Burgers and Biking

On Sunday the campers showed up for the last camp of the summer. It was another week of specialty camps. This week we offered horse riding, cooking, dancing, biking and space. I was helping out with bike camp and there was only one girl signed up so she was my only camper. Rachel B. and her campers were in the same side as my camper and I so we combined with them when we did Bible study and candle power. Campers showed up around 4:00 p.m. and when all of the campers from our cabin showed up we went to the rope swing. This was my second time there and some of the kids were really excited while others weren’t. They wanted me to go on it so I decided I would and it went just about the same as the time before that I had went on it and I got rope burn on my legs and a bruise on my thigh. After supper we played Eagle’s Eggs for night game and then we headed off to campfire where Steven gave a good opening message.

On Monday Marty did the Chapel message and he did his message about us being like a coffee mug. I learned something new each time I hear him do that message. For bike camp Magnus and I were the counselors and a JS, Ryan, helped us. The first day we went over the rules and talked about bike safety. The kids probably didn’t enjoy it all that much, but it was something that we needed to do. For waterfront time I was supposed to have sports courts, but I figured since it was so hot none of the campers would want to play anything. So I took a book with me and I finished it. For cabin choice we decided to do archery. It was really fun watching the girls do this. Kristin gave the message at campfire and it was about perseverance.

On Tuesday Josh and Kade had a very funny skit during Chapel. It was probably the funniest skit of the summer. The kids really enjoyed it and the message he gave after it was really good for all of us to hear. There are things in the world that try to get us to do certain things by telling us a certain things that aren’t true. For bike camp, we put on water bottle holders and got the bikes to fit each camper. Then we took them to the sports courts and had them go around cones and practice their skills. For waterfront I didn’t have to do anything so I hung out in the ac because it was really hot out. For cabin choice our group did mercy meals. We filled little bags with certain foods and seal the bag. They will be sent later to people who need them. Rachel B. did the campfire message and it was the same that she had done before. Once again I learned something new that she had talked about. Since it was so hot we decided that we didn’t want to play night games so we decided to have movie night instead. We watched Toy Story 3.

On Wednesday Kade gave the Chapel message about us being the body of Christ. He used the Avengers theme. For bikes we traveled into town right after Chapel before Bible study. We were going on a trail in Columbus by a lake. After a few miles we stopped and did our Bible study together as a group. Then we traveled a little bit more. We figured that we rode about six miles. This was probably the most miles any of the campers had done, but they seemed to enjoy it. For cabin choice we decided that we wanted to do the challenge course. We were headed there and Rachel B. somehow hurt her ankle when we were close to the first challenge. I decided that we needed to take her back to the main lodge so I gave her a piggy back ride back there so she could get it looked at. So we decided we were going to stay in the main lodge and hang out. For night games we played China Bibles. My camper had a loose tooth and her mouth was hurting her and she didn’t want to play and I didn’t feel like running so I got to do the part where I sat at the sports court and campers would come to me once they had enough “money” to buy a Bible. At campfire I gave the message. I talked about Peter walking on water and I tried to walk on water, but obviously I couldn’t so I ran into the water. I talked about how we sometimes doubt Jesus like Peter doubted Him and listed some things that we doubt. Then I read them a verse about Christ living in us that we should look at when we are in doubt.

On Thursday Rachel A. gave the message about Chapel about perseverance. We sometimes struggle with things, but we have to be patient and work through the hard times. For bike camp we decided that we wanted to take the kids on a few trails at camp. Then we had to take off the water bottle holders. We then cleaned the bikes up. For cabin choice the campers decided they wanted to stay swimming. They swam for awhile before we went back to shower. For night games we played Outpost. This was way more fun for me this time because I actually got to try to catch the opponents and not stay hidden because I wasn’t worth a lot of points and I had more than one life. The campfire was the last campfire of the summer. Dan gave the message that was the same as last week about him being a living sacrifice. It was a favorite of the campers. It was a sad campfire because I was thinking about the whole summer and how many we have had and the fact that that was the last campfire of the summer.

This morning Beth gave the message at closing Chapel. It was about the theme of our summer. ALIVE. She talked about so many things that are huge and they were really mind blowing. And she talked about Christ being alive in us and that we need to share His word to others. After the campers left we cleaned a little bit. Then we had a staff meeting and talked about things that were going to be happening these next few days before we all head home. Tonight we are going out to eat as a staff.

~ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5

A Plethora of Penguins (my cabin name this week)

On Sunday the campers arose for a full week of camp. This was the second full week of camp, but since I was at VBS last week it was the first full week for me. I had two JS, Amanda and Addie, who hung out with me and my campers. There were seven campers in my cabin this week, so it was a full group in the cabin. I had the older group which I enjoyed since they are the age that I will be teaching in a couple of years. Most were returning campers, but there was one girl who was here for the first time. When all of the campers arrived we played a couple of get to know you games before we headed off to supper. One was a name game where we repeated names a lot so that we could match faces with names so we knew them and the other was saying a true statement about you and we would see who else that was true for. Then we had supper and as a big group played Eagles Eggs. There were so many campers that the game was hard to play without getting caught. Josh gave the opening message at campfire. It was really good and was about keeping the fire in our hearts lit.

On Monday Marty gave us the message at Chapel. He did the message with the mug again and again I learned more. We started our sports camp off as well. There were four girls and about fifteen boys signed up for sports camp. Kade, Steven, Christian and I were the counselors that were doing sports camp. Steven was in charge of what we did for Soccer. He went over rules and had them do some basic skills. They played a short little game after learning the skills and the kids were doing really good. At waterfront I swam for a little while and then read the book I was reading because I was getting really close to the end. We played Outpost for our night game. I was a general which meant that if I got caught by the other team they would get a bigger number of points. I was doing pretty good at staying out of the way of the other team for most of the time. Then near the end of the game I decided that I wanted to venture out from my hiding place and into other woods. About twenty minutes left in the game I got caught. The other team won because they had more points. We had our campfire at the beach and Steven gave a great message about Peter walking on water.

Janet gave the message at Chapel on Tuesday. She did a message about how we are dead in our sin and that it is because of Jesus that we are able to live and do the things we do. For sports camp we played Football and Kade led the campers for this. He told them the rules and taught them a few basic skills. They played a game and it was a pretty good game to watch for this age group. For waterfront I had to work boats. I wasn't really that much of help because my ankle was swollen and it hurt to walk. I was told that they think it was a sting on the back of my ankle that made it swell. So far this summer that makes number 2 for stings for me.. :/ Hopefully it was the last that I get this summer. Rachel B. gave the message at campfire. She had a good skit that represented the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then she told us how we should try to be like them by standing up for ourselves and not giving into the things society wants us to do that is against what God wants us to do even if almost everyone we see is doing what society says we should do.

On Wednesday Beth gave a good message at Chapel. She talked about working as a team. For sports camp we played Basketball and I was the leader for this. I taught them the positions and a few simple things they could do to get open. I taught them a basic man-to-man defense and also a zone defense. We then played having four teams and switching the teams on and off so that they could rest since it was so hot. The first game for each group we had them playing man-to-man and the next set of games we had them playing zone defense. For waterfront I was on duty for swimming. I was at the dock for most of the time and then headed in to the beach for a little while. I took my campers to do the Challenge course. We did the balance beam with a partner, the pole with the tire and the balance plank. They did really well with these and I hope it helped them grow closer together as friends. For the night game we played China Bibles. I caught quite a few kids during this and wasn't as nice as I was the first time we played this game with campers. I took away more chips because most campers were older and I was helping them get prepared for the game the next night. Then we headed to campfire which was a hike to Cross Pointe. Kade gave a great message there and it really had a lot of campers thinking about things in their life.

Andrew gave the message at Chapel on Thursday. He reminded us that we are a chosen people. God has chosen each one of us to be His people. We played Ultimate Frisbee for sports camp. This was kind of a  mix of most of the other sports so that is why we did this last. We had the kids do some drills with the Frisbees. They worked on distance and accuracy. We played a game and it was a really close game. Everyone was getting involved and trying to get the Frisbee when their team was on offense and when they were on defense they would try to get the Frisbee from the other team. I was off for waterfront so I decided since it was really hot that I was going to hang out inside. Since it was so hot we decided that we weren't going to have a night game. We headed to campfire early where Dan gave a very good message that everyone paid close attention to. He talked about us being a living sacrifice and was doing a skit where he was going to be a living sacrifice, but he had Josh come in to make it stop. They kids paid close attention and hopefully took away the message that they should be a living sacrifice by telling others about God and giving up their time to help others. Since we didn't play a night game we had a dance party and watched the movie How to Train Your Dragon. Almost everyone stayed and slept in the main lodge. That was pretty fun, but also wasn't that comfortable because it was on a cement floor.

This morning I woke my cabin up to get ready before breakfast. We had breakfast burritos and it was really good! Josh gave us a good reminding message at the closing Chapel. He reminded us that we need to persevere at the hard things in life. My girls wanted everyone to sign their shirts so we did that when they were packing their bags. At the end of lunch each of the type of camps got to go up to the front and show of some of what they did during the camp. Then when the campers left we cleaned and had a staff meeting. We headed into town after the meeting to watch The Dark Knight. It was really good.

Next week I will be helping with bike camp. I am hoping that it isn't going to be really hot because I don't want to get really exhausted and not be able to do the rest of things at camp.

~ "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

Fun for the Family

On Saturday we had a camp for families. A parent or parents would bring their child to hang out at camp and do some different activities with them. There was also a grandparent/grandchild camp during the day. They started out with a little craft that they would then put their picture in at a later time for them at camp. We had finger painting, archery, a nature hike, rope swing, Frisbee golf and a scavenger hunt that they could choose from to participate in and have fun together. I chose to help with the rope swing since I hadn't done it yet this summer. We had waterfront time where they could swim, go on boats or go down the waterslide. Josh had a Bible study for the families to listen to. It was a really good reminder message to me and hopefully the kids took a lot from it. He talked about the story of the mustard seed and how such a little seed can grow into a tree that is around 8-9 feet tall. We should tell others about God and "plant" a mustard seed in them to help enrich their faith in God. The grandparent/grandchild campers left after the Bible study. For supper we had a roast outside at the campfire where we roasted hot dogs. Then we played Counselor Hunt where the families would try to find all of the counselors in a certain part of the woods. I was hiding in a place that wasn't very hidden and quite a few of the groups found me. Then after the game we did a campfire and made some s'mores. YUM! :) Then we went to bed and in the morning we had breakfast together and another little message from Josh before the families went home and before we got ready for our next camp that started Sunday afternoon.

~ "He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.'" - Matthew 13:31-32

Last Day of VBS

We went to the Lutheran school again to help do some more cleaning on Friday morning. This time she had us cleaning her toys for the kids and organizing all the shelves. It was pretty fun because it brought back a lot of memories from when I was a kid and played with toys like that. Then she took us to eat and we saw a few of our kids from VBS there and talked with them for a little while. We had the afternoon free so that we could pack up and just relax for a little while. LeAnn and I decided that we wanted to play our guitars. So we got them out and played quite a few of our camp songs. It was fun to jam out with her and learn the songs a little bit better.

It was a really good week at VBS and the kids were awesome! I was glad to go with LeAnn and Zach and get to know them a little better. We had a lot of fun doing everything together. Yesterday was the ending night of VBS. The kids were really energetic and it was so much fun. I had a challenge for my kids to do from the day before and they all did it which made me glad. They really enjoyed the game that I taught them and just wanted to keep playing it. During closing the parents were allowed to come and quite a few of them showed up. We still did closing like we had been the rest of the week. For the last song we had the kids go up to the front of the church and not in the pews so that they could do the actions while looking at their parents. We sang Every Move I Make which was their favorite song because they got to jump. It was kind of scary though because things on the altar and near it were swaying back and forth quite a bit, but nothing broke! :) Then they served ice cream to all of the families and we got to meet the kids' families. Many of the kids gave us huge hugs when they were leaving and that made me feel really good about the week. When that was over we helped clean up and packed our car. We then headed back to camp so that we would be ready for the camp that is starting this morning.

~ "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'
Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times'". - Matthew 18:21-22

Trampoline fun after VBS

Last night was our third night of VBS. The kids still had a lot of energy. The lesson we taught was about us being a new creation. Things seemed to be running about the same everyday which is good and the kids seem to be having a great time. Their favorite song is Every Move I Make because they love the part where we get to jump up and down. After VBS LeAnn, Zach and I decided to jump on the trampoline for a little while. This was fun because I used to have one when I was younger and would love to go out and jump on it. Then I got to see my friend from college that will be my roommate next year. I found out on Tuesday that she lived only 9 miles from where I was staying. So her and her fiance came and picked me up to go get some ice cream. It was really nice to see them and hang out for a little while with them.

This morning we went to a public school and helped dust the trophies and the trophy cases. Then we took them all out and organized them by year. They had us take trophies from a certain year and back out of the cases because there was just so many and not quite enough room. Then we stacked the trophies back on the shelves in order by year. It was very hot in the school and you think a job like that wouldn't be that bad, but we were getting very hot. Then we had the afternoon off so that we could relax some.

VBS tonight went really well. There were a few new people, but also some of the ones that had been coming gone. Once again the kids were full of energy and it was just an awesome sight. The story of today was that we are a part of Christ's body. For the craft this evening we had the kids paint shirts that at the end of the summer (all the shirts from the VBS this summer) they will be sent to Haiti. The kids were very creative on how they designed the shirts. After VBS we decided that we would jump on the trampoline a little bit more. The little girl from the family that we are staying with jumped with us. Then we played Wii for a little while and that was really fun.

Tomorrow we will be helping out at the Lutheran school again. And then in the evening we will be doing our last day of VBS. The time has seemed to go by really fast, but I have really enjoyed it.

~ "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34

Spending time with the young and the old

Last night was our second night at VBS. The kids seemed to have another great night and were full of energy just like the first night. Our message for the night was that they are valuable. We are all valuable to so many people. We are valuable to our families, friends, those we don't know and we are valuable to God. He created us and has made a place for each of us and a path for us to follow. It is important for us to remember that we are valuable to Him and really important to remember that when we feel like we aren't important. I believe that we should say the most valuable thing to us is our relationship with God. If we don't have a good relationship with God our other relationships are going to struggle. The kids really loved to sing to the music we do at opening and closing.

Today our schedule was filled with going to nursing homes and assisted living places. In the morning we went to a group at an assisted living place and did a few exercises with them. Then we played a few songs for them. Next we went to a nursing home and visited with a few of the residents. Some were very welcoming and others didn't really have much to say. I had a good time and some great laughs with LeAnn and Zach. After a few visits we went to another nursing home and helped about 15 residents make ice cream in a bag. They seemed to enjoy this and it looked like fun and looked like it tasted good. We played a few songs for them before we had to leave for our last visit of the day. We went back to the nursing home that we had came from before and played a concert for some of the residents. LeAnn played the keyboard, I played the guitar and all of us sang. There was a lady that asked us after we played if we had a recording. We told her that we didn't and she told us that we should. It was so sweet of her. :) Then we headed back to our host family and LeAnn and I decided that we wanted to try and make the ice cream like the residents did. So we got out the ingredients that we needed. We started making it and noticed that it wasn't really getting thicker like we had seen at the nursing home so we decided we were just going to drink it. LeAnn had a sip and spit it out and I didn't know why. She told me to taste it and so I did. Turns out we put salt in it instead of sugar. The funny part was before we put it in LeAnn said she was going to laugh if it was salt.... Well of course it was salt so we laughed a lot. We decided that we wanted to try it again so we made sure to taste the sugar first to make sure it was. Yes we found the real sugar and made the ice cream. It tasted pretty good.

Tonight we are off to our third night of VBS. After we will be having a little devotion/meeting with our teen helpers. And yesterday I found out that I am staying just 9 miles from my roommate next year so she is going to come see me for a little bit. We aren't quite sure what is planned for us tomorrow, but I am sure we will find out sometime tonight.

~ "Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples." - Psalm 96:1-3

Something different

I enjoyed my break hanging out with my family and seeing friends. It was weird though not having a lot of people around like what I have been used to at camp. My family enjoyed a couple nights of fireworks, a night of mini golf and then a day at the zoo. After the I enjoyed a meal at Pizza Kitchen with my family then headed back to camp. Campers arrived on Sunday afternoon. This is the first full week for the typical campers. I helped in the kitchen preparing supper, feeding the kids and cleaning the dishes after the meal. Then I went out to play Eagle's Eggs with everyone else. The game was crazier than it has been because there was so many people. Then we had campfire where Dan had a good opening message.

On Monday I helped Dan do a little maintenance work in the morning. Rachel B. had a good chapel message about being thankful to be alive. Then as I mentioned in the title I did something different than what I have been doing at camp. This week I headed off with LeAnn and Zach to help with a VBS. There were two VBS that were going on this week so we needed two teams instead of just the one. I volunteered to go and see what this experience would be like. We met the pastor and our host family before VBS started. I am teaching the 5th and 6th graders this week. We got to know the kids a little and had an opening before we set in to do the various activities. Then we had a closing and headed back to our host families house. 

This morning we headed to the Lutheran school in Hampton to help the principal/1st and 2nd grade teacher with some things she needed done. Zach helped her clean up the bushes/trees around the front of the school. LeAnn and I were inside her room making copies, cleaning, organizing and doing many other things for her. This was our first mission project. Tonight we will be doing our 2nd day of VBS and tomorrow we will start our second mission project and that will be at a few nursing homes. We aren't exactly sure what we are doing yet, but we will find out later. 

~ "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" - Matthew 19:14

Last Mini Camp Before Break

On Sunday afternoon the last mini camp before our break for the 4th of July started. The campers showed up and we hung out in our room before we headed off to eat supper. I had 2 JS, Amanda and Bailey, for the week. We stayed in the same cabin as Rachel A. and her campers and JS. There was a total of 10 of us so we just hung out together and got to know everyone since we were all staying in the same cabin. When they got there everyone made a little poster with their name on it to hang by their beds and then we got to playing get to know you games. Rachel had a few games that we did to say everyone's name a lot so we could get the names and faces in our brains so we knew who was who. Then we did a game where you are in a circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle says a truth about them and whoever else that is true for has to go into the middle and try to find a spot around the edge. Whoever doesn't get to a spot around the edge stays in the middle. And then you repeat for however long you wish. This is a fun game because you get to see who has things in common with you. Then we headed to supper and then to our first night game. We played Eagle's Eggs again. It was pretty hot out, but I still enjoyed playing the game. Then we headed off to campfire where we enjoyed music and a great opening message from LeAnn. After campfire we went back to our cabin and had candle power time and talked some before bed. It was fun and we shared a lot of laughs.

Rachel A. and my cabins

Monday was the only full day for the mini camp. I woke up early to go run a little bit with Amanda. It was kind of difficult because of all the hills and I hadn't truly just went on a run for awhile, but I enjoyed it. Then we had breakfast and off to Chapel where we heard another great message by Leann. For YPI I was in charge of basketball and Courtney, a JS, helped me out. The kids shot around for a little while then we had them play 4-on-4 for a little while so each team could have a sub. Then Courtney and I decided we wanted to play so we joined and played 5-on-5 with a sub. The kids seemed to enjoy it even though it was hot out. We had lunch and a nap before we went to snack time. Then after snack time we headed down to waterfront. I hung out with the kids while swimming and went down the waterslide a few times. Then we went to supper before we headed to night games. We played Capture the Flag in the woods. It is a little different than what you are probably thinking of as Capture the Flag, but most rules are still the same. Then we headed as a group to the beach to have our campfire. Kristin gave a great message about being alive. Then we had smores and they were delicious. Then a short candle power time before bed.

Today we slept in a little bit before we headed up to breakfast. We had a good breakfast and then hung out playing the card game Mafia. It was pretty fun. We then had our closing chapel with the group where Dan gave a good message to the group. Then we had a little down time before lunch where the girls packed up their belongings. We finished off with a group picture and a meal with some of the family members of the campers that came to pick them up. After the campers left the counselors did some cleaning of the main lodge and the cabins and then we had a short meeting. Then most of the counselors were headed on the road for varies destinations for our short break. I am home and headed out with my family to see some fireworks! :)

~ "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1