Alex's Adventures: Summer's End

Here it is. August 27 and summer has come to a close. All the campers have left and summer staff are gone. I've been packing up my apartment and saying "see ya later" to many staff and friends here at camp. Its hard to believe that my 4th summer here at Camp Forest Springs, has come to a close. Come Monday morning I'll finish packing up my car and start another adventure. The past three and a half years here at camp(minus some small times of absences) have been life changing. From completing an 11 month internship, to two summers of trip leading, a year and a half as Food Service Director, and a lot of fires built and hayrides given, God has been present. My life was changed in many ways over the past few years, but none bigger then my personal relationship with Christ. He is my rock in times of struggle and my biggest fan, cheering me on as I canoe down the Flambeau River. Day by day He has been faithful to me in directing my paths(Prov. 3:5-6) and now He's directing my path somewhere else. Its sad, but exciting to see whats next.

I've got some ideas of what I might be doing or where I'm going, but God is the only one right now who knows exactly. Its an adventure that I'll experience day to day.

Christ has been faithful to me in the past 24 years and will continue to be for the rest of eternity. Its a bit scary, but also an extreme adventure. :)

Its hard to put into one email/blog post what Christ has done in and through me over the past few years. So over the next few weeks as I process everything I've learned here at camp, I'll post some of it to my blog for you to read. I won't send out email updates as often, but every now and then, I will. So in-between those emails, check out my blog: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/ 

I'll try and be "regular" at updating it. With thoughts, photos, videos, and the such. 

Life is changing. Don't be tossed around by it, hop on board and ride it out with Christ at your side!

Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷ "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD 
And whose trust is the LORD. 
⁸ "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, 
That extends its roots by a stream 
And will not fear when the heat comes; 
But its leaves will be green, 
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought 
Nor cease to yield fruit.

Thanks again for all your prayers and continued prayers as I start a new adventure. It has meant so much to me for all your prayers and encouragement over the past few years. I'm stepping out of one ministry and stepping into another. Wherever I go, I strive to show the Love of Christ to everyone I meet.

Thanks again!

-Alex

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my life in words: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/

Alex's Adventure: July!

Dear friends!

Summer is here and roaring along. Sorry I haven't keep you up to date on what's going on, so here is a brief update.

My first week of Rawhide Canoe Trips was cancelled due to low registrations. I ended up going on a rock climbing trip to southern Wisconsin!

 Last week I was helping out with First Adventure Day Camp here at Camp Forest Springs! It was a chance for kids under 8years old to get a taste of what camp is like without staying over night! It was a blast to work with the kids!

Today, July 3, I have my first Rawhide Boy's Ranch canoe trip come in! There are 6 guys coming, plus two leaders from Rawhide and myself and my trip partner, Clark!
Im totally excited, but also a little anxious about it. It will be a challenge, but glad for this opportunity! We will be on the river 3 nights and then spend next Friday on our High Ropes Course and other activities!

It will be a challenging time, but I cannot wait to use canoeing and God's awesome creation to break down walls in these kid's lives and show them Christ's love!!

Prayer requests:
-Wisdom in ministering to these boys in need and situations that arise.
-Safety as we canoe and everything we do.
-Open hearts of the boys and us as leaders to the things we teach and listen to.
-Fun- to have a fun, but safe time on the river and in camp!

I'm not always working if you were wondering:) Yesterday, I had the chance to hang out with my trip parter from 2009 and two other friends on a lake, soaking in the sun (Yes, I did get sunburned, but not too bad!)!

Thanks again for your prayers and notes of encouragement!

Alex

--
my life in words: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/

Alex's Adventure: Summer is Coming!

Hello!

Less then a week from now, summer here at Camp Forest Springs will start. Three months of non-stop activity, campers, and bugs...Its hard to think that "summer" for us starts next week. The leaves are just finally coming into full bloom, flowers are trying to catch up, but having a hard time, and the lake is still really cold. Winter held on for dear life and has only recently let go. As seasons have changed here in Wisconsin and around the country, I have also changed my job position. As you have been reading in my previous updates, I officially stepped out of the role of food service director at the end of April. It was a bitter-sweet end to a challenging, but rewarding year and a half in the kitchen. I will miss the staff of the kitchen and other aspects of food service. God has blessed me in so many ways through challenges I've faced, people who have ministered in my life, and experiences outside of the kitchen. God is awesome like that. Knowing what I needed and when and providing for my every need!

Now that I'm done in the kitchen, what am I going to be doing? This summer, I'll have two job responsibilities. Trip leader. This will be my second year as a trip leader. I will be leading five weeks of speciality canoe trips. A ministry from southern Wisconsin, called Rawhide Boys Ranch, brings five different age groups of boys through the summer for canoe trips on the Flambeau River. Rawhide Boys Ranch works with at-risk and troubled boys in a christian environment. Taking the principles of Bible and helping the boys transform their lives. This will be a new challenge for me, but I'm looking forward to ministering to these young men through the beauty of God's creation and the Flambeau River.

If you do your math correctly, that is only five weeks out of my summer. The rest of the summer, I'll be a high ropes facilitator. What is that you ask? It is a team-building course with two levels, 60 feet off the ground at the highest point, and can accommodate 40 people at once. Its a unique ministry opportunity that we have to take campers of all ages and help build team unity. I'll be facilitating (leading) groups through the course. It will be a new experience facilitating, but thankfully I've gone through it three times as a participant so I know what to expect(I think!)!

Post-Summer. hum. As of right now, my plans for after the summer are unknown. I've applied at a camp in Southern Wisconsin in a guest services, recreation coordinator position. They said that they'll hopefully make a choice by the 25th of May (just a few days away). I'm still looking, praying, and waiting on God for my next move after the summer. I'm planning on staying here in Wisconsin after the summer, but that could change. God's got something planned out for me. I know that He'll continue to provide for my needs. He's awesome like that. Christ has never let me down, and He won't start now.

I look back over this email and the past 3 years I have spent at camp and see a continuing theme. God has challenged me in so many different ways, taught me countless truths, and provided for my every need. What will the next 3 years look like? I don't have a clue, but I know God will provide in His timing!

I want to thank each one of you for praying for me and encouraging me in some way or another. It means a lot. Here are four things you can write down and pray for me and camp this summer: 1) The young men coming from Rawhide for the canoe trips. To open their hearts for Christ and wisdom for me as I lead these wilderness trips.

2) Safety on the river and the high ropes course. 3) Wisdom for the summer and after the summer as I plan to leave camp and move onto a new adventure. 4) Campers coming to camp this summer. For Spiritual Growth and Fun!

Thank you again for your prayers! Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about what I'll be doing or camp!

Alex

P.S. Check out CFS's website here for a little more info on our high ropes course !

--
my life in words: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/

Alex's Adventure: Of Changing Times

Dear Friends and Family,

Change is always an interesting thing. You're not always sure what is
going to come. Ideas are formed of what the new future will be like.
Change is always happening. Today will be different from tomorrow. I
look back over the past 3 years and see how I have changed. When I
started at Camp Forest Springs, I was a senior in college about to
start on an 11 month internship. Now I'm Food Service Director with a
lot of experience working in a camp ministry.

Sometime after I took over as Food Service Director, I came to the
realization that this isn't my passion. I enjoy it and do my best, but
its not my first love. After talking with camp about this, I was
looking to the future and seeing when the best time to step out of
this position would be. That time has come. At the end of April of
2011 (about a month away), I will be stepping out of the Food Service
Director position. There a couple of people who will be taking over
and fulfilling the responsibilities of Food Service Director. I look
back over the last 15 months and see so many times where God had His
plan in motion. He has taught me so much about leadership,
responsibility, managing people and food, and how to show love to the
campers through food. Its been a tough 15 months, but God has been
good. He has used my friends, family, and campers to be an
encouragement to me in my hardest times.

Now that I'm stepping out, you are wondering what I'll be doing.. Good
Question! I'm still finalizing details, but I'm planning on working in
the wilderness department here at camp. I'll be spending the summer
leading wilderness trips and sleeping outside:) (more details to
come).
Wilderness takes care of three months. What will I be doing after the
summer? I'm not sure. I'm going to be contacting several camps in
southern Wisconsin about the possibilities of working in Guest
Services. Its still a lot of unknown, but I know God will be directing
my path.

The future is always changing. New opportunities and ways to serve God
in a ministry-minded work place or a non-ministry minded work place.
I'm a little nervous about the future, but I know God's in control and
I need to trust Him.

Prayer Requests:
For the transition out of Food Service. Everything that needs to be
done in the next month and for my kitchen staff as they transition to
a new director.
For Summer Plans: All the young guys and gals I'll be working with
this summer on wilderness trips.
For my own personal spiritual growth, to continue to strive after God!
For future plans after the summer, that I'll seek and follow God's will!

Thanks again for your prayers and interest in my ministry here at Camp
Forest Springs!

Alex Schubert

--
my life in words: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/

Alex's Adventure: Winter's End

Dear Friends and Family,

1 year ago today, I formally took over as Food Service Director. March 8, 2010, I started a journey in uncharted waters, directing the food operations of Camp Forest Springs. The past 12 months have been some the hardest months of my life. Starting from scratch and constantly learning new things, struggling at times, and relying upon the strength of God to help me. I look back over the past 12 months and the wealth of knowledge I've gained. Learning how to manage a constantly changing staff, cooking and feeding hundreds of people at a time, preparing large amounts of food in a safe manner, and realizing that my strength comes from God. In the good and bad times, God is still with me, and that no matter what the situation, God has a plan and purpose for it. The previous few items just scratch the iceberg of knowledge that I've learned about food service, who God is, and where He is leading me.

The winter season here at Camp Forest Springs is officially over. Our last group left yesterday. Today is our annual staff ski day. One final hurrah before the ski hill and lake turn to mush. We finish out the day with pizza and look back over the past two and a half months and how God has kept us safe and blessed so many people through our meager ski hill and property. We are just a scratch in the grand scheme of God's eternal plan. We are blessed that He has used our ministry to touch lives of people in our community, our state and country and around the world. I am very thankful that God has blessed me with the opportunity and privilege to work here at CFS for the almost three years I've been here. Each day He shows me something new through my devotions, my co-workers, or my group of 3rd through 5th grade guys at church on Wednesday nights. He continues to work in the midst of tough financial times and political unrest around the world. God is good, He's got the plan.

The Future: Unknown. 

This is something that everyone wrestles with. We don't know what tomorrow will hold, but God does. As I look toward the future, I'm not sure what God has in store for me. I'm planning on staying here at CFS through the summer, but after that is unknown. I mentioned in my previous note, that I will be stepping down from the position of Food Service Director to move onto new opportunities at the end of the summer. I'm unsure what I'm going to be doing after the summer wraps up. I would love to stay in the area of central Wisconsin because of the friends and family I have here and ministry opportunities in my local church. But over the last several months, God has been working on my heart to be ok with wherever He leads me. It would be tough, but in the end, when its bringing honor to God and serving His will, I'm ok. Its not about me, but God.

Prayer requests:

• Peace about the future-Knowing God's got it under control
• Wisdom in what direction God is leading me toward
• Staff and campers for the upcoming summer
• Planning-As I begin to look toward the summer concerning Food Service.
• Continued strength to seek after God in the midst of a very busy life.

As I close, here is a verse that has meant a lot to me and continues to be a guiding light for me. Thanks again for your prayers and notes of encouragement as I continue to seek to honor God through my actions and words! 

-Alex

Proverbs 3:5-6 

    Trust in the LORD with all your heart
         And do not lean on your own understanding.
    In all your ways acknowledge Him,
         And He will make your paths straight.

--
my life in words: http://alexschub.wordpress.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schubfire/

Alex's Adventure: 2011

Friends and Family.
Happy New Year! Its hard to believe that 2010 is over. One year ago today, January 1, I began my time here at Camp Forest Springs, training to take over the Food Service Director position. It has been a very challenging, but rewarding year. I've learned a lot about food, leadership, patience, and the need for constant spiritual growth.

Food: I've learned a lot about safely preparing food, balanced meals, what food items work well together and those that don't. Food is what every person needs to stay alive and I have to fulfill that need.

Leadership: I've learned that managing people and a major area of camp isn't always easy. During the height of the summer, I was giving direction to 12-15 people, each day. Its not an easy task, but I've learned a lot about working with people's personalities and making sure everyone is being used to their fullest potential.

Patience: Working with so many people and different personalities, has taught me a lot about patience. Staying calm in the midst of a crazy schedule and day to day issues has been hard. God has given me so much strength and wisdom over the past 12 months to deal with the issues that have come up.

Spiritual Growth: One of my biggest personal challenges over the last 12 months has been spiritual growth. Having a demanding job that means long hours, 6-7days week, means that time for myself was few and far between. It was a struggle and this past summer was one of the lowest points in my spiritual life. God has been good to me the past several months as I have been able to take some time away from camp and the busy schedule, to refocus my life back on Him. Its still a struggle each day, but day by day its getting a little bit easier.

A question that has been on my mind for the past 12 months, was, "where is God leading me with this position as Food Service Director?" I've been seeking out His will for me and where He wants me to serve Him. Over the past few months, I have come to the conclusion that I have have loved my time here at Camp Forest Springs, but the time has come for me to step out of the role of Food Service Director. Its not an easy choice, but one that needed to be made. My passion is serving people in a more direct role, being outside in God's creation, and showing people the love of God through service.

I look back over the last 12 months and I'm thankful for everything I've learned. I'll take these experiences and lessons to where ever God has me next. I'll be here till the end of April or the end of the summer, depending upon when a replacement for my position is trained.
What will I be doing after I move out of the kitchen? I'm not sure yet. I don't know if I'll stay here at camp or move into another ministry somewhere else.

As I close, please keep in mind a few prayer requests.
-A new Food Service Director. Its a long process to find and train the right person for the job. Pray that we'll be able to find the person who God wants to take over for me.
-Wisdom and understanding for my future. It's hard not knowing what the next 12 months will be like, but I know God's got it all planned out and prepared for me!
-Our winter season. We kicked off our winter season last week and for the next 2 months, several thousand people will come through camp. For safety in all our winter activities.

Thanks again for your continue prayers and encouragement as you have been following me through my updates, blogs, and pictures!

Happy 2011!

Alex

Alex's Adventure: Winter is Coming!

Dear Friends and Family!

        December is here! Its hard to believe that I've been here at Camp Forest Springs for 11 months working in the kitchen and nine months as Food Service Director. It has been some of the toughest times and challenges of my life. There have been many frustrating days, but more rewarding days then frustrating. I look back over the last 11 months and I thank God for each day and every experience. God has blessed me by giving me an opportunity to serve Him through preparing food, leading a day canoe trip, driving hayrides, and talking with campers, staff, and friends about how God has been at work in their lives and mine. Many times God was my strength when I had none.  Psalms 59: 17 "You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely." I look back over the past few months and how God has given me strength and mercy through all my trials and triumphs. 

With 11 months of experience, I look forward to the future here at camp. I'm excited to be here and serving God. Each day brings new challenges. This coming weekend is first of two weekends of our annual Dinner Theater. 95+ people each night for six nights. They are served a delicious meal followed by a drama production that is written and directed by one of our staff. Its the biggest event for our kitchen. Its small in numbers, but high in stress and detail. In just a few short weeks, we kick off our winter season. Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and hot chocolate is almost here. I'm excited for the groups coming in and and look forward to spending some time skiing this winter!!

As I close, I ask for prayer for a few items: 

Dinner Theater is a stressful time for the kitchen. Long hours and lots of cooking. 

Spiritual focus. With the long hours of the kitchen, personal spiritual growth can get pushed to the back seat.

Open Hearts. Many people who come to dinner theater don't know Christ and this is a non threatening way to share the love of Christ with them!

Thanks again for your prayers!

Have wonderful week!

Alex