Change Ahead!

But press on until that direction is clear. 

This was the message from the Lord more than a year ago when given the chance to stay onboard a ship as a special guest. One of those nights I woke out of a deep sleep (which is rare for me), with a very strong sense that He was telling me a change of direction is happening. 

Did you know that at one point in my life I found myself sailing in a 60 foot sail boat across the Atlantic?  No.... it was not a dream! (ask me about the story later) During that experience, I was assigned to do the middle of the night "watch" which means I had the wonderful responsibility of keeping the sailboat on course.  For anyone that has maneuvered a larger vessel or ship, the initial turn of the wheel doesn't yield immediate results.  Nevertheless, the change in direction has been made while the course and final destination are still in process.

Similarly, that is how I would describe the past year.  My prayer has always been since the first year, that I would serve here until the Lord changed my direction.  While the change of direction was made clear back in 2017, the how and when wasn't.    And just as the initial movement of the ship's wheel doesn't yield immediate results,  the direction change  for my life hasn't yet yielded visible results which is why I've been careful to make any immediate or "sudden movements" or decisions which could have taken me off course.

And though my course and final destination have yet to be finalized, the Lord has confirmed the timing of my departure and "my ship" is set to sail at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. In other words, I will be leaving Adventure Learning Centre & Camp and the Bahamas.  Though a date has yet to be finalized, this transition will happen sometime in June 2019.   My heart has consistently desired for there to be a training in of my replacement and a healthy transition period.  God has always provided what is needed for HIS ministry but for the first time in 5 years, I believe there are some systems and procedures being implemented where it would be possible to have someone in place prior to my departure.  Would you pray with me for the person that God is raising up as well as the transition period of training and "letting go" for me as I let God take over the wheel as he has done for 25 years and promises to continue to do.

Now for a 6 month RECAP!  (Has it really been that long?????)

July 2018

  This past summer I stepped away from summer camp involvement to focus again on curriculum development.  The desire was for existing programs to be reviewed, refreshed and expanded upon.  This effort requires leg work such as assessing national exam scores, identifying gap areas where students are needing additional support and creating exercises and activities that assist the Ministry of Education Officers as we partner with them to better equip students.  The quality education and endorsement from the Ministry of Education is essential for us to continue to get students in each year to hear the message of Jesus.   Pictured here is the Primary Level Social Studies Curriculum officer, Mrs. Hart.  Mrs. Hart warmly welcomed me to participate with her team of teachers during their teachers workshop day in July.  

August 2018

In August, a team of us attended an exhibit at the local mall where we were able to showcase the ministry, and what Adventure Learning Centre has to offer to the community.  Of course the animals drew a crowd but an opportunity to shine our light through conversation with those who stopped by.

 
The end of August was a difficult goodbye to a long serving missionary to the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp.  Claudia (Sam) Robb (third from left) went on to serve on the Logos Hope Ship.  She is continuing to serve well with that ministry but we miss her greatly!

September 2018

September was the start of a new school year with a new director and new staff members.  For 3 weeks, staff encountered curriculum training, bus, puppet, and animal handling as well as general all staff trainings.

                                           Curriculum Training

Bus Training                   Animal Handling Training

October 2018

  Training is necessary, but each year I am relieved once the bulk of staff training is over and the kids begin to come.  While it is important to prepare ourselves for delivering a quality educational program, the whole reason we exist is to point everyone that comes through those gates to the creator and Savior of the world.   Ultimately the students will remember their experience and how they were loved and cared for before they will remember what they learned.  

 

At the end of October we hosted 65 primary and secondary level science, social studies, religious studies teachers and curriculum officers from the Ministry of Education.   The main purpose for their professional development day was to recommit to our partnership as educators, showcase our offerings, while sharing with them the love of Jesus by providing a fun day for them to go back to "being a kid" for one day.  They were greeted with warm welcome and smiles and left with an urge to go back to their schools and plan their next field trip day.

Throughout the day, teachers were again reminded that in everything we do (outdoor science programming, wetland conservation, and planetarium programs) Adventure Learning Centre and Camp exists to bing the message of Jesus Christ through the nature and planetarium programs.  In addition, new this year, Executive Director, Dr. Kenneth Romer has a heart to reach high school students with a values based leadership program using the John Maxwell organization curriculum called iChoose.

  Ministry of Education Curriculum Officers: (from left to right)  Mrs. Johnson, Primary Religious Studies Curriculum Officer; Mrs. Hart, Primary Social Studies Curriculum Officer; Mrs. Dorsett, Primary Science Curriculum Officer; Dr. Kenneth Romer, Adventure Learning Centre & Camp Executive Director

November 2018

We went into full force beginning of November putting up Christmas lights for the annual Christmas Lights Drive Thru.  This year we've expanded to 9 nights and the first 5 nights are a walk through festival with activities, music, food, animal encounters etc.... all while hearing the message of the Christ that was born to die.  The good news doesn't come without first hearing the bad news.  

Many evenings spent later turning on lights to test the functionality of the aging lights and to assess areas on the property still needing to be lit.

Dec. 2018

We've completed the first two of 9  nights.  December 14th-16th will be three more nights of the walk through festival.  Dec. 21st-24th, the property will be opened to cars for driving through to see the lights, and drama presentations.

Horse pasture turned into a green pasture with peaceful river and majestic mountains in the background.  Reminds me of Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.......

 Every year at this time, though the the juggling of schedules and managing of Christmas lights preparations can be all consuming, the real reason behind all of it is to raise funds so that we may continue to do what this ministry was designed to do.....and that is to reach students with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The newest wetland program called Brilliant Resilient Mangroves, was written by one of my colleagues, Tika Penn.  She did some training with us in November because for the first time in 2 years, we had a grade 6 that wanted to come during the first term.  Usually grade 6 book field trips in the spring term as a review for grade level national exams.

Pictured here, the grade 6 students from Uriah McPhee, are putting together a chart of factors that create change within a wetland environment.  Some change is Human induced while others are by natural means.  Students were asked to determine which factors belonged in which category.  Through this activity, the truth of God's word is intertwined within the program reminding students that in the midst of change in our world, and all around us, perhaps within our very own homes that God is the everlasting and unchanging God.  

Tika Penn, the writer of the curriculum writes: 

 " What can you do if you feel lost, afraid, confused or if your world seems to be falling apart?

Turn to God! Let Him be your refuge!"

Psalm 46 says:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Hebrews 13:8 

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

² Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled…

Be still, and know that I am God;

The Lord of hosts is with us…our refuge.

"God promises to be our anchor when sudden, terrifying changes come and forever. So, if we fix our eyes on Him and trust in Him, no matter what storms or change this life might bring; we can be sure that he will give us the resilience to overcome anything!"

And so I end this blog update with the way I started.  Change ahead!  We can be certain of that!  But in the midst of the changes going on with me in the coming months, I choose to trust in the God who is my refuge and strength    Who is my present help in time of need.  

Praise:

• Praise God for His faithfulness and provision for all of my needs great and small
• Praise God for the strength given each day through the ups and the downs
• Praise God for answered prayers.

Prayer Request:

• Pray for the leadership of Adventure Learning Centre and Camp, that all decisions, and direction for the ministry would be glorifying to God.
• Pray for the person God is raising up to be my replacement, that he or she would be a person who has a servant heart and that a succession plan be implemented prior to my departure.
• Pray that I may keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and that I may finish well!
• Pray for the Lord's direction and guidance for the coming months as I anticipate this transition.
• Pray for the Lord to open doors where HE wants me to be and what HE wants me to do.
• Pray for the management of visitations with friends  and family while getting some needed rest.  
• Pray for a rich time with God during my mountain retreat in January.

Thank you all once again for your faithful interest in the ministry that goes on here at the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp as well as your generous support to me individually.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas season!

Jen Rogers

TRANSITION

We are in the midst of transition.  A few faces in this picture have already departed, some next month, and others in the coming months.  But with the departure of some come the arrival of others.  That is the nature of life is it not?  We are thankful for those who have served a year or many years and we pray God's blessing upon your lives as you journey on.  We also thank God for those that are joining the team whether full time or for the summer season.   We are reminded of God's faithfulness to supply for HIS work and we are thank ful to ALL for giving to the Lord.

The beginning of June was our last school year Staff inservice / care day before diving into a very busy summer in all of our various roles.  Dr. Kenneth Romer, our Executive Director, shared a devotion that was very fitting for where we are as a ministry and then spent the bulk of the day sharing his heart and vision for where he sees the ministry going.  

We ended the day with cake and sparkling cider to celebrate those that have served and will be moving on.  One thing I've learned over the past 5-7 years is that as a team comes together to serve, there are the natural stages of team development that occur: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and often one that is overlooked but just as important to recognize..... adjourning.  Though the busyness of ministry life and moving from one season right into another makes it challenging, it is healthy to put the effort into celebrating and recognizing those that have given a part of their life to serve at the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp. Stephanie Wittmer, Adam Greenhow, Debbie Degen, and Claudia (Sam) Robb are all missionary staff who have volunteered their time and resources to serve.   Thank you for giving to the Lord!  They have, or will be leaving in the next couple of months.

 Tim and Mindy Seeley have also announced their resignation but will be serving mission teams through the summer and into the fall with a departure date of January 2019 or earlier if another Camp director is found before then.

They have already begun what will be the busiest summer with missions teams since they arrived in January of 2013.  Please pray for persevering strength for the Seeleys as they transition while seeking to finish well! 

In spite of all of the transition of staff moving on, staff care HAS been a successful initiative this year!  Each of the 4 days that were blocked off the calendar were unique and designed to focus on different needs.  At the beginning of June, Joni Godsey and Ruth Anne Hill, two ladies that have been praying for the staff by name,  left their individual families and responsibilities at home in the States to serve us in the area of prayer, encouragement and Biblical counsel.  They also served us a magnificent and tasty Mexican food lunch! (Something that is rare to find here!)

 Joni, a licensed social worker and Christian family counselor, worked with the staff on assessing their level of empty or full bucket; provided techniques and tools for managing change and transition, played games and stress relief exercises, and met with individuals for counseling sessions.  It was a service different from what has been done before but something that the staff found very timely and beneficial.  Thank you Joni and Ruth Anne for your sacrifice of time, talent, and tremendous love!  We thank you for giving to the Lord!

A lot of changes happening in the ministry right now.  One of the desires of our director for the school year ahead is to take the Adventure out on the road to schools.  Having an outreach program will again allow us to reach schools and children without waiting for them to come to us.  In May, this was the team that went out to Windsor Prepatory School in Nassau Bahamas. A great opportunity for expanding and developing the programming at Adventure Learning Centre & Camp by going out into the community.  Continue to pray for needed manpower, reliable vehicles with temperature control for transporting animals, and resources in place to do this in addition to regular programming at the centre simultaneously.  

Celine and Kenny will be two out of three returning Adventure guide staff for next school year.  They both have a love for the Lord,  and children and will be a help in the fall with training new staff coming in.

Though going into the schools during the school year to bring the Adventure may be a new initiative for the coming year, what many may not know is that we already go out into the community for puppet shows, and events to share the ministry of Adventure Learning Centre.  This is the team that spent an early morning in March with the Royal Bahamas Police Force who had put on a community Fun Run 5K event.  After the run, participants were able to walk around to various vendors.  Sam, myself, and Kadisha were the team on the rotating schedule for this event providing Adventure and the love of Jesus through a petting farm experience.

Sam (left) reassuring participants of the docile nature of the Bahamian Boa Constrictor and explaining why this species is important for maintaining the rat population on the island.  Kadisha (right) will also be a returning Adventure Guide staff member in the fall.

I have transitioned as well!  Right up the stairs into another office space where I can step away from summer camp involvement and focus more on curriculum development.    Almost a year ago I am sure that I heard from the Lord that he was changing my direction.  What I wasn't sure of was if that meant changing my direction from ALC ministry to something else, or if it was a change internally within the ministry.  What I am confident about is this; I am to continue to press on until he makes it clear.    

As I said before, we are experiencing a lot of changes.  Good changes, like the needed leadership that we lacked for so long;  new people coming;  changes in systems and methods.  But then there are unfortunate changes like the increase of sales tax for all of the Bahamas (called VAT here- Value Added Tax) starting July 1st from 7.5% now up to 12%, (boo!) I'll have to speak to my boss about cost of living increase!  :) Ok....let me come off the soap box....back to unfortunate changes.  Yes.....the loss of really valuable staff, tools and platforms for teaching etc.... Have you gone through seasons of confusion? Disappointment? Discouragement? Hopes dashed?  Questions unanswered?  Prayers unanswered?  Or prayers answered the way you wouldn't prefer them to be answered?  These are all questions Ive pondered the last few months.  IT IS TRUE that things that happen in our lives can bring natural feelings and questions, BUT THE TRUTH IS that I CAN trust in His unfailing love and rejoice because the Lord has rescued me.....not only from my sin but in the little every day things that we wouldn't think about.  Just as this tower that stands strong along the ocean front with the wind and waves, I have a living and powerful God that promises to be my strong tower, shelter and help in time of need.

 

One night during a season of consistent wrestling with God and crying out to him in prayer, I woke  up and was tossing and turning in my bed.  I resisted the urge to get up and spend time in prayer.  Why?  I had been feeling confused, discouraged, disappointed, hopes dashed, prayers unanswered or at least not answered the way I had asked.  After some time of tossing and turning, I finally gave in "fine, I'll get up and pray."  Not a second after I turned on the light did I glance over a couple feet from my bed to see a 3 inch centipede crawling straight for me.  Immediately I jumped off my bed looking for the nearest object heavy enough to beat the thing to death.   I was so disgusted and creeped out by it that I just left it in its beaten state and went to another part of the house to pray.  Would you believe that an hour later when returning to the bedroom that the nasty disgusting creature  had moved a couple of inches away from the original slaughter point?  Now the Lord speaks to all of us in various ways and for me it is most definitely things found in nature.  In those moments shortly after the incident, the Lord reminded me that first of all, like the centipede, there is an enemy creeping and crawling all around us ready to harm with a painful bite.  Sometimes we are not even aware of his presence.  And just as the centipede didn't give up on life, Satan is relentless too.  He studies us and collects information on our weaknesses to devise a strategy for attack.  The Bible speaks about him like a lion prowling around, seeking whom he may devour.  BUT GOD!  If it hadn't been for the awakening that night which I have no doubt was from the Lord, I could have had a very different story.  In those moments after the incident, I was reminded even in my doubt that God DOES see and God DOES know and God DOES hear my cries.   If He cares enough to alert me of danger that I hadn't even asked Him for that night, won't He most surely take care of the needs and cares of my heart that I am praying to him about?  But as usual, it is a timing thing and so I would ask you to pray with me that my heart may take courage in Him as I wait for the Lord for the many answers He will give.

And so I press on, not knowing what the future holds but believing in the one who holds the future.  But enough about the future, lets look back upon God's faithfulness these past 5 years.

 5 YEARS OF MINISTRY

June 9, 2018 marked 5 years since I left my home and family and friends to serve here at the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp in the area of Curriculum Development, teaching and training.  When I arrived, we were preparing to celebrate 20 years of ministry.  5 years later, through the celebrations, fires, and storm (literal AND Figurative) we can still say that God has been faithful to carry us through. 

2013- To Serve Takes Sacrifice- left my home, family, and friends to come and start a new life here.

Curriculum Development, Teaching & Training

2014 - Forgiveness and Reconciliation- Difficult relationships restored to a healthy place.

  

 
Teacher's workshop & program marketing, Summer Camp Bible instructor.

2015 -  You Give and Take Away

 

 

Fire, Bush Medicine clinic & forest preservation, car given then taken away; Program Directors coming and going; Summer Camp Wilderness Adventures; Staff training prep; Looking forward to seeing the late Sean Wilson again someday in Heaven.

2016- Fire Flood & Storm 

 

Stepping into leadership role (Program Director) was a test of my faith.  Teaching, training, bus driving, Summer Camp logistics & registration, Fire, flood, and storm

2017 -New Beginnings & Seeking to Hear the Voice of God

Broken but not destroyed-away for 3 month sabbatical; mountain retreat; staff care day; offsite event ministry, staff training, teaching.

2018-Does God See Me? Hear me?  Yes he does!

Teaching, Inservice Days, Community outreach, teacher networking.  Still seeking and waiting and desiring to be faithful in service until the end.

Praise:  

• God's faithfulness to me in service here the last 5 years
• For healing and forgiveness of relationships both here and within my family
• For another school year using nature and science to reaching children, teachers and parents with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Provision of new executive director and support staff

Prayer:

• For God's continued leading and direction for my life
• For wisdom, guidance and  direction, creativity and innovative energy for curriculum development this summer
• For physical and mental healing for a friend here on the island.

Thank you all for your continued financial and prayer support for me and the ministry here in Nassau

Blessings,

Jen