Hello Everyone,
I just thought I would take the time to write and let you know what is happening and where God is both leading and calling me do in the way of ministry and serving to follow the plan He has for my life.
Since coming back from Costa Rica where I did my DTS at the base in San José. I have been at Eagles Nest Ranch for the last five weeks serving as a cabin counsellor and breakfast prep every morning since the beginning of camp until July 26th. Before camp I spend a week and a half serving getting the ranch ready for the kids to come and have the best possible camp experience and to sharpen my spiritual gifting in the area of helps. To be honest when I first got to Medicine Hat I knew where God was calling me.. Then I got bombarded with whether to help in the "Hat" with flood relief or to work for a roofing and siding company or whether I was to staff at Eagles Nest Ranch. I spent the two weeks leading up to camp very conflicted, so I did the only thing I could do and sought out God and pursued Him to show me where I would make the biggest impact and would be the most useful this summer and by the end of the second week of being at the ranch God provided me with the opportunity to be a counsellor, which I have never been before and what and awesome three weeks. I really relied on God's energy and strength to pull me through even when I had a couple days where I dragged myself out of bed and really didn't want to do much. God sure made Himself faithful to answer my heart felt call.
The two weeks before camp was used to clean the camp, I spent the first 4 days (6 hours a day) weed whacking 2 1/2 foot grass about and acres worth in total. Then cleaning the cabins, dance hall, horse corral, and all the other fun things involved with setting up an awesome summer of adventure, fun, and challenges.
The first two weeks of camp I had the pleasure to co-counsel with our head counsellor for the age group of 9-12 years old. I learned so much about not only why God had put me into this role, but also the multi-faceted dynamic involved with being a counsellor.. I was an ear, the cool counsellor, parent, teacher and I also learned so much from these kids, especially when Jesus mentions about blessing the Children Matthew 19:13+14, Mark 10:14+15, and Luke 18:16+17. The biggest thing I took away from the first two weeks was just to have fun and be a kid in a way and to meet them on their level. For me really hit home with 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 about finding a common ground and how to build an awesome relationship with each camper, which filtered into a deeper relationship with the staff as well. This is so awesome because not only was I learning to build relationships with these kids, but also with the staff at the same time. For me this has been the biggest challenge of this past year. God is really helping me to accomplish something that has truly been lacking in my life and it feels so good and freeing to see how God uses those around me to bring me closer to where He needs me to be so I will be more effective in my calling.
The last week that I was involved with Eagles Nest we had the age group 12-14 year olds and my cabin had the paintball camp and I got the opportunity to be lead counsellor and got the opportunity to disciple my co-counsellor, while he was able to relate to the paintballers, because that is one of his passions. God moved just as powerfully through this age group. The amazing thing is how much deeper of relationships that we were able to build with these kid and relating the Bible and how it is so relevant to our spiritual lives. We had a Holy Spirit night and 3 boys in our cabin had very strong spiritual callings. One boy received the gift of discerning spirits (he was able to point out where the angels were on the property and drew one so detailed) what a powerful gift for intercession, one got the gift of tongues which is very powerful for prophecy, the other had the gift of faith. God is so awesome and amazing I was totally left speechless and in awe. I love it when God just blows me out of the water.
I did spend the last week making encouragement cards for all the staff that God used to help me to grow such a deep relationship with all of them. I was so encourage by the staffs response on how much of an impact I was and the huge role I stepped into and filled, that when I left there was a hole that had to be filled and even though my time had come. I had peace knowing that they were more than capable of running a fantastic week for these kids. The last week I was in Medicine Hat in kind of debrief mode, I ran into 2 kids from my cabin in week one. They told me that camp was the best part of their summer and that they are really looking forward to next year. That is so encouraging. God is always good and faithful all the time.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support, you have all been such a blessing to me in more ways than you know. Thank you for being a part of God's amazing family and partnering with me. Many blessings.
Your Brother,
Joshua Escaravage
The first two weeks of camp I had the pleasure to co-counsel with our head counsellor for the age group of 9-12 years old. I learned so much about not only why God had put me into this role, but also the multi-faceted dynamic involved with being a counsellor.. I was an ear, the cool counsellor, parent, teacher and I also learned so much from these kids, especially when Jesus mentions about blessing the Children Matthew 19:13+14, Mark 10:14+15, and Luke 18:16+17. The biggest thing I took away from the first two weeks was just to have fun and be a kid in a way and to meet them on their level. For me really hit home with 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 about finding a common ground and how to build an awesome relationship with each camper, which filtered into a deeper relationship with the staff as well. This is so awesome because not only was I learning to build relationships with these kids, but also with the staff at the same time. For me this has been the biggest challenge of this past year. God is really helping me to accomplish something that has truly been lacking in my life and it feels so good and freeing to see how God uses those around me to bring me closer to where He needs me to be so I will be more effective in my calling.
The last week that I was involved with Eagles Nest we had the age group 12-14 year olds and my cabin had the paintball camp and I got the opportunity to be lead counsellor and got the opportunity to disciple my co-counsellor, while he was able to relate to the paintballers, because that is one of his passions. God moved just as powerfully through this age group. The amazing thing is how much deeper of relationships that we were able to build with these kid and relating the Bible and how it is so relevant to our spiritual lives. We had a Holy Spirit night and 3 boys in our cabin had very strong spiritual callings. One boy received the gift of discerning spirits (he was able to point out where the angels were on the property and drew one so detailed) what a powerful gift for intercession, one got the gift of tongues which is very powerful for prophecy, the other had the gift of faith. God is so awesome and amazing I was totally left speechless and in awe. I love it when God just blows me out of the water.
I did spend the last week making encouragement cards for all the staff that God used to help me to grow such a deep relationship with all of them. I was so encourage by the staffs response on how much of an impact I was and the huge role I stepped into and filled, that when I left there was a hole that had to be filled and even though my time had come. I had peace knowing that they were more than capable of running a fantastic week for these kids. The last week I was in Medicine Hat in kind of debrief mode, I ran into 2 kids from my cabin in week one. They told me that camp was the best part of their summer and that they are really looking forward to next year. That is so encouraging. God is always good and faithful all the time.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support, you have all been such a blessing to me in more ways than you know. Thank you for being a part of God's amazing family and partnering with me. Many blessings.
Your Brother,
Joshua Escaravage
