Week One: Teen Staff

My job at Maranatha is to hangout with the teens that come to camp with their families as part of the elite Teen Staff. We plan lessons and lots of games for their morning and evening sessions. I'll explain more about our weekly schedule in another post.

There's lots of people who live in Lebanon, the dorm that houses our living space as well as the Teen room where we meet. Only a third of us are on Teen staff, everyone else works in the kitchen, Sweet Shop, pool, or with younger kids. It's been overwhelming but fun to get to know the other people living with us beyond the kids I know from UC. But for the sake of better understanding my little corner of Maranatha, I will introduce you to the wonderful people on my team.

Ryan, Sarah, Fay, Austin, Collin, Carson, Susan, Melissa, Me, Jon, and Shawn

Austin Simpson: Recently married to Melissa, he is a graduate of a Bible college in Florida and has a heart for sharing the Lord with guys searching for direction. Best known for his removable front teeth and iron stomach (meaning he invents disgusting eating games and willingly participates in them).

Melissa Simpson: After working at Maranatha every summer for the past six years, she agreed to work in Teens for the first time ever. Melissa is creative and pretty on top of the organizational side of things. A good listener with a sense of humor, she is also very athletic.

Mike Carlson: A brawny specimen who dwarfs most men I've ever met, he is inventive and hilarious. Best known for "Girl, pluheez!" he attracts teenage guys like flies and everyone wants to be his best friend.

Jon Foster: The unofficial leader of our UC crowd, Jon runs a lot of the games we play with the kids. Although he is a stealthy prankster, he has a soft spot for the kids and humors them in most of their attempts to torture him.

Sarah Williams: She may seem quiet, but this girl has a silly and competitive side that makes her up for any game people want to play. Out of everyone, I have loved talking to and getting to know her the most over the past two weeks.

Fay Hafner: A self-proclaimed open book, I'm never quiet sure what I will get when I talk to her. She is genuine and passionate, especially about the girls in her small group. No matter what, she is an encourager to all.

Ryan Chimney: Full of endless energy, Ryan reminds me of Hammie from Over the Hedge. We normally hear something like "What are we going to do tonight? Let's build a catapult! Let's throw the girls in the lake!" around 8 pm when we get off work. He must be doing something right because the guys in his small group follow him around like puppies.

Shawn Hickey: Thoughtful and perceptive, Shawn enjoys one-on-one discussions and playing his bass by the lake. Although he is the youngest on the team he is growing quickly and finding his spiritual legs.

That's the folks on my team but there's many more people here we are getting to know!
Kendra