Cascades Camp Blog

Rose, a long time camper at Sunrise Ranch, poses for a quick picture with Dash-one of the horses that was donated to camp this past year.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It’s hard to believe, but the summer is beginning to wind down in this place. A good portion of our staff left for home or school the past few weekends, and the sounds of camp these days are slightly different—a little bit less Bazerko and fewer prayers involving super heroes, but good nonetheless with the ranch going strong for three more weeks and guest groups continuing to utilize our beautiful facilities. In the midst of this, I look to my own transition back to city life and the world of academics. Transitions have never been my forte, but every time I traverse these waters I find myself a little bit better at navigating the changes that come along with a big move.

What does God say about change? What does Scripture say about seasons and transitions and how we are to embrace these things with anticipation, while still being fully present in the here and now? I find the wisdom of Ecclesiastes to be refreshing in times such as these. There truly is a time for everything in life, and the changes we go through as human beings are natural and intrinsic to our existence here on earth. The summer season at Cascades has been rich—a time of growth, amazing memories, and deep relationships that have all served to glorify our Creator. While these byproducts will hopefully continue, the outer trappings of the summer ministries at Cascades are beginning to be stripped away. There is a tinge of sadness that accompanies this, but Ecclesiastes speaks hope into saying good-bye, for in time these things will come back again. And in the meantime, we begin to look forward, anticipating the new things that God will bring into our lives as the seasons come and go.

What sort of season are you in right now? Is it a season of being built up? Of searching? Of pain or sorrow? Spend some time reflecting on what God has been doing in you lately, and pray that when you transition into a season that you will find joy both in what has been, and also what is to come! And if you think about it, please pray for all of our staff as we encounter the various stages of this transition—for those who are already at home and attempting to decompress from the summer, as well as those who still have a solid three weeks left of ministry and service to go!

Blessings to you wherever you are in this journey-

Beasley

Current Prayer Requests Include:

• We have a large guest group here using our facilities.  They have elementary aged students and we just want to pray for their program and that God would speak to their kids.  Pray also that they would have a great time while they are at Cascades.
• More of our summer staff are leaving each week.  Please continue to pray for their transition into life outside of camp.  Some of them are still working on plans for life after summer.  Ask that God would lead their hearts and open/close doors to make His path clear to them.
• Kelsey “Beasley” Holloway, our camp pastor, is leaving tomorrow afternoon.  Praise God for her presence at Cascades this summer and pray that she would have a safe trip back to Chicago.  Also pray for our staff as they adjust to working without her extra support!
• Cascades hires interns to help sustain camp year-round.  Currently we are in the process of discerning which staff would fit well into those positions.  Pray that God would lead this decision and prepare the hearts of those He wants to serve at camp throughout this next year.

Schwartz’s cabin poses for their cabin photo with horse, Berit!

The boys had a great week of Discovery camp at Sunrise Ranch.

Miramar and several Brightwood Station campers pose for a quick picture with their rockets

before the launch them off!