Arrivals and departures and an engagement feature heavily this month’s publication, but not only that; there’s a Pirate called Budgie, an island of mystery, a monkey named Dominic and a Captain called ‘Rodders’ – So climb on board, hoist the mainsail and pour yourself a rum (non-alcoholic obviously); it can only be August’s edition of Min y Don News!
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Arrivals
We are delighted to tell you that the next in the line of 'Min y Don Juniors' has been born. Steve & Zoe are now proud parents of not only Nia but now also Aran, born on 28th August.
In true Hobbs style he arrived in slightly hurried fashion, but all is well and everyone here at Min y Don is thrilled and overjoyed that Mum, Dad, Big Sister and Baby Aran are all doing very well. I’m sure health & safety regulations at the hospital won’t allow Bushcraft lessons in the ward, but once home no doubt Steve will begin the basics. Naturally we’ve pencilled in Aran Hobbs down for 'Min y Don Team' 2036.
It’s not exactly in the same category, except you could say she was 'born to it', but our youngest daughter Rose joined our illustrious Office Team for the month. It’s been great to have her with us and she’s obviously putting her Abernethy Office Team training to good use after her gap year up north last year.
Departures
It’s a feature of Min y Don life that we don’t ever really get used to but this month we said goodbye to Amelia Gibson after she finished her Gap Year with us. Amelia is now all set for a course at Art College beginning next month. It’s been great to have had Amelia with us and we pray that she’ll have an awesome time studying and developing further something that is clearly an amazing talent.
Our Summer Team also begin to wind down their Min y Don work ready to head off to pastures new. This month Sophie Lewis leaves us and gears up for life in Manchester studying medicine. Thank you, Sophie for all your fantastic work over a busy summer.
Other Summer Team are with us a little longer, so more news of them and any new Min y Don long term team arrivals next month.
Dave Davies, who has been a big part of Min y Don life for many years moved away from the area this month following his wife Cat’s appointment as a youth and children's worker at a Church in Oswestry. We miss Dave’s Office stints on Thursday and Fridays but are glad that he still manages, develops and maintains our website as part of his business High Altitude (highly recommended).
Engaged!
Other big news this month is to announce to you the engagement of Beth and Jake! Massive congratulations to them both, another product of the Min y Don Match-Making Scheme – we should start charging for this. What other parents would get to interview prospective candidates for their future Son-in-Law? I must add that both Susie & I are rather pleased with our recruitment process!
The Ultimate Adventure
It’s not only Beth & Jake that are embarking on an Ultimate Adventure - nearly thirty youngsters attended this years’ awesome pirate themed week of activity, madness & fun.
Captain Rodders led us, with the help of various accomplices and the now famous Mystery Island & Dominic the Monkey into amazing evening sessions where songs were sung, talks were given and discussions held which centred on the verse in Matthew 6:21 which says “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We loved every minute and are looking forward to next year's TUA where the theme will be...... sorry, nearly gave it away!
Why don't you book early for The Ultimate Adventure 2019 (it's cheaper that way) and find out for yourself?
There are loads of pictures on our facebook and twitter pages and our "TUA 18" film is already in production, so watch this space for when it will be ready for your viewing pleasure. 🎥
Care for the Family Weeks
Early August sees us complete our bookings with Care for the Family - the Cardiff based Christian charity that does such amazing work to strengthen and promote family life. We are privileged to be Wales venue for these weeks, something that is always a highlight of our year.
Summer Family Holidays
As well as Care for the Family holidays, we also had an awesome time on August Family Fun and the weeks specifically for single-parent families that we held right before and after the Ultimate Adventure; a busy, but fun-fill and above all God-centred summer.
No breathers though as all this leads neatly in to the Autumn bookings with many schools, youth groups and the BMS Action Teams all arriving pretty soon.
Before we move on it’s a good idea to remind you that places on all our family weeks do book quickly. 2019 is filling up already, so head over to our website where you’ll find all the details you need. If it’s anything like 2018 we’re all set for a brilliant time.
Local Youthwork
As regular Min y Don Followers will know, August is as busy a month offsite as it is onsite. The youngsters we meet with each week as part of our work with Tywyn Baptist Church head off to various summer camps, accompanied by their leaders, most of whom come from Min y Don.
Our 11 – 14 age range had a great time at MCYC Camp in Pwllheli and our older group loved every minute of Soul Survivor in Staffordshire. We are privileged to have so many young people who want to come along, and it made all that fund raising and admin worthwhile to see how responsive these young people were to it all. Great credit to Beth and the Team of Min y Don workers who went along. Please pray for us as we work now to consolidate the interest awakened and the commitments made whilst away. We’re looking forward to resuming the regular weekly meetings next month.
In addition to residential camps, we tried a new venture this summer; a Holiday Club for local youngsters. Aimed at the younger age group, we are thankful to that it was a great success and we look forward to a similar venture next year.
In Other News
I know you love this bit so….in other news:
- Chris led aerobics whist eating a pork pie, a packet of crisps, a takeaway and a box of Krave (other breakfast cereals are available
- Joe had his face decorated with shaving cream and Wotsits (other brands of snack are available)
- One guest won ‘Mr Swede’ and another a sprout necklace after challenges on Mystery Island
- Rachel changed her name to Peagreen or was it Green Pea?
- Steve Pilkington (Maintenance Team) decided his least favourite reptile was the grass snake.
but finally…
Recently a gentleman arrived at nearby Morfa Mawddach Train Station. He asked the first person he met if they knew of a place called Min y Don. They did, and assured him the place was indeed still running.
In a letter the traveller wrote to us, and enclosing some photographs, he wrote about how he, as a young lad had attended a Christian camp right here in Arthog in the 50s. It was located on the site adjacent to Min y Don called Fegla Fach.
He spoke of how he’d been led by a young man named Tony Boot. He recalls the 20 yr old Tony speaking of a vision he’d been given to begin a work where the adventure of the outdoor life would be harnessed to the message of the adventure of the Christian faith.
We were encouraged by this and re-assured that the work begun nearly sixty years ago was anointed by God, and by His grace, it will continue for as long as He needs it to. We’re thankful that amongst all the arrivals and departures we’ll see in the future, He will uphold the work and its people as long as we remember to stay true to that vision and rely completely on Him.
With thanks, as always for your support, prayers and encouraging words.
From Pete & Susie
and all the team here at Min y Don
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