Ice Ice Baby!!!!

We have begun a new season at River Valley Ranch! Snow has fallen and the air has become more brisk. We have enjoyed skating across the pond, random snowball fights, and root beer snow slushies. Our responsibilities have altered according to the weather.

Though 4 out of the 5 interns are from the south that doesn't stop us from shoveling snow! Some of our recent responsibilities have included cleaning camp and clearing the ice from the roads within the ranch

Winter Meltdown

Winter Meltdown has begun! As interns we have now experienced an entire week of summer camp in ONE weekend. Winter Meltdown is a weekend where churches bring their youth groups and the River Valley Ranch Staff runs the program. It is full of fun and energy. We have set up for games and been a part of different skits and dramas included in the services. The kids have really seemed to enjoy reflecting on their “journey” with God. It has been an awesome opportunity to see and be a part of a programmed retreat. We have also had worship led by the band Ashes Remain. The interns actually put on a skit to a Lifehouse song "everything". In the skit a girl is a tempted by several of the things of the world and yet when she cries out to Jesus he is there to take on all the temptations and offer redemption.

Zack is in the role of Jesus. Melody plays the girl who is tempted, torn, and redeemed. Morgan's role is as a tempter with wealth and success. Ben and Betsy demonstrate the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Katie symbolizes vanity and distortion of self image. Biz is a demon who tempts with cutting and suicide. This drama illustrates the struggles that keep youth in bondage to sin and the fight for freedom.

Sandy Cove and our New Intern Director

The intern crew went to Sandy Cove in late January.
Sandy Cove is a retreat ministry where the Christian Camp and Conference Association gathered for their annual meeting. It's located in east Maryland and all the camps located in the mid east coast area who belong to CCCA show up for a time of networking, encouragement, time of renewal and listening to God's voice, talking to other camps, getting new ideas for ministry, great food, and group meetings on various topics applicable to camping ministry. Sandy Cove brought us time to have some good conversations and get to know our intern group more. We had time to talk about different things and hear from God in our personal lives.

Matt Merson is our new Intern Director. Chad decided it was time to move on with his family, possibly to Tennessee - we're excited for what God has in store for him and his family. Matt has been involved at the Ranch for a few summers and knows a lot about Christian camping- we're excited to have him with us for the remainder of our time here.
Our goals for the rest of the internship:
Unity (group prayer, vulnerability)
Humility
Purposeful Time
Community Service

We'll be writing of how these go.
So far we've been cleaning together instead of splitting up. Also no ipods - instead we try to talk and hang out while we clean. We also meet for prayer every morning before we begin the day. We have started back the Thursday night Bible study and are going through the Truth Project put out by Focus on the Family- it's sweet!