2.48 The one with a late night

The last few days have been incredibly charged emotionally... The campers have been incredibly vulnerable in sharing the struggles they have and the (often horrible) things they've been through in their lives. I've given and received a lot of hugs recently and that's a pretty cool thing.

This week has been a challenge because we've had so much that is new and unknown, we often don't know what is coming up more than a meal in advance. However it has been great, the strange and new assortment of activities that have been offered this week are great and are incredibly well received by the kids. It has also been a great experience to have the kids really dig in and try to improve themselves in a host of ways this week.

Last night chapel/worship etc. all went a bit long which is fine... but one of the gals here decided to ask for a prayer request that night games get cancelled. The director this week said no, but a short time into the game God answered that prayer and dropped a lot of water on our heads. The kids retreated to the main hall and we had a lampfire (a camp lantern surrounded by rings of chairs with all other lights off) and the kids worshiped and shared testimonies until about midnight-thirty. Due to an odd sense of dedication I stayed up until curfew at about 1:30 with the kids before I crashed.

It has also come to pass that I'm driving a van-load back to casper this afternoon... due to my current tired levels I'm going to take a nap before I go but I'm really looking forward to reading lots of the books I acquired last weekend and sleeping an insane amount. (and maybe writing a bit for you peoples)

With that I'm off to take my "be-a-safe-driver" nap.

2.47 the one with joy, and pain (and a song about rain)

Tonight was a great night in almost every way. I had the opportunity to clean bathrooms with some dear friends during chapel. You might think that it's very bad of me to skip chapel and do something that I 'could' do during another time... but it was incredibly refreshing to be able to do a good job at something without constant interruption by people who need to use the facilities, It was also very reminiscent of my first summer out here and it was nice to be reminded where some of my greatest friendships began.

It is also very important to mention that this afternoon I was allowed to teach a basic horsemanship class... it was very fun to teach a group of high school kids how to saddle their own horses (with lots of supervision of course) and then watch them take ownership of their teamwork with the horses. I used a few things that I learned back at camp as a kid, and it was a welcome thing to recall that home.

This evening during chapel (the one that I missed) I am told that during the alter call there was no less than 9 kids who came forward and accepted Christ for the first time. It was a joy to see how encouraged everyone was and how it did refocus us very well on what is really going on here.

Also I recieved a text from my little sister yesterday asking me "can you believe it has been 6 months?"... and I couldn't. (to be honest I hadn't even noticed until she texted me) I don't know why it slipped my mind, but it really hit me tonight with the addition of 9 (or more) to the kingdom, I'm a bit of a cynic about alter calls... but I also couldn't help but recall something from dad's service that I hope will be true of us here at camp, but especially that I embrace it myself. I hope our new brothers and sisters embrace this quickly because it gets rough when you really get after this life.

MercyMe – Bring The Rain

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Might He be glorified In all we do here... and forevermore.

2.46 the one with a fun night game (and a list!)

A lot has happened since last I wrote... Two days is far too long to not record what has happened and unfortunately I lose too much when I stick to this frequency.

Previously in this space I mentioned my car troubles... and I sadly do not have any updates on that front.

In the last 2 days...(in no particular order)

I have felt ill... and started to fell better.

I have been on a trail ride

I have gone canoeing down a river

I have played more ice cream ultimate and won! (go staff team)

I have realized that in 3 weeks this will be over...

I have talked with friends and comrades, learned things about myself and aquired new things to ponder and examine

I have felt myself a failure

I have seen myself a success.

I have hurt for the loss of another member of our team

I have played mission impossible and been allowed to sit on top of a building and shine a spotlight at people

I have decided to end this list and go to bed.

2.45 the second post today... And the one where my car broke

Since I posted this morning we've 'started' a week of camp. Also I had the joyful experience of pulling up to a stop sign and having my car die and not start again. We're not yet sure what is causing it... Once we do it'll be subjected to the "is it worth fixing" filter.

I'm back at camp due to the charity of other staff members...and I've been told we can check or a few things on the car later this week. Annoyed only begins to capture my thoughts on the subject... If I can't get my car working I might need my mom to come get me from camp at the end... Whee.

2.44 the one with another song in it

It appears that I'm on a every other day schedule lately...

Yesterday I made a solo drive down to Cheyenne. It was quite enjoyable to make the trek and mid-drive I saw a storm front move across the road. On my left I saw clear skies and sunshine and on my right was a wall of rain and dark and hail. Once it swept over the road it was heavy enough that I had to pull over and stop for a few moments.

Finally I arrived in Cheyenne and undertook the real purpose of my drive. Barnes and noble is a great place... And I spent a bit more than I planned but I also got a nice pile of books that should keep me going until school starts. It makes me glad to have books to read again.

This morning I got up and just made it to early service on time (which is currently going on, yes I know I'm a terrible person) and at the beginning of the service we sang two songs... 10000 reasons, and great is Thy faithfulness. And thus I figured I had better post note before I forget. As I'm sure I've mentioned at least once those two songs are the ones we sang at dads funeral back in January. Great Is Thy faithfulness is also a family hymn that we've sang at anniversaries, celebrations, weddings, and funerals for my entire life. This morning I didn't even sing along...  I just closed my eyes and remembered all the times I've sang that before.

I remember my oma full of life singing that song at her husbands side at a family reunion years ago. I remember singing that song to myself when she passed away as I knew they would sing it at her funeral.

I remember talking about that hymn when my older brother was married. When I gained a sister that day it was so joyful, I remember thinking then that my brother was a blessed man, an opinion that had only been amplified over time. But more than that God was faithful to them both, and continues to be.

I remember reading that hymn when I heard news of my nephews birth. Marty is already the tangible blessing of God to our whole family. I remember his joy even in the midst of our pain in January and I know that was faithfulness too.

I clearly remember singing that song in January surrounded by sorrow and on the very edge of despair. I remember being humbled by hearing that song belted out of the mouths of my uncles, aunts, and cousins and trying to keep on my feet because I was so humbled.

I remember singing that song the weekend before camp started, with only 7 of us. As we dedicated this summer to His glory we knew that we would fall over and over, but he is faithful. And he has been.

I don't know when or what the next milestone will be... But I do know that from now until then this truth remains. Great is his faithfulness.