I’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain…

Soon I (Ryan) expect I’ll be standing right about where this picture was taken. I will have crossed the border into Canada and begun the journey north to Rock Nest. My own personal summer migration. I “fly” first, and my family follows shortly after. First stop: Hope, BC for a night in a tent, situated just a stone’s throw from the Coquihalla River. It’s really a beautiful and peaceful place to stay, and I’m looking forward to being there.

I am a mix of all sorts of thoughts and emotions as I get ready to leave in less than two weeks. I’m eager – very eager. We’ve been seeking the Lord for nearly two years in an effort to understand how He was leading, and we are finally beginning to take the path. I’m ready to get this show on the road!

I’m also nervous. Very nervous. I’m nervous for the energy output required. I’m nervous, as an introvert, for the non-stop relational output. I’m nervous for learning to work with a new team and nervous for them having to learn to work with me. I’m nervous for the days when I’m stretched beyond my comfort zone and the days when things don’t go quite the way I would have envisioned or preferred.

At the same time, there is a feeling of enthusiasm at the opportunity to be a part of sharing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the invitation to eternal and abundant life with the campers and staff at Rock Nest. We serve a God who is worth giving our lives for. As Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!” Yes, that is the reason for serving. Because the King of Kings deserves all honor and glory, and the chance in front of us at Rock Nest is that we get to make His name known and understood among young people. Some of those young people currently have very little concept of a God who loves them and sent His Son to be their Savior. But in a month, I’m praying that their eyes might be opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe for the very first time, some will come to understand and believe what Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 is most important, “ For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: the Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. There is no more important message to share, and we will get to share it as brand new information for some of the campers.

Even as I have enthusiasm for the Gospel, there is also some fear inside of me as I get ready to go. What if this endeavor flops? What if I can’t hack it? What if… well, I don’t even think I should share all the what ifs that go through my mind. And I don’t suppose any of them are helpful thoughts and feelings. But the truth is that most of these thoughts and feelings are rational. They really could happen. They aren’t faith-filled thoughts, so I’m not trying to say they’re good. But this new path represents a risk, and so I’m working on trusting the Lord, rather than giving in to the thoughts and feelings of fear that rise up in me.

This last weekend was a great time at the EBC Men’s Retreat. It’s one of my favorite events I get to organize and lead. So you’d think I’d come home with a buzz of excitement. But whatever excitement I felt on Sunday night had taken a hike somewhere in the middle of that night, and I woke up Monday morning with internal feelings of chaos. Probably in part because I was a bit worn out from the weekend retreat. But also, I think the reality of leaving in two weeks is right in my face, and there’s a lot of conscious and subconscious worry about what the next two months will be like. And so I’m sitting here late on Tuesday night, writing and re-writing, and talking to the Lord as I do. I’m asking Him to provide peace where there currently is a whole bunch of unrest, and I wouldn’t mind if you asked Him on my behalf, too.

Before I leave town, I do have a handful of things to accomplish. Several tasks at EBC, and several tasks at home. I’m grateful for to-do lists that are keeping me on track. Since I will be away from my family for nearly a month, perhaps my most important task before I go is that I have one-on-one lunch dates with each of my girls scheduled, as well as a family day all together on the 14th. I am going to miss Leanne, Mabel, Estelle, and Rosie during that month we are apart, but I’m grateful that technology makes it easy to stay in daily communication. But technology is no replacement for proximity, so I will be eagerly awaiting their arrival on July 12.

Financial Partnership Update

After one month of seeking out financial partners to join with us, we have 13% of our monthly support that we need. We are so grateful for those who have been able to join with us in this way, either in a one-time gift or as a monthly supporter, and we look forward to seeing how the Lord is going to provide for the remaining 87%. Financial partnerships will cover a portion of our salary, and help with the travel, ministry expenses, and administrative costs we will incur. If you would want to join us as a financial partner, you can give online at https://www.uim.org/donate-online. That link also has the information for how to give by sending checks directly to UIM.

Prayer Needs

• Prayer for a time of personal renewal and peace as I travel. I am really looking forward to the travel. My hope and prayer is that the time will be a sort of personal retreat, where I can quiet my heart and prepare for the busy summer ahead.  
• Pray for all five of us, as we are apart for four weeks. We like being together. We enjoy one another. So it will be a strain to be apart for this time.
• That we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him to share the Gospel boldly with campers and staff during our time at Rock Nest.
• That we will find long-term Financial Partners to join with our strong team of Prayer Partners.

Conclusion

I do hope it’s ok that I’m sharing pretty honestly in this letter. There is always a temptation to share of the excitement, the enthusiasm, and the joy, but to be a little more coy about any struggles or challenges. But I don’t suppose that would help you all to pray for us in the ways we need it most. I do know very well that the Lord is leading, that the Lord is trustworthy, and that I have nothing to fear, because He will be with me through any and every challenge. I know it well in my head, but sometimes the feelings do take a while to catch up to the thoughts.

As we are getting closer to summer, I do expect that I will be sending letters more than once a month. I am hopeful to be able to reach out to you all frequently during the camp season with specific prayer needs. So be prepared to be praying, both for us and for the needs of the young people at camp this summer. We are tremendously grateful to have you standing with us in this new ministry endeavor.

Ryan and Leanne Donovan

Rock Nest Summer Schedule

For those who are curious, this is what the summer camp schedule will look like this year.

• High Ropes Training – June 24-28
• Summer Staff Orientation – July 1-4
• Teen Camp (13-15 years old) – July 5-12
• Junior Camp 1 (9-12 years old) – July 14-19
• Junior Camp 2 (9-12 years old) – July 22-27
• Family Camp – Aug 1-3
• Lead Camp (16-18 years old) – Aug 5-10