the Duffys at HH
July 2011
Magic Happens Here
This Little Light of Mine
As of right now we have been here in the lovely Adirondacks at Double H Ranch for about 50 days. Summer camp is in full swing and the days are long, busy and hot, but rewarding and worth it. I (Jenny) am working in the barn facilitating the petting program with the bunnies and guinea pigs, and Im also a counselor in the Bear Cabin which is the 15-16 year old I feel that what first drew girls. Josh is a full-time counselor in the Beaver Cabin also with the oldest kids here at camp; the 15-16 year old boys. So far we have had 5 sessions, each session bringing new groups of kids; new funny moments, shenanigans, songs and cheers, challenges, opportunities, and misadventures.
(jenny)
me to Double H in 2008, continues to sustain me as the summer continues, and that is the unique opportunity to care for children who have special needs, giving them a fun week where they can grow and conquer, and hopefully feel the love of God through me. This place is rich with opportunity to put love into action and to serve both the kids and the staff here.
A camper holds Montana the bunny
Class Is In Session
Each session is full-on here at camp. It is 5 full days of non-stop, activity filled madness! Each week we travel to program areas such as: fishing/ boating, archery, science/discovery, arts & crafts, the barn, sports, high ropes, outdoor extreme, swimming, and creative arts; along with a weekly trip to the Great Escape (an amusement park complete with waterpark, roller coasters, etc). With the oldest children, we add to that an overnight campout, and white-water rafting! Needless to say everyone is in desperate need of a break when the children return to their homes on Day 6. Beginning this next session
(josh)
Prayer points:
That we would continue doing our work for Jesus, not for man
(Tue, July26) well have approx 142 expectant children aged 6-16 running around the Ranch creating memories that will stick with them until they return next summer. Sure, the 14hr days are exhausting, and the emotional drain that comes with working with chronically & terminally ill children can sometimes be overwhelming, but the rewards are immeasurable. These kids teach me things that cannot be learned elsewhere. They teach lessons of compassion, and strength, and perseverance that we normal folk are desperately in need of. Whether we choose to learn or not though (like the classes we take in university, etc) is wholly up to us.
That in our work we
would be efficient, competent, and compassionate
For the glory of God,
and the Gospel of Jesus, to be evident in our lives
That we would grow
in our personal prayer life, and walk with God
the Duffys at HH
Love is not a duty, even our highest duty. It is our destiny. {N.T. Wright}
sites: check out the web .org [Link] [Link] [Link]
We are called to love the world and God loved the world so much that He gave Jesus. Today He loves the world so much that He gives you and me to be His love, His compassion, and His presence, through a life of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God.
(Mother Teresa)
Jenny gives Montana a bath Muffin plays with his toy donations from Hasbro we take the children white-water rafting! small animal fashion show Sasquatch @ Great Escape one of the crazy goats!
Life In The Barn
Its kind of random for me to be working in a barn. Outside of camp I dont have any reason to step near one, and I dont know the first thing about taking up a horse. But this is my third summer as program staff in the barn. I started off in the barn in 2008 and its hard to imagine coming to Double H and not working with the animals. We have horses, mini horses, goats, a donkey, 2 barn cats, and Im in charge of the 8 guinea pigs and 12 rabbits who live in the barn. Every morning and afternoon of session I facili-
(jenny) credit for. Im trying to care for the bunnies and guinea pigs the best that I can this summer. They surely deserve it. I still dont know how to tack up a horse, and I forget how to groom them properly, and I dont know the names of the country singers who I hear all day on the radio, or all the horse lingo. But somehow I fit in here at the barn and I love the girls that I work with, and I feel passionate about caring for children and ani-
tate a petting program where children sit in the gazebo in the yard and hold and pet the small animals. Weve also had some pretty funny and always creative, small animal fashion shows, and the ever-popular guinea pig races, complete with a wooden, red felt lined runway, and a wooden race track where grass lays as an incentive on the finish line. Working at the barn, has increased my love and respect for animals as I constantly witness how they connect and respond to the special groups of kids here at camp. Ive witnessed some pretty special moments where certain bunnies have allowed themselves to be held in awkward and surely uncomfortable positions because it was the only way that a child was physically able to hold them. Im convinced that animals know and are aware of much more than we give them
mals, so I guess that makes working in the barn not so random after all.
