We're half way there....

We're just wrapping up week number four, and reaching the half way point. It's nearly the end of July already..crazy stuff. I don't know where the time has gone.

It's been a more challenging week for most, as we're beginning to break down spiritually, physically, and emotionally. There's been tensions and fights amoung co's, campers who are continually crying, bitterness amoung staff, and just an all round feeling of fatigue. I don't think it helped to have a very very gloomy day weather wise yesterday, as it seemed to just dampen everyone's spirits further.

But...on a more positive note. This afternoon, the sky cleared up (finally) and although it has remained cool, the glorious sun came out and just brightened up everything. I have had one of the best last evenings of camp that I can remember. It's crazy how just a little bit of sunshine can turn around everyone's day..staff and campers. (I finally had an evening without either of my two homesick boys coming into the office demanding that they were leaving that instant.)

And the highlight of the week..we had our first ever County Fair!! We decided that the traditional last night of Carnival was definitely dying and needed to be laid to rest (Rob's exact words were that it had died..and was buried with a very lovely tomb stone...and it was now time to move on..). So we kept what we liked, and re-vamped the evening program entirely. Earlier in the day Sara and I went to the Queensville Country store and bought some potato sacks (one of the funniest moments of my summer) so that we could run sack races. So, the evening consisted of things from the races, to Jello eating contests (which I had the privledge of running..and did I ever have the time of my life!) to arm wrestling competitions, to a random wide spread game of dodge ball. We even had one of the female cabin leaders walking around playing her violin, so that she could be a wandering fiddler to add to the atmosphere. A fantastic evening overly.

I have really enjoyed seeing how much my cabin leaders have grown and strengthened in the last four weeks...and so many don't even realize just how much God is using them. A fantastic moment tonight was when Brendon (Tickles) was sitting with one of the youngest campers (only 6) at the final camp fire and trying his very best to answer every single question that the little guy threw out at him. I snuck up and listened for a while, and some of the questions were very random, and quite difficult to answer...but Brendon didn't miss a beat, and I kept hearing him repeat over and over "it's because God loves you SO much!" Beautiful..I love it.

God has been good to this camp, and really been present for the first half of our summer. Things can only get better from here...bring it on.

At the end of the day...

At the end of the day...the sun will still set

No matter what struggles I face or obsticles get in my way

No matter what hurt I've felt or ache that pains my heart

No matter what words have been spoken or tears that have been cried

No matter what plans have been changed or promises that have been broken

At the end of the day...it's still just You and me God

He's still working on me

This song has been playing through my head ever since I woke up this morning...so I thought I would type it out.....

He's still working on me

To make me what I ought to be

It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars

The Sun and Earth and Jupiter and Mars

How loving and patient He must be

For He's still working on me

I guess we could all use that reminder every now and then.

Back to Square One

While I was having some prayer time yesterday, I realized something interesting.

Although the last year and a half has been quite a journey in all aspects of my life, and I think that I've grown a lot spiritually (as well as in other areas)....I realized today that I am back to square one in a sense.

Last March, God started specifically listing off to me what my struggles were, and what I needed to finally trust over to him. Now, over a year later...I'm finding that I'm facing the exact same struggles all over again, but now just in a different light.

I know that it's continual battle to surrender what makes us weak over to God and leave it all in His hands. I just don't think I had anticipated coming full circle and facing obstacles that would be in the same two categories that I struggled with over a year ago.

But God is good...just need to work up the courage to leave it at His feet all over again..

Two down...six more to go...

We are well into camp number three.

Last week was a bit of a challenge for some of the cabin leaders. Some interesting obsticles we came across were that we had a camper who refused to eat anything because her mom hadn't made it; a camper in the youngest girls cabin who frequently packed up her bags and decided she was leaving; a girl who chewed up the bedpost on her bunk with her "magic tooth" (literally took chunks out of the wood); and a male camper who had great difficulty keeping his shirt on and staying away from the oldest girls.

But, we survived another week and were left with loads of beautiful memories from the campers who came. A couple favourite moments from last week are:

- the same camper who sang "Jesus Loves Me" in front of the entire camp, told a staff member that his favourite part of camp was Bible (when he had literally never sat still through any of the Bible periods and we thought he wasn't listening..)

-having a surprise birthday party for a camper and seeing his face just light up at the sight of the cake with sparklers on it

-The smallest and youngest boy camper accepted Jesus into his heart and told a staff member "I can feel something surrounding my heart...that must be Jesus!"

-Having one of my cabin leaders pray for me during a mentoring session that was for him

-An athesist from the oldest boys cabin asked God into his life, and ran up and gave me a huge hug afterwards, just bursting with joy from the good news

-a female camper who had ended up in the office with me because she was bullying other kids in her cabin, ended up not only having a fantastic week at camp, but also made a lot of friends (which she told me she had never been very good at...)

This week the biggest concern has been about the health of staff. Many are feeling the fatigue and weariness that comes from constantly being on the go, and not getting enough sleep. Several staff members (including myself) are on meds for some form of cold, congestion, or infection...so please keep the camp staff in your prayers as we struggle to stay enthusiastic, strong, and positive...even if we have to fake it!

I am continually updating my "My Space" with camp pictures, so feel free to check those out. (Link is on the right)

Blessings!

"We do not lose heart..."

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

- 2 Cor. 4:16-18

Jesus Loves Me

Moment of the day.

We have a bunch of kids up from Regent Park this week at Wabana, which of course is absolutely awesome. One of the boys though has been having a bit of difficulty just with listening, and not wanting to participate in bible, or devotions or anything along those lines.

However, tonight at campfire....

While two of the cabin leaders were up at the front leading "Jesus Loves Me," this particular camper went up...stood between the two staff...put his arms around one of them...and began to softly sing along. It totally melted my heart as he completely humbled himself, shed the "tough guy" image, and sang Jesus loves me in front of 120 campers and 35 staff members.

God is working in his life. Amen

All I Can Say

I didn't notice You were standing here

I didn't know that That was You holding me

I didn't notice You were cry'n too

I didn't know that That was You washing my feet

And this is all that I can say right now, oh I know its not much.

But this is all that I can give, yeah thats my everything.

This is all that I can say right now, I know its not much.

But this is all that I can give, yeah thats my everything.

Survived Week One

Well, our first week of campers have gone home. We survived.

It feels like it's been a pretty smooth week, even though we had some hitches along the way. We had to send two kids home due to illness...we had a camper fall of her bunk and get a cast and 6 stiches...we had a camper with some kindof skin disease that we still can't figure out...and two of our night programs got rained out. BUT..the praises far out way the problems!

Praise God that...

...Roman began to listen, socialize and laugh by the end of the week...

...Daniel didn't end up in the office once, and is growing into such an incredible young man...

...Kritter has turned into quite the helpful camper and God is working through him in amazing ways...

...I talked to a 7 year old last night who's favourite thing to do is talk to God, and he couldn't get enough of praying...

...Kyle, a homesick camper that frowned, pouted, refused to talk, and hid under a hood for the first 3 days of camp, was laughing, smiling, and even in a tickle fight by the time camp finished...

...8 of the youngest girls in cabin one accepted Jesus into their hearts...

...my cabin leaders are becoming an amazing team working together to do God's ministry...

...in two days we get in camp number two, and we get to do this all over again...

In Need of Prayer

Yesterday morning I got a phone call from the supervisor at the placement that I was meant to start at for school in September. Not so good news.

Seems that they are no longer able to supervise a student, as they had a bad experience this previous year and would like a year off. So this leaves me without a placement.

In short I am left confused, shocked, and bit broken. Wasn't expecting this stumbling block at all, and was definitely feeling quite confident in my plans for September.

Both my placement teacher, and the head of my department are currently on holidays for the summer. I am waiting for the emergency support staff to get in touch with my teacher to pass on that I am in need of a new placement for the fall.

Placement is a huge part of the final year of my program, and without one, there is no point to the year. I am left back at square one of wondering, worrying, and attempting to trust it all to God while I wait to hear what is left for me, and what options are available for school in September.

I am attempting to be as patient as I can as I await a phone call from my teacher.

I know that God is still ahead of me, no matter what obstacles come up...waiting is just the hardest part.

The Calm After The Storm

Last night we had a massive thunder and lightening storm. It was accompanied with a huge downpour of rain, that was absolutely perfect to get some solid rain dancing in. I took this picture a few minutes after the storm had ceased and the clouds began to clear up. I am absolutely in love with sunsets and clouds, and thought that this made for a good picture. I am always impressed by the beautiful masterpieces that the Lord paints for us in the sky. Love it.

Moment at the Tether Ball Pole

Anyone who has ever heard any camp stories from me from last summer will have heard about my buddy Roman. In short..he is an extremely incredible kid, but he had a lot of difficulties staying with his cabin for any length of time, or even listening to anyone for that matter. But, we were still excited when we heard he was back this year as he is someone who genuinely just loves this camp, and really needs to see God's love that is demonstrated through the staff at Wabana.

Anyways, the first couple days were a bit rough this week, with Roman going wandering to the lake as well as Metro Road. But this morning I saw him in such a different light in quite the beautiful moment. I went over to where my good buddy Daniel was standing by the tether ball pole, and started chatting with him. Then shortly after Roman wandered over and sat on the grass, and just began chatting my ear off (this alone is huge as he doesn't relate to females too well, never mind actually engaging someone in a conversation). Then a few minutes later, another favourite camper of mine, Kritter (real name Kristofer), walked over and sat down beside Roman. Kritter has been coming to this camp for years and is well known amoung all the staff as he is mighty social and just an overal fantastic kid. I don't know if Kritter knows the kind of difficulties Roman has, but he immediately started up a conversation with Roman asking him all about what activities he was in that day, and high fived him when he found out they were both in Nature. I just stood and watched the conversation with a huge smile on my face. I was just so excited to not only see Roman talking to another kid (he usually avoids that and will sit with a frown on his face when other kids try to talk to him), but also that Kritter has turned into this incredible young man who is taking the initiative to engage kids younger then him who aren't very good at making friends.

Again, God continues to enlighten me and brighten up my day with these beautiful miracle moments. A continually much needed reminder about why it is I keep coming back to camp..

God is good.

Today's Little Miracles

First camp of the summer arrived today..and we have 108 energetic children lodging at our camp this week. Right up until the kids got off the bus, it still wasn't feeling like camp...still hadn't really hit that it was all starting. I'm not sure why it's taken so much to get into the camp "mode" this summer. If it's because I didn't have as much time this year to plan out everything...or because it's a much younger staff...or because I never anticipated that I'd be here for another year...or because I was just being too distracted by other things that I haven't let myself get into gear with the camp ministry.

About half an hour before the bus arrived this afternoon though, I knew I had to make a decision. Break down whatever crazy walls and barriers I had put up that was preventing me from being excited about this summer, and surrender every selfish and dumb thought to God....or continue how I've been the last 3 weeks just going through the motions and putting on a fake smile to everyone that I talk to. I decided I should go with the first option. I finally took a minute to stop, actually talk to God, and just let go. I know I'll have to do it probably every day as the summer progresses...but it's one day at a time. Today, I gave it all to God..I broke down the walls and I laid it all at the Lord's feet. Today I went through everything with God right beside me. Today I was strong, empowered by God and feeling confident. Today was good...and I know He is already at tomorrow, waiting for me to let go and have another incredible day with Him beside me.

I love these kids, and I've had such a great day seeing old faces, meeting tons of new and wonderful children, and just hanging out and being blessed by the presence of so many beautiful souls. I am absolutely bewildered by the size of twin girls who I had in my cabin my first couple of years here. I have memories of them sitting huddled together crying because they were homesick, as two very little precious girls. And now, I had them today come running off the bus and give me a huge hug...and they're nearly the same height as me! They've grown into two incredible young warriors for God..tall and strong...I love it.

My favourite memory of today is with my boy Daniel. Last summer he was a little scrawny of a kid, who had a lot of difficulties in his cabin and ended up spending a lot of time with me in the office. We ended up bonding because I found out he lives in my neighbourhood in good ol' East York. As soon as I saw him today he looked at me, and shouted "the trouble maker is back!" with a huge grin on his face. I was so excited to see him, and gave him a huge hug. He's still a bit of a scrawn..but has grown about a foot, and now wears very thugged out clothes. Anyways..today during Bible, Daniel was sitting at the back by himself, so I went and sat with him. When Ray (who was leading bible) began to read some scripture to the campers, Daniel looked at me and told me that he had some Bible books at home. So we talked about that for a bit, and he told me how that he now reads Bible stories when he needs to calm down, and his favourite is Noah's Ark. My heart just melted!! I shouldn't be surprised by such beautiful little miracles like that, but I was! I never expected something like that from Daniel. He then told me he wasn't allowed to bring his Bible to camp. So I went back to the office I found a kids translation of the old testament, marked out where Noah's Ark was in it, and took it to him at his cabin. He loved it and began flipping through it immediately. It absolutely made my day! To find out that a 11 year old willingly reads scripture when he knows he needs to calm down! In the old testament none the less! How many of us as Christian adults do that? Praise the Lord because he is working in Daniel! I love it...

The end of the day is definitely here. Just waiting for a few of the male cabins to get their campers settled, then it's off to bed. Actually feeling excited for tomorrow....

Blessings!