With semester well under way. . . .

Greetings!

Well, it has been an eventful couple of weeks since I last posted.

As I briefly mentioned in my last post, at that time I was on my way back to Virginia. My reason for flying back to Virginia for a couple of days was to help my parents pack up in preparation to move, and to say goodbye to the people of Chestnut Level Baptist Church. While I was home we accomplished most of the packing work I was hoping to, and I was able to say goodbye to most of the people that I wanted to. I do regret not having gotten to see the others and say goodbye, as chances are I will not see them again in this life - unfortunately, though, that is just a fact of life.

After flying home on Friday night, I flew back to Texas on Monday, arriving back at campus some time after 9:30 Monday night. I had been so thankful for my schedule on Sunday morning, because I have no classes before 1:00 PM this semester - I was grateful that I would be able to sleep in on Tuesday. Then I remembered that I have work at 8:00 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I'm enjoying my work as Composites lab assistant, though, so it was fine.

I also lab assist for Composites on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and I'm in class after finishing working in the labs those afternoons, and in class and lab all afternoon Monday and Friday. Wednesdays I have an open day to work on my online classes, which is really nice.

This semester I have the added blessing of having my own room - I was sad to see my roommate from last year move off campus, but he was able to get a much better deal financially for housing, and it has worked out nicely, since I was never assigned a new roommate. Here is what my room looks like this year:

Walking in through the door from the living room to my room.

Turning left.

The rest of my room.

Looking back out the door into the hall, where Derek and Jonathan's
room is, as well as the walk-in-closet with attic access,
and the bathroom and living room.

So far classes are going well, and are mostly enjoyable. I find it very hard to believe that I am now a senior here at LeTourneau.

Please be praying for my parents, as they leave Chestnut Level that God would give them wisdom and guidance to the next place He has for them, preferably quickly, as in the mean time they will be living with my grandparents in Virginia.

Back from Montana, on to Virginia

Well, camp has been over for almost a week now, and life is just as busy as ever.

Camp ended up very well - i had a very difficult group of campers the final week - they decided that they were going to hate me, and they let it be known, but I hope and pray that they learned something last week, and that God grows them through it.

Saturday morning the campers went home, and Saturday evening was a staff dinner. We had an excellent meal of prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, fried onions, and other absolutely delicious foods - Jim and the others certainly spoiled us. After the dinner we watched a slideshow of staff pictures, a staff video, shared in what God did in our lives over the summer, and had communion. Overall it was a very good, albeit hard, due to all of the goodbyes, evening.

Sunday morning at 7:00 Mountain time I headed to Wichita, KS, arriving between 10:00 and 10:15 that evening, Central time. I slept at my aunt and uncle's house again, then met up with some really close friends, Alden and Rebekah Daniels, for breakfast at IHOP. After breakfast I got on the road for Dallas, where I again spent the night, taking advantage of my grandmother's amazing cooking. Tuesday morning I got on the road at 5:30 to drive to LeTourneau, where I started working with Themelios for freshman orientation, starting work at 8:30 AM. I worked with orientation stuff and moved in, working on both of those things Tuesday through today, Friday. Now as I write this I am sitting at East Texas Regional Airport, waiting for my flight out to fly home to Virginia, to help my parents pack. Monday I will be flying back to Texas, with classes starting on Tuesday morning.

Be praying for travel safety, renewed energy, and a godly attitude in everything to come these next days and weeks.

Please feel free to contact me, as I'd love to catch up on what's going on in your life.

The final week

Wow - I can't believe that today is the beginning of week 8 - the last time that I will hear "Daniel, you have a camper" come over the intercom. This has been a very challenging summer, but also a very good summer.

This past week was a good week of camp for me - I had six junior high guys, and they were a great group. Four of them took Sports Path, so I ended up being in there with them, and just really enjoyed getting to know them better. On the campout on Wednesday one of my friends who had Bacon S'mores with us the first time that we made them really wanted to make them again, so she had brought all the chocolate and we added Reese's cups to them - Bacon S'mores are good, but I'd probably leave off the Reese's.

This coming week I once again have Explorers, and this week I have been put in charge of Sports Path. Be praying that either God really gives me wisdom and ideas on what to do, or that nobody signs up for Sports Path this week. If kids want to do it, I want to be able to make it great for them, and I am not the most athletically inclined person.

Saturday after our staff meeting Becky and I said goodbye to a good friend of ours who had to leave camp a week early, then grabbed sandwiches and headed out to go visit Mt. Rushmore. This week is Sturgis Rally week, and we drove through Sturgis on the way, but thankfully, although there were a lot of motorcycles, traffic was not bad at all. We went to Rushmore, drove around for a bit enjoying the scenery, and went to dinner. There was a group of bikers in the restaurant waiting to be seated, but I looked at their vests and saw that they said things such as "Bikers for Christ" and decided that they were a very good motorcycle gang to have in the restaurant, if one was going to be there.

I ask that you be praying that God provide the rest of my financial support for the summer. This is the last week, and I am still just under 50% funded for my goal for the summer. I Know that God can provide, but I ask that you prayerfully consider helping support the ministry here, as the summer is almost over and I have raised only half of my goal. If you are unable to give, please be praying that God work in those who are able, that the support would come in this final week.

I pray that God bless you and that you have a wonderful day.

Last two weeks of camp

Already the end of camp is only a couple of weeks out - wow.

The past couple of weeks have been good - they have provided their challenges, but overall they have been good. Both of the last two weeks I was put in charge of bike path, and both weeks nobody signed up - so two weeks ago I ended up in Music path, and last week I ended up in High Adventure. This week I am in Sports path, with four of my campers, and the Sports path leader, Jonathan.

I have six Explorer (6-8th grade) guys this week, and it is going to be an interesting group. Three of the came together and know each other pretty well, and the other three seem to be integrating in the group pretty well. Be praying, though, that I be able to really connect with these kids and just reach them with the love of God.

Sorry this is so short, but I've got to get going. I'd love to hear from you, so please, feel free to email me - danielbmiller1@gmail.com

God bless.

Another quick update

Well, another week has started! We are now over half through the part of the summer where we have campers - this is week 5 of 8.

Nobody signed up for Bike Path, so I was moved - but because one of my campers signed up for Music Path, I am in Music this week. I wasn't excited about it, but God is working on me, and I am finally getting over myself on this and remembering to do everything as unto the Lord - and besides, my being here at camp isn't about me - so I'm praying that I have the opportunity for God to somehow use me, even in Music Path.

My cabin full will probably keep my hands full again this week, but it is fun to see how well the group is already bonding, and I am excited to see what all God does in this group of guys this week.

I do request prayer for Becky this week. Her grandfather is really not doing well - he was taken to the hospital. Please be praying for him, as well as for Becky and the rest of the family there.

Have a blessed week!

Quick Update

Hello,

This is just going to be quick - I'm about to have to get back to work. Just wanted to give a very quick update.

Last week I had three special needs kids in my cabin of seven, two of them requiring constant supervision. I did survive the week, though, and 2 of my kids accepted Christ! That made it very worth the whole week of struggles.

This week I once again have 7 jr. high guys, including one of them from my first week counseling - but I'm quite glad to have this one back.

Please be praying that this be an awesome week - I am currently scheduled to head up the Bike path, but I really don't want to do it - so I'm hoping that nobody decides to do bike path - then I might end up helping with High Adventure.

I'd love to hear from you.

Daniel

Nearing the end of Week Three

Well, week three is almost over.

It has been a very interesting week this week. I have been back to having Jr. High boys, but thankfully this week's group has not presented the problems that my first group did. Not to say that they're all perfect, but it's a manageable group.

I also ended up assisting in Outdoor Life path this week, since that's where all 5 of my guys went, and there were no guys in High Adventure. Nelson and Dwayne, the leaders of the path, are great - but I have decided that I prefer working with High Adventure.

This week for Team Competition the theme was American History - so as soon as it was just the leaders of the two teams in the room, we decided to do Civil War, with one team being Yankees and the other team being Rebels. Jeremy, our program director, was quite surprised, but that was part of the fun, when we did our skit and did a joint skit instead of two separate ones, making it impossible to determine which one was better and would receive points.

I will probably give more of an update later on, but for now I am tired so am about to close this out. Please keep me, and the rest of the camp staff in your prayers, as well as the campers and their families for safety in travels this weekend.

As always, it would be great to hear from you.