Five Camp Forest Springs LTD Alumni Serve Together in Mexico
Ed Somerville (’84-’85), Joshua Abeln (’09-’10), Lisa Wright (’06-’07), Gerardo Santiago (’08-’09), and Paul Wilson (’86-’88)
The LTD program—theory to reality in an international context
By Kerra Wilson
Registrar, El Monte Ministry Center
Camp Forest Springs Alumna
TICUMAN, MOR., MEX.-- Five Camp Forest Springs LTD graduates spanning three decades found each other this summer at the El Monte Ministry Center in Ticuman, Morelos, Mexico.
All five often refer to their experiences in LTD at Camp Forest Springs. “My LTD year helped me to realize the vastness of Christian camping; I know that the sky is the limit. It also helped me to realize the importance of a well-organized camp. Good communication is so important for ministry,” says Gerardo Santiago.
In their various roles at El Monte, they are often mentally referring to specific learning experiences during their LTD year. They are “re-writing” their paper in a sense as the theory they learned is now reality. Explains Gerardo, “I wrote my paper about my dream adventure ministry. The paper helped me to think through a lot of details that would be necessary in starting such a ministry. I am hoping to develop an adventure ministry through El Monte someday. I was taught how to dream, and now it’s exciting to be living it out.”
El Monte means “the mount.” This is an appropriate name as this ministry is literally being carved out of the mountainous wilderness in south-central Mexico. This multi-faceted ministry accommodates Christian camps and retreats, a missionary training school, and a pastoral renewal center. Ed Somerville’s title is Executive Director, and he serves in various capacities but has a daily role in the missionary training school. Ed reflects, “My LTD year taught me to believe God for great things. In my role with the Cross-Cultural Training Center, I am training Mexicans to carry the Gospel to the most difficult and unreached parts of the world. That’s thrilling!”
Paul Wilson is Camp and Ministries Director and finds himself occupied with many things regarding the “invention” of daily procedures as well as learning how Christian camping is appropriately applied to the Mexican culture. The year 2010 is an exciting one for the staff at El Monte because they hosted their very own summer camps (and summer staff) for the first time! This summer was full of learning and inventing the processes of training counselors, promoting camps, and having camp ministry.
Lisa Wright and Gerardo Santiago work in the program aspect of the camps. Says Lisa, “The best part of my job is being able to organize the camps and see them happen. It was a lot of work, but it was cool to see it pay off. The ‘pay off’ was seen at worship on the last night when 19 kids made a decision for Christ!”
Behind the scenes, Joshua Abeln helps make it all possible, working mainly in the aspects of maintenance and upkeep. He also led several summer work teams from the United States that came to help. Joshua comments, “Building campsites was a highlight of my summer. Through them, kids were able to have a nature experience that they may not get at home. I also enjoyed the new experience of leading work teams for projects. I had to have strength in the Lord because it was hard to organize such large groups. It was really rewarding to see the group be able to finish a job and surpass the goals for their projects.”
Originally coming from South Carolina, Wisconsin, Argentina, Mexico, and Missouri, the staff is varied and comes from different backgrounds and cultures. However, we all have the common bonds of Camp Forest Springs, El Monte, and most importantly, the love of Christ Jesus in our hearts that must be shared with the nations. Paul Wilson shares, “The diversity of our staff sharpens us and enables us to better reach across the cultural barriers of doing camp ministry in a foreign country. The mix of diversity and the common bond of our ministry preparation through Camp Forest Springs give us focused purpose in fulfilling the call of the Great Commission through camping ministry at El Monte.”
Please be in prayer for these LTD graduates in the future endeavors that the Lord brings them. Please also pray for wisdom for each of them in their roles as the ministry at El Monte grows. More information can be found on the Facebook fan page: El Monte Mexico. Our God never ceases to be faithful!
Posted by on 09/19
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