Michael Holets, director of Ozark Conference Center, welcomes the students and parents to this year's Mind Games. For the first time, the number of students from outside Arkansas was greater than the Arkansans, so there were fewer parents (and siblings) for this meeting than ever before. |
President of Probe Dr. Ray Bohlin warmly greets the delightful students God has brought to us this summer. He introduced the other Probe staff and gave an overview of what the week would look like. |
At dinner, the Ozark summer staff entertained us with a skit. Because there are no other camps going on this week, they are free to join us for the Mind Games sessions, which they are very excited about. And we're glad to have them. |
Chef Ted explains how to compile (emphasis on "pile") a fajita. This instruction was important for the students from outside the south, who were unfamiliar with the food. With the first bite, everyone's taste buds said, "Whoa! This is no ordinary camp food!!!" |
Alumni Tyler Bennett and Kathryn Jones, loading their plates, already knew what a treat they were in for. |
Rachel Smoot and Britney Bearden get ready for a culinary blessing. |
"Byron T. Nelson," a hyper-enthusiastic camper, showed up to say "hey" to Michael Holets. |
Karla Evans was the first soul to donate an item (her hat) to the Ozark lost and found, and she had to sing to get it back. This is where she discovered she didn't know the words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" quite as well as she thought she did! |
We are blessed to have the band "You Before Me" lead us in worship all this week. |
Don Closson introduces himself, shares his testimony of how he came to faith as a college student. |
Ray Bohlin took off his nametag and became atheistic sociology professor "Dr. Hymie Schwartz," challenging students to explain why they were Christians. Rachel Smoot was his first victim. |
Kenny Pearson (who gets this year's award for coming the farthest--from Alaska!) was confident he could deal with the Prof. . . |
. . .and the Prof was confident he could get the best of Kris Griffith. |
Then he set his sights on Josh Looney. |
Ozark summer staff listening to the Prof's exchange with the students, thinking "Don't come over here to this table!!" |
Alumna Bek Davis showed she was listening last year when the Prof showed up. Echoes of her Mind Games training showed up in what she said to him. |
Ray introduces the foundational ideas behind Mind Games, using a couple of film clips to illustrate his points. |
 Afterwards, some of the students enjoyed a night swim and then played volleyball. Some of the others went straight to their rooms and crashed. It was a long travel day for the majority of us, and we were all ready to crash into our beds. We can already tell this is a great group of students and we thank the Lord in advance for what He's going to do this week. If you are a parent or friend keeping up with the daily website updates, please pray for us. Pray for clear and God-powered communication for the Probe staff, for learning grace for the students, and for God's blessing on the facilities. Arkansas is experiencing the heat wave that is affecting so much of the country, and it is sweltering by 9 a.m. We NEED air conditioning, sound, electricity, etc.!
|