cheesy title, i know.. Wow, okay so it's been about 72 years since i updated this thing.. or maybe just a few weeks.. but it seems like a long while! Let me just tell you, things have been moving at the speed of light this summer! I really keep meaning to just sit down and type it all out, but there has barely been a moment to breath, much less reflect on my summer!
Well, just a few hours ago I got home from Camp Ten:10 with SONsational Kids. Man, I LOVE summer camp. I do. It's long and hot and gross, but it is SO much fun also. And I absolutely LOVE SONsational Kids. It's seriously the best job I've ever had. I've learned so much about children's ministry, and it's given me such confidence that I could possible do this for a career one day. I've learned so much about parenting from seeing Brandi and the way she is with her amazing kids. And I've learned SO much just about myself. I've had two of the best co-interns in the whole world. In fact, last night we stayed out til 3 am just talking and bonding because it was our last night of camp. I love Melissa and Will (or grandma and gigantor, as we lovingly call them in the office)- they are so much fun to be around and I've learned so much from them just be being in their presence. I've already teared up a little thinking about leaving all of this behind. Dont get me wrong, I am BEYOND excited to be back in Abilene with my beautiful friends.. but this summer has been amazing. I knew when I first officially agreed to be a children's intern that I would have an awesome summer- but never could I have dreamed it would be this rewarding.
Okay wow, I didn't intend to just ramble on about how blessed I feel by my job. I really intended for this post to be just about camp! So where to begin with camp..
First of all we were at a wonderful location. We were at the Trinity Pines camp facility in the large and bustling town of Trinity, Texas (which I know you alll know where it is). This place was awesome- they had a huge pool, blob, canoeing, putt putt, disc golf, and a ropes course for all of the kids to enjoy in the afternoons. However, since this was camp out in east texas during august, bugs were EVERYWHERE and the sun was excruciatingly hot. And because of that I have come home with about 593 mosquito bites and a blistering sunburn all over my shoulders and chest. so fun. That's really my fault though, I'm way stubborn when it comes to wearing bug spray and sun screen.
But moving on.. I had an AWESOME cabin. I was a co-counselor for a group of fifth grade girls. My other co-counselor was the most amazing lady. I learned SO much about patience and parenting from her this week. She was such a blessing. And my lovely little ladies were so precious.. our team name was the "eleven from heaven" since there was eleven of us.. and they were just the cutest bunch in the world. Seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better cabin. They didn't stay up all night giggling or being obnoxious, they were sweet and willing to help whenever anyone needed it, and there was rarely any homesickness! Those girls showed me so much about having a servants heart. Seriously, after every meal I had girls who would just go around picking up people's trays. And after I got my horrendous sunburn I had campers always offering to carry my backpack for me. They were completely fabulous.
In the mornings they had rotations of arts and crafts (my favorite), sports, and bible class and in the afternoons they had all of those activities I mentioned earlier. Then at night we had worship and a fun evening game: minute to win it game the first night, ticks and chiggers (my favorite camp game EVER.) the second, and a giant camp wide night swim party the last night!
This morning was definitely the best part of camp. After breakfast they all went over to our main meeting room and there was a big communion spread thing laid out. Before camp, all of the kids were instructed to bring a biblical-times costume. So they put on their costumes and then we did a recreation of the last supper so they could feel like they were a part of it. It was really really special. After communion they were all given a sticky note. On the sticky note they wrote a sin or fault they wanted to leave at the cross, and then they all placed them up on a big cross. And oh my goodness, this was SO emotional. This isn't the first time I've seen a demonstration like this, but this was with 3rd through 6th graders.. that put a whole new spin on things. These were KIDS being so open and honest and just laying their faults and Jesus' feet. I'm a very visual learner- I can still remember in 8th grade going to HEB camp with Bammel and doing an activity very similar and just balling for ever afterwords because I could really grasp what it meant to have Jesus die for my sins. And seeing that again this morning just made me even more emotional. I've always felt like I'm too imperfect. I'm to flawed, and I don't deserve to have Jesus forgive me. It's completely not fair that someone SO perfect had to die because of all of my imperfections. Which, by the way was our camp theme- "No Fair, No Foul" Our main verse was John 16:33, one of my absolute FAVORITES. And after they put all of their sins on the cross (and Melissa, Brandi and I are just balling watching it all) we have just an awesome worship session. Seriously, there is nothing more moving or uplifting then hearing and witnessing kids just praising their maker and creator. I think kids voices are just so pure and honest, and hearing that sung to God was just so inspiring.
So, all in all it was an AWESOME week of camp. Tomorrow is my last day in the office.. which just makes me want to cry even thinking about it. And, oh get this. I'm getting my tonsils out on Tuesday. WHAT!? i know. Tuesday afternoon I will be tonsil-less. So that's great.. and I leave for Abilene on the 20th. This summer is QUICKLY drawing to a close.
