Blight Family Update
March 2022
We’d love to hear from you!
Josh (613) 553-4402
Deanna (519) 588-5298
deannab21@gmail.com
These words have been on our hearts to share for months and finally taking time to put on paper!
Past 2 ¾ years
July 2019 to March 2020 were full! Moving and starting a new life here and throwing ourselves into nonstop camp life during summer and into retreats etc.. Looking back, we don’t think we could have kept balancing family with camp life; prioritizing our own kids and wanting time with family at home as well as memory making while Jorden was still with us. If there was ever a free weekend at camp we were usually gone. It couldn’t have been sustainable.
As the world slowed, so did we a little in some areas. Josh has kept working through it all, and was able to get more projects done on grounds. The kids and I kept busy with school, growing seedlings for the new garden, and normal daily living. Oftentimes we did wonder if we were actually supposed to be here? It sure looked different than we imagined!
During Covid, we’ve participated in clothing swaps, several youth events, takeout nights, modified activities, some retreats, kids club, and handing out food to families in addition to camp this past summer!
Summer
500 kids! Truth was spoken through the Word being shared, songs, summer staff, and daily memory verses which they can carry for life. The staff are also fed the truth and deepen relationships with other Christian friends. This is an encouraging part in their journeys. It was a joy to see firsthand. I think summer is equally about the kids as it is about the staff. Whether they come from solid Christian homes or don’t have that environment, they have been so thankful to be at camp.
Another highlight was seeing 8 youth baptized on 3 occasions during the summer(consisting of campers and staff), one being our daughter Sophia. We had a celebration of life for Jorden on the Saturday and the next day was Sophia's baptism. What a busy, but special weekend. We are so thankful for the church family, as well as immediate family and friends that shared both of those days with us.
More Recent
Before Christmas the camp along with those from local churches prepared an outdoor Christmas experience to share with the community. It was picturesque and a great way to share the message of hope during these times when we all need it more than ever and feel so much more limited in what we can do. It was a blessing to come together and see people so willing to use their time & gifts and just getting to know one another better along the way. As a family, our kids dressed up and were acting in the marketplace, while Josh shared the message at the last stop and I got to meet each group after for a hot drink. We saw 300 people come through!
We’ve also had a unique opportunity to deliver food that our camp cook prepared to people in the community. We thanked God for the connection to camp or else we don’t think it would be received so eagerly!
Josh was able to finish his bus training this fall that was paused during covid and has been driving most weeks since; taking on short-term routes while drivers are off. There've been a lot of familiar faces from camp and a good way to keep connections going and make new ones. He’s also been speaking once a month at different churches. It’s been a nice way to meet people!
Earlier this year the director at camp resigned so things have looked different once again. We are planning for the summer season and trusting God to provide who and what is needed to fill in the gaps.
Thanks so very much for your generous gift last month and showing love and support to our family during what has been a year of so much joy, but grieving and growing for our family as well. God is GOOD, faithful and always working. Sometimes it just takes more faith to believe. And may we continue to look around and encourage each other during every season of life. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Found in Galatians 6:10 (read ch. 5 and previous verses in ch. 6 to see how we can live by the spirit and not just get tired striving in our own strength)
To God be the GLORY, great things He has done and IS doing.
Praise
-500 kids through day camps, and 300 at Christmas for the Walk of Hope
-Times of reflection and refreshment have been so helpful … covid slowed life down a bit and we are grateful for the time to be able to connect better in our new community and church family. As crazy as that sounds, because covid has also made it harder in ways. But just being able to go to church each week and not be tied up most weekends has helped in that area.
-Our kids are thankful for many good friends at school and church.
-Although many things don’t go as planned we have been able to see God’s control many times and know He made us and knows what’s best!
Prayer
-Camp planning, keeping connected with summer staff year round. Being faithful where we are.
-Community Relationships
-Wisdom in what to invest time in