So tonight was my last shift at Pine Summit. I couldn't have had a better experience ending my time here. We menued out Pork Tenderloin, Italian Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Normandy Style Vegtables and Wheat Rolls. I took charge of the proteins and made special marinades for both meats. I slow roasted the pork for 5 hours at 275 and grilled the chicken on a flat top grill. Both turned out great, so much so that the group gave us a standing ovation!

Now I share this not primarily to toot my own horn, but to say that, despite what the higher ups might think, I feel like every meal that I have served has been a great experience for the guests I've served. And tonights meal has vindicated any doubts I've had about my performance.

But more importantly than my performance, the main lesson I've taken from my experiences here is that a good meal can enable people to get more out of their Retreat experience and grow closer to God. And at the end of the day, that's what it's all about. In a service environment, by definition, it isn't about you, it's about who your serving. In a christian camp environment, your serving not just the guest at the camp, but also Christ himself. It's very humbling thing to think about.

Well, that's my rant for today. In other news Elyse is flying in tomorrow and I can't wait! One week of hanging out and then Im off to TN for a couple of weeks!

Layers
J



Ps I figured out how to blog post from my itouch...this changes everything.

Posting test from iPod touch

Posting test from iPod touch

So 8 weeks after arriving here in sunny California, the Wilson Clan has decided to move to Tennessee. There are many reasons why we've made this decision, some of which I can't get into on here, but its suffice to say that our philosophy of ministry doesn't line up with that of the leadership of the camp. It really is a shame, especially since there is so much potential here, but we definitely have peace about our decision. God brought us out here for a reason and we realized that it has nothing to do with our jobs at the camp. We've learned a lot of lessons and can leave knowing that we've made a positive impact on the people that matter.

Its a really exciting time for us, especially for my parents. The opportunity to move back to TN seems like a no brainer to us. Its also a good opportunity for us to be salt and light in a secular environment, as opposed to living in a Pharisacal bubble and wasting our time and talents.

I also just want to say thanks to all the people in Cali who have made us feel welcome and loved, (you know who you are, and both of you will be missed!)

To everyone who've followed our journey thus far please, please, please, continue to keep us in your prayers as we live to glorify God in everything we do.




P.s In a previous post I mentioned how I'd like to read through the entire book of Leviticus before I left BB, and much to my amazement I did so! (Refer to post "Smoke Fills the Air")

So as often as I can I like to find inspiration from other chefs who actually know what they're doing. Thanks to google reader, i discovered this chef outta San Fran who started a blog about his experiences as a line cook, curiously enough called...line cook. So I was reading his more recent post about his kitchen brigade. For all you peeps who aren't familiar with the lingo the KB is basically your kitchen crew who are responsible for putting out whatever food you eat at the restaurant (or in my case conference center.) Anyways he shares some interesting thoughts about putting the guest's experience/needs above his own crew, and this idea is always my reason for doing what I do here at my job.

Bottom Line: the brigade DOES NOT exist if there aren't any guests.


http://linecook415.blogspot.com/2009/05/brigade.html