that goes above the normal expectations of community living and challenges us to “go deeper”. It was so encouraging to hear staff members inspire the rest of us to “Practice Living in the presence of God” or “Learn something new about a prayer partner each week.” We’ve also committed to some fun random things on the Covenant too like “Joke time at breakfast!”

A second highlight was the cave training trip a few days ago. Due to recent heavy rains, the cave was muddier than ever. Someone described the mud consistency with whip cream! There was one section in the cave where a few of our staff chose to slide down into a mud pit -- disgusting and hilarious simultaneously! The coolest vantage point was sitting on an overlook in a cave “hallway” that was large enough for a freeway and look back at 25 headlamps following behind. This made me think of the cave devotional that one of our managers gave, referencing Mathew 5:14, “You are the light of the world”. During the devotional, we sat in complete darkness until each of us shared a “personal gift that God had given us” and turned on our lights, one by one. It was a powerful metaphor of Christian community.

-Andy