Director of the 4.12 Leadership Training Program
A special memory for many who serve at Joy El are the notes written between fellow staff. Whether summer staff, year round staff, or 4.12 students, these notes preserve fun memories, encouraging comments, and share uplifting Scripture! They are often kept and read years after they were received.
You’ve Got Mail 1
Recently, students in our 4.12 Leadership Training Program attended their January Training Summit. Knowing the value of students having the opportunity to connect, the Lord provided the 4.12 Team with a unique idea: Joy El’s own postal service!
If you had walked onsite before the students arrived, you would have found post cards in every corner of camp. You couldn’t use a table, play the piano, or get a cup of coffee without finding a small stack within arm’s reach. The students immediately loved the idea! They spent part of the weekend writing notes and having them delivered to different cabins.*
One student shared she wrote 36 notes to her various friends. Talk about a lot of encouragement!
While recognizing the frustration of students being limited in physical interaction, it was encouraging to see them adapt to a new way of connecting. While many conversations were limited to the few students they were with in their cabins, the notes they were able to write to others were words that they could be taken home and used as encouragement for the days to come.
Extended social isolation is hard on everyone – particularly students. We need each other! Sometimes we need to get creative to connect with others. J God uses simple
words of encouragement from other people to build us up. It often brings hope to those we interact with too (which was the focus of the weekend). We are grateful 4.12 students have unique opportunities like this to connect with each other and the Lord.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
*Designated staff delivered them during the weekend while practicing safe Covid-19 precautions.
Check out our upcoming events:
Homeschool Retreat (February 4-5)
Bible Adventure weekend – children grades 2-6 (March 5-7)
Mother Son Retreat (March 12-14)
Father Daughter Retreat (April 9-11)
