Back in family

After being apart for the last 8 months, I feel like I am “back in family.” We have a saying in our Christian Camping International that says: Somos una familia. We are family! (sounds like a song!)

This week, prior to a CCI/LA event, the Congress for Camp Site Directors, we are meeting and what a joy it is. Let me present to you my family, from right to left, here we are:

Robert Bruneau is the executive director of CCI/LA and of Camp Roblealto. His position as director of a camp site enables him to have his finger on the pulse of the camping world in Latin America and around the globe since he also serves on the Executive Committee of CCI/Worldwide. As staff members, we are all self-starters and have plenty of initiative so his unique ability to see the big picture and envision long-range plans is essential to direct and coordinate our efforts.

Nina Perez de Bruneau, Robert’s wife, is our CCI/LA International Events coordinator and juggles these responsibilities together with her role as wife and mother of two young daughters. Her eye for logistical details and resourcefulness makes it a pleasure to participate in an event planned by her.

Marisol Morgan, a Panamanian, drove 18 hours on a bus to arrive to our staff meeting. Marisol, a mother of two teenage daughters, serves as administrator and regional coordinator of Mexico/Central America. She is very thorough and careful in handling administrative details which is a relief for the rest of us.

Bob Sabean, the veteran member of the staff, one of the founders of CCI in Latin America and author of numerous articles, monographs and currently working hard on writing a 10-chapter book on The Theology of Recreation. Bob brings a marvelous perspective to any and all discussions, bringing to bear theological and historical issues as well as simply providing a valuable voice of experience. His congenial manner and great sense of humor make us all laugh with his anecdotes.

Bessy Macotto is the regional director for South America for CCI/LA and just flew in from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her face was aglow as she walked into the cabin where we were meeting, Pinch me, she exclaimed, I can’t believe I’m here! Thanks to the encouragement and support of Miguel Angel De Marco, from our mission agency, Latin America Mission, Bessy is able to be present for this vital encounter.

These people make up the full-time missionary staff with whom I work virtually everyday so imagine the joy we experience when we finally are face-to-face. The virtue of this family is that all year we anticipate our time together, the relationships are healthy, a spirit of cooperation reigns among us giving no place for rivalry or “one-up-manship.” One’s success or accomplishments are another’s as well. The standard practice in our meetings is: Relationships first, then business. Evidence of this reality is the following anecdote.

Bessy entered breathlessly, set down her suitcases, threw out her arms and received the embraces of all of us. An hour before we had begun the staff meeting but with her arrival we all gathered around and with a focused gaze asked her: How are you? Tell us some of the accomplishments the Lord has given you this past year. Bessy launched into a detailed description of the team of instructors she is forming (Xenia from El Salvador, Analu from Peru, Patricia from Argentina and herself). Together they teach 6 courses per week in 3 different cities of Argentina. Intertwined in her sharing were lessons the Lord has been teaching her and the personal growth she has been experiencing. After nearly two hours of sharing and stories, laughing and crying, Bessy somewhat bashful said: “Sorry to have taken so much time from the staff meeting….” Bob placed his hand on her shoulder, looked her in the eye and said: “We are family. Family comes first, then business.”

Amen and amen!

Tell me about your experiences working in teams, what has it been like for you?

The power of play to help children grow socially and emotionally at camp (and in life)

Sometimes when you write an academic paper you don't get the opportunity to write about what makes your heart beat faster! That's not the case with this document. This paper stretched me beyond my comfort zone all the way into my "groan zone" and I'm glad (now that is!)
In Christian Camping International, we plan on turning this paper into a several-day workshop for camp counselors. I'm open for feedback, let me know if you have a problem viewing it on screen and I can email you a copy in .pdf!
There's a little icon in the lower right hand corner that will allow you to view the document in a "full screen."

The power of enhancing camper's emotional intelligence through adults engaging in play with children -Lisa Anderson-Umana

View more documents from Lisa Anderson-Umana.

Learning to receive criticism gracefully....

Going back to school has provided the Lord with a new means of knocking off my rough edges. I believe we are "diamonds in the rough" and God lovingly molds and shapes us into greater conformity to the image of His Son.
Although necessary, that process is not pleasant. Let me give a recent example.
For almost every class I take at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), a final paper is due. This paper typically requires long hours of reading, researching, investigating and synthesizing what you have read into a well-written document. I enjoy writing and so after some 100 hours of work all-told, I finished my paper just in time to receive the work team North Way Christian Community (Pittsburgh) first of August. I was pleased and anticipated good feedback and a good grade.
Several weeks later I received my grade and the feedback.
The teacher graded my paper as a B- and gave me an opportunity to re-submit it, should I choose to improve it. In addition, my professor generously invested the time to give me detailed feedback on exactly why my paper did not meet doctoral standards.
I was not a happy camper.
Why was I not a happy camper?
My first theory was that the teacher was mistaken.
My second theory was I needed only to tweak my paper.
My third and final theory was that theories one and two were wrong.
Just like I teach my children that their teachers are their God-given authorities and must be obeyed and submitted to, God was giving me the opportunity to apply my own teaching.
After re-reading my paper in light of the professor's comments, I came face to face with my own incompetency. I thought I knew how to write. But not at this level. I moved to another level: I went from being unconsciously incompetent to being consciously incompetent. Ouch.
The crux of theory three is that the problem was me. My pride was hurt. As I shared my dilemma with my prayer partner and friend Marcela, she gracefully told me that I was very good at offering constructive criticism to others and that God was using this minor setback to help me become aware of how others might feel when I critique them.
Ouch.
Growth in sensitivity to others comes with a cost and God loves me enough to correct me.
What has made this experience particularly memorable is that I have re-written my paper in an effort to learn how to write academically sound papers.
In summary:

• Be humble and accept criticism.
• Don't become defensive.
  
• Study how to write academic papers. Read books on it.
  
• Re-read my paper with at least two other people to get their feedback.
• Find my own voice, don't just nicely compile and organize other people's quotes.
• Synthesize, not summarize what others write on the subject.

I have a long way to go in learning both to give and receive criticism gracefully, I thank God for His patience and persistence.

What area of growth are you currently struggling with? Share your comments, I"d love to hear them, we can learn together.