Shane Land, Staffing and River Manager
Summer 2009
This year has been a good one, though full. We have completed our third summer season with YD Adventures with the Washington base. Our hearts continue to be blessed by ministering to students in the wilderness setting. We are so thankful for the opportunities to challenge and be challenged by our times on the river, on horseback, hiking the trail, or at a rock climbing site. We know without a doubt that God has called us to minister with YD Adventures and Stonewater Ranch. Our base, Stonewater Ranch, continues to grow and is currently in the first stage of a three stage master plan development. We have many groups using the facilities for retreats. Most of the winter is booked up with groups wanting to do winter retreats making the most of the snowfall our area receives. We continue to raise support and are thankful for how God has provided abundantly for us to be financially healthy.
Shane has spent much more of his time this past year focusing on river trips and trainings. He has taken full leadership of that program and now is the lead trainer for the river discipline at the Washington Adventures base. He is still fully involved in his staffing commitments but spends more time now leading river trips and trainings. While 2008 was more focused for Shane learning his leadership in administrative tasks and office responsibilities, 2009 has been more focused on the technical disciplines of whitewater rafting and inflatable kayaking.
With Shane's increased responsibilities, Kady spends much of her time taking care of Shane; that includes (but is not limited to) assisting him with projects, guiding trips with him, taking care of things around the house and reminding him to drink lots of water! Kady also enjoys being involved with the horse program, soon to be in its third year! And working with the youth in Plain during the "off"ice season! Making space for people to experience our Creator out in creation is an amazing experience! Getting to do that with Shane is incredibly fulfilling and inspirational!
One aspect of our ministry that we have realized more than ever this summer is how impacting our marriage relationship can be to those around us. It has been an overwhelming blessing to see how we can encourage those around us by being a beautiful picture of God's relationship with his Bride, the Church. So many students this summer have been curious about our marriage and whether we ever get tired or bored of each other. It has been a joy to say that marriage is never boring and actually gets better and better. We have also seen this realized by being able to encourage our summer staff that either are currently in relationships or beginning to realize what healthy relationships look like. We have been told time and again by them what an encouragement seeing us minister alongside each other has been to them all. We are so thankful for this as we have prayed from the beginning of our marriage to be an encouragement to others because of our relationship.
God is good and we are thankful for 2009. It has been a wonderful year of ministry and we are thankful for our team at Youth Dynamics and our local team at Stonewater Ranch. They are all such a blessing to us. We continually want to "Give it some heat!" as we minister to youth in the Northwest. Give it our all, no regrets!