I'm waiting for my laundry to get done so I can go to bed. Perfect time to pre-Santa Cruz blog.
I've spent the last 3 days at Camp War Eagle (and still have 2 more days there) and then I leave two days later for Santa Cruz. Here's the deal. When I was a camper in '07 I came back home with a completely new perspective. I started a relationship with the Lord. It was incredible and life-changing. So I feel like a part of me was still at camp. So I went back as a L.I.T. and that was a blast. I got to be on the inside of things and really appreciate the "magic" of camp. It made me super excited to be a counselor. So last year, I finally got the opportunity. It was by far the best and most challenging summer of my life. I met some amazing people and built some great and lasting friendships. I was stretched in every way possible. I learned how to be independent, a role model and leader, and how to teach younger girls about how to have a relationship with Christ. I loved every minute of it (well, most every minute haha) and I couldn't wait to do it all again this summer.
After Winter Conference, the Lord put Summer Projects on my heart. I thought it was just a little thing and I still expected to be going back to camp. Then after a lot of prayer, I finally told my best friend, "I think I'm supposed to go on a Project this summer." She told me that her and our small group leader had been praying for me about that exact thing. They both thought I should go on one too. I felt such a peace about it. I knew I'd miss camp a little but I was going where the Lord wanted me to go, and I knew that. So I got accepted to Santa Cruz (a 10 week project), raised my support, and then a few weeks ago, I got an email from camp saying that even though I wasn't working this summer, that I could work before the campers get there on the S.W.A.T. team (basically doing maintenance work). It was a week before Santa Cruz. I knew it'd be cutting it close but I wanted to go back to camp, even if it was just for a week. So I said yes.
I got to the camp gates and immediately felt this unexplainable joy. I saw a few returning counselors and felt right at home. This is why I came back. So, I'm on S.W.A.T. with a few counselors from last year. The work is tough stuff. We always make it fun though. It's really true that if you have a good attitude it's a lot easier to get stuff done. Over the past 3 days, a lot of people have asked me why I'm only here for the week. So I explain. I've gotten a lot of sad faces and thinking about it more and more is making me sad. I'm already home, yet I'm leaving in 2 days. I started feeling homesick yesterday and now that I'm home for the night I realized that I'm not even my house homesick, I'm already camp homesick. I really am excited to go to Santa Cruz, but I KNOW what camp is like and i KNOW i love it already. So it's kinda tough. But, I talked to my best friend tonight and it changed my thought process. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone, which is what we're called to do, and what I've been praying about since I got accepted. I'm doing what He is asking me to do and I'm doing it for His glory. I'm stepping out in faith and there's no way I could possibly come home the same.
I know I'm probably making it sound like I'm going somewhere awful and hard, and I don't mean for it to. I'm really blessed to be totally funded to go on this amazing trip, and...it's California! Beach, sun, fun, Jesus. It's going to be amazing! I'm so thankful for all of the support I've received and I really can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me and the rest of the team. To the 2011 CWE counselors - You are the lucky chosen ones who get paid to play this summer :). You're gonna have the time of your life and if you want, it can even change you and bring you closer to the Lord and grow you in your walk with Him. You're also going to be looked up to every minute of every day, so don't take that lightly. I hope that you make the most of this summer and remember why you are there. So, build amazing relationships with your co's and your kiddo's and most importantly, be F.I.T. (If you don't know what that means, you'll soon learn). I love you guys and I'm praying for you all this summer and I hope you'll be praying for me too.
To my Santa Cruz (future) best friends: I can't wait to meet all of you and "get this party started!" I'm praying for our trip and that we can also keep in mind why we are there. I don't want this to turn into a vacation. I'm not saying I don't want to have fun. I do want to have fun. But I don't want to forget my purpose, and being in California (a place I've never been) will make it easy to lose sight. I'm praying against that and I hope you will too. I love you guys already and I'll see you in 4 days!
ALL FOR HIS GLORY!
P.S. OSAGE SUMMER 2011! "Blue is cool and that's the rule! I'd rather be dead than red!"
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