Tribute to Sierra Pines

It was the summer of 2001 and I was a naive, wet behind the ears, eager volunteer youth counselor for the High School summer camp at Sierra Pines. I have never been to this camp before and I have never been a camp counselor. I did have about seven months of experience as a volunteer youth worker, so the students I was counseling were not knew to me. Who knew that my experience there would be the start of a lifelong change in my outlook in life, as well as my occupation and call. It was at that camp on Friday night (around the campfire) that God called me to go into the ministry. It is an amazing thing when God calls you to something, because you really only have two choices, run from the call or accept it. The journey to Sierra Pines was all in Gods plan years ago, and it begins at Taco Bell.
Yes, I said Taco Bell, my first job that I ever had at the age of 15. It was here that I stayed for ten years and eventually became a multi unit manager. It was also here where I was suppose to interviewed a sixteen year old kid, but sent him away because I was busy and the interview was scheduled by another manager. When this kid returned I told one of the assistant managers to interview him, mainly because I really felt we had enough teens working for us and I wanted more 18+ adults. At the conclusion of the interview I was given a synopsis of how it went, then asked it was up to me to decide (note: at this time I was not even an assistant manager, yet alone a mulit unit manager, just a shift supervisor). I remember very clearly wanting to say no and forming that word on my lips, but for some reason I said "yes". This person was Sean Krack who years later invited me to volunteer in Napa as a youth leader, but at this time when he was sixteen he would ask to have weekends off in the winter for a "snow camp" and summer time off for a "summer camp". These camps were of course at Sierra Pines. Its amazing that for the past several years we were the program staff for these camps.  God was working his plan early in my life before I knew what was going on.
The past decade saw me progress from a volunteer counselor to a member of the board of directors and director of program camps. It is through the camp that I have met so many wonderful friends, families, and youth that have grown into adults who I continue to communicate with. Some have returned to volunteer for camps by doing media, counseling, or assisting in anyway they can. These connections have also provided me with two ministry opportunities when my time in Napa came to an end. God has provided and blessed me more than I can ever imagine, and He used Sierra Pines to do it. This shows what Sierra Pines means to God an that it is a place He uses to do His work.
So with that I move into another transition in my life. (Ten years seems to be a number God uses for me). We just had a small but wonderful Senior High Snow Camp Feb 12-15 (click here for video), and on Tuesday February 16th I resigned from the board and program camps. It has been an awesome journey and was one of the hardest decisions that I had to make. So now I look into a new decade, a new future, and new direction from God. I will always be a part of Sierra Pines and my resignation does not in any way convey that I will not return. It is just the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Rodney Owens. Author: Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.