Preparation for camp! There was so much to do and so little time! But, when I look back to even cleaning and preparing, I get excited because God began working in our hearts (especially mine), even then. Most of the staff were working or studying prior to camp, so we didn't have much time to prepare together, but in the little time that we did have, much was accomplished!
On Friday, we did a whole lot of cleaning. On Saturday, Mom and I bought groceries for approx. 60 people for 5 days! That's a whole lot of food!! While we were shopping, my brothers were competing in a wakeboarding competition, where Joshua got 2nd place in beginners! Yay! Unfortunately, I did not get to see him win on Sunday, because I was with the other staff, cleaning and putting together bunk-beds for camp. Most of the staff arrived throughout the day on Sunday and helped with the rest of the cleaning. Sunday night, I briefed the staff on how the week was going to look like. Things were seeming to be going well so far!
On Friday, we did a whole lot of cleaning. On Saturday, Mom and I bought groceries for approx. 60 people for 5 days! That's a whole lot of food!! While we were shopping, my brothers were competing in a wakeboarding competition, where Joshua got 2nd place in beginners! Yay! Unfortunately, I did not get to see him win on Sunday, because I was with the other staff, cleaning and putting together bunk-beds for camp. Most of the staff arrived throughout the day on Sunday and helped with the rest of the cleaning. Sunday night, I briefed the staff on how the week was going to look like. Things were seeming to be going well so far!
Monday - Day 1 of Camp!
On Monday, the last few staff arrived and helped finish up most everything that was left to be done. Kids would be arriving at the Project at 3 PM but the transportation could only pick them up at 4. Two staff went there to wait with them. At 2:30, Mom and I left to Aquiraz to pick up the 160 loaves of fresh bread we'd ordered for breakfast for the first two days. We stopped at the project and picked up some of the kid's heavier suitcases and then left to pick up the ice cream in Eusebio. On our way to Eusebio we stopped at the base (since it is in between Aquiraz and Eusebio) to drop off the bread and some other things we'd picked up. When my mom started up the car again to go get the ice cream... nothing. Just a few minutes ago, I had been telling my mom that we were way ahead of time and how happy I was because of that! And now... well, all we could do was wait and pray.
So here we are, stuck in the middle of the highway in the blazing hot sun (it was a particularly hot day) and I have so much to do still! It took about 20 to 30 minutes to fix the car and we went to pick up the ice cream. The car did die as we began our drive back home (that is, it died as we were driving, literally) but my dad got it to start back up before coming to a complete stop. Not long after I got back, the kids arrived!
Everyone was so excited! But, like I'd said in my last post, when they realized that they were in rooms with other kids that they barely knew and maybe didn't even like... poof! There went all of the joy and excitement for a few! They begged me to let them change rooms but I didn't. I did spread them out for a reason, you know.
After dinner, we opened up the camp with some worship time (which was really good!) and after that we played a few games. To end, we discussed the schedule, rules and the theme of the camp: Restoration and Renewal. We got the scripture Isaiah 61 for the camp. The whole chapter is amazing but here is an excerpt (Is 61:1-4) It's amazing now to read this scripture and see just how true it was for us in this time.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Some kids had been wondering just how long they were going to last there with a tight schedule, work duties, class and sleeping in rooms with people they didn't like (plus, two girls had been fighting before they even got there). So far, things were going well, but not so well at the same time. I kept asking God to 'help me out here' because I honestly had no idea how we were going to deal with the conflicts. With all of this stuff on my mind, I had never thought to discuss what to do in case of conflicts between other students. But before the night ended, one of the girls (that had been fighting) told me that the other had come to her and asked for forgiveness. This was just the beginning of The School of Renewal & Restoration.
So here we are, stuck in the middle of the highway in the blazing hot sun (it was a particularly hot day) and I have so much to do still! It took about 20 to 30 minutes to fix the car and we went to pick up the ice cream. The car did die as we began our drive back home (that is, it died as we were driving, literally) but my dad got it to start back up before coming to a complete stop. Not long after I got back, the kids arrived!
Everyone was so excited! But, like I'd said in my last post, when they realized that they were in rooms with other kids that they barely knew and maybe didn't even like... poof! There went all of the joy and excitement for a few! They begged me to let them change rooms but I didn't. I did spread them out for a reason, you know.
After dinner, we opened up the camp with some worship time (which was really good!) and after that we played a few games. To end, we discussed the schedule, rules and the theme of the camp: Restoration and Renewal. We got the scripture Isaiah 61 for the camp. The whole chapter is amazing but here is an excerpt (Is 61:1-4) It's amazing now to read this scripture and see just how true it was for us in this time.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Some kids had been wondering just how long they were going to last there with a tight schedule, work duties, class and sleeping in rooms with people they didn't like (plus, two girls had been fighting before they even got there). So far, things were going well, but not so well at the same time. I kept asking God to 'help me out here' because I honestly had no idea how we were going to deal with the conflicts. With all of this stuff on my mind, I had never thought to discuss what to do in case of conflicts between other students. But before the night ended, one of the girls (that had been fighting) told me that the other had come to her and asked for forgiveness. This was just the beginning of The School of Renewal & Restoration.
