The internship has begun!!!!

Hello friends and family! My name is Karen Johnson and I am one of twelve interns that Horn Creek hired for the year. I wanted to write you all to update you on our first three weeks together. Our first week consisted of being introduced to all aspects of Horn Creek life. The first night was great for all of us to hear Jeff and his heart/vision for the year. This night for me as well as other interns was a time of confirmation that this was where we were supposed to be. The second night we sat around a campfire as we looked out onto the valley and shared with one another why and how we ended up at the internship. It was awesome to see the Lord’s hand in bringing each one of us here for this season of our lives. During this first week we learned about Horn Creeks mission, how to clean after a group leaves, what needs to happen in the kitchen, and about the recreation center. We also got to go on a hike to horn lakes. Jeff took us on a tour of Westcliffe and we spent a day in a little town called Salida. On a Wednesday night we went to Western night. This is where the family camps get together and sing fun songs as well as square dance. We had a lot of laughs this night as James and Christian showed off their dance moves with the children.

Our second week here was like a normal week. Our schedule is going to be similar throughout the year which will be good to give us consistency. Wednesday and Thursday are our days off, Friday/Saturday/Sunday are our days where we host groups. Sunday night we will have an internship meeting to debrief the week as well as address any conflict in our community. Monday is a work day where we do various jobs around the camp. This could include chain sawing, finishing cleaning up the lodge after a group leaves, or really anything. Tuesday is our class day. We are taking two classes, one is called Spiritual Formation where we are going to learn about spiritual disciplines that put us in a place where the Lord can do His work in our lives. The other class is going to be on camping philosophies and the reason behind all that Horn Creek does. Tuesday afternoon we will meet with mentors that are from the nearby town, Westcliffe, and Tuesday night we will lead a program called One Year (it is like Awanas). This will be a time for us to pour into the children of Westcliffe from first to sixth grade.

Right now we are on a retreat together in Breckenridge at Jeff’s cabin. This place is absolutely beautiful. Yesterday we hiked 4 mountains over 14,000 feet tall. The display of God’s creation was a true joy to all of us as we spent the day on top of Colorado. During this retreat we also had the chance to share parts of our lives with one other. We answered the questions: When did you first start following Jesus, what is your greatest wound, what is your greatest time of joy, and where are you at now with God. Truly this time has been a blessing to all of us as we have seen the provision and faithfulness of God in each one of our lives through hard and good times. As we leave this retreat I already feel a lot closer to each of the interns.

Already the Lord is at work in amazing ways. We have seen this in one another as well as in learning about the way the Lord has provided for Horn Creek to stay open through hard financial times. I have already seen too how the Lord has placed each one of us here on purpose. As I just graduated college I have had a lot of questions about what is next. And I praise the Lord that this is what was next for me. A year set aside to be with God and each other serving in a place that has and will impact so many lives. Just in this time at the retreat I have seen how God’s call on our lives is to love Him, be loved by Him, and to love others. Life is less about what exactly we do or where exactly we go. I know all of us are excited for what the Lord has in store for the year. We appreciate any prayers for the ministry here at Horn Creek and the ministry God wants to do in each of our lives. Keep checking for updates, we should be writing something once a week.