Nostalgia

Last night we went for a family walk (quickly becoming a nightly routine - love the lighter nights!!) and ended up walking into the mill. The dining hall (the mill) is full of many many memories for me. From being a homesick 7 yr old camper (the homesickness did end!), to being kitchen staff cleaning the dishes, and finally (a favorite memory) our reception for our wedding. But the first thing we both said last night was that it smells like camp! It's funny how the senses take us immediately to a time or place.
Camp has been my heart's home for a long time now. Pretty much every place here has a special memory for me and especially for Cory and I as a couple. From the first time I saw him, the first time we talked, to the day he got down on one knee and proposed. I am just relishing in the blessing of being able to raise Jude (and baby soon!) in such a special place to us. I have seen him grow so much already just from having the opportunity to run around and climb and basically just be a dirty messy boy. So. Much. Fun.

We are busy here prepping for our first group to come in! Handi*Vangelism (hvmi.org) comes in tomorrow to start their orientation and then campers will be here next Monday! This week is also (hopefully!!) the last week of work on our house! We plan to move in next week! Needless to say, we are beyond excited! The house is even more than we imagined! (Pictures to come!) I am ready to actually unpack our kitchen!
The frisbee golf ministry has had an exciting and consistent turnout! Thanks for those prayers! They have two more Thursdays to meet before the course shuts down for the summer! It's been a great way build some bridges and get to know the guys that play here at camp! Cory has graciously allowed others to win :)
We are anxious for camp to begin and can't believe it's here already!

Prayer Requests:
 A smooth transition as we move to Bear (the new house)
Jude is much more aware than our first move with him - he has spent a lot of time there watching Cory work so hopefully it will be nothing for him. Noah (the dog) is a little more sensitive :)

Handi*Camp - for their staff as they prep this week and also for the hearts of the campers coming the next 2 weeks.

Summer camps - that God's love would be shown through the staff and programs here

Cory will be heading up some new changes in the program for music - prayer that this worship ministry would be an authentic experience of worshiping God.    

Naomi is in charge of planning and teaching (as long as the baby doesn't come too early) the Bible classes for Horse Camp. Please pray for clarity and the right words to express God's love.

Continued prayer as we continue raising support

Praises:
The move is here! So thankful for this new home!

The turnout for Frisbee Golf

Praise for the support we have received

Praise for a healthy pregnancy so far and for this little GIRL coming our way!

The Swing of Things

We just came off an awesome weekend here at Camp Sankanac! We hosted our first “Spring Thaw.” It was a great time of fellowship and games! There were about 40 teens that made it from all around the area.  A few youth groups came along with some individual kids! Cory was able to use the new sound equipment that we have here (got us real excited for the upcoming summer!!) and lead some awesome times of worship! This was our first real “camp event” since we have been here and it was an encouragement and reminder of our passion to be here. I helped out in the kitchen as Jude ran around playing and making fast friends!

This week Cory will be launching the Frisbee golf outreach. We are excited to see where this leads! Camp’s course is popular in the area and when the weather is nice there is just about always someone playing. We are hopeful that this will draw more in and we can make some connections with the guys playing here!

On Ermold family news - We are expecting Baby #2 this August! I have heard that it will be a hot summer! What summer isn’t? But I am definitely thankful and looking forward to the pool opening J Jude doesn’t understand at all. We ask where the baby is and he still points to himself. As far as I’m concerned he can always think he is my baby so I don’t plan to correct him. He will figure it out.

Prayer Requests:

                Frisbee Golf – that it will be a good turn out and hearts will be open for connection.

                Upcoming Work days – We have a series of 6 weekends coming up with groups coming to help cleanup and other projects here (including our house!!)

                Summer Camp – Prayer for the hearts of the campers coming and also prayer for the staff provision

                Baby #2 – That the baby will continue to grow strong and HEALTHY!!

PRAISES:

                A successful first Spring Thaw!

                The snow is making its way out (although we did enjoy it!)

                There is an end in sight for our home (Hopefully planning to be in by the beginning of June!)

Just truly enjoying being here as a family and really excited to see Jude (and baby) grow here and see God’s hand at work!

Hopeful or hopeless?

I have read and enjoyed many blogs with many different themes. From small living to parenting, from friends’ missions to many, many cloth diaper blogs. I never thought I would be writing one. My dad instilled in me pretty early on the importance of journaling. Although, at the time I don’t think he meant writing about my dog and the horses I dreamt of having in my Winnie the Pooh diary with a lock. But now, as I’ve had the opportunity to look back across the journals I’ve kept I see it as an amazing reminder of God’s specific work in my life. So, that it what I hope to do in this blog. I hope to remind myself as well as keep you involved in what God is doing here at Camp Sankanac and in our lives.  

As I anticipate this Christmas season I have been reflecting on the word Hope - specifically what it means to have hope. Hope is often thought of in terms of great anticipation and excitement. This time of year is a perfect example! However, there is another side to hope. There is a fear to desire and then be hurt; a fear to wish for something that may never happen. We often feel hopeless rather than hopeful. It’s easier to “protect” ourselves than to be vulnerable about our deepest hopes. This Christmas I have been trying to remind myself that He knows my desires AND my fears. Not only does He know them but He cares. “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9). God showed His amazing love through sending his Son in the most vulnerable way – as a baby. He sent us Hope. All wrapped up in a child. I want to encourage you this season to be hopeful in a God who cares so deeply for each of us!

A little update on the Ermold family…. We are settled into our temporary home as we wait for the remodeling in our permanent home to be finished. Cory is working hard doing many different things, including remodeling our home! He has been cutting down trees and splitting lots of wood that is used for heat in the houses. I am caring for the two horses here (Victoria and Babe) as well as spending my time with Jude. Jude is LOVING camp. I can’t imagine him anywhere else. This is truly his, as well as our, favorite place on earth. 

Prayer requests:            Prayer for the upcoming summer (specifically for the campers coming)

                                              Prayer for summer staff (that God would preparing hearts for the service)

                                              Prayer for the leadership in camp as we all prep for changes

                                              Prayer for us as parents as we seek God’s direction in raising Jude

                                              Prayer for continued financial support

Praises:                         Praise that the future home is coming along!

                                         Praise for a warm home in the cold weather!

                                         Praise for the financial support we have received so far!

**If you would like to invest financially into our calling please click on the Donate tab above**