BIG

Week 6 is done and I can't help but feel sad about it. I had the BEST group of 5th and 6th graders!

Going into the week, I was so nervous. My boss had told us that this week was going to be huge. Almost as big as JEMS week without 6 extra counselors from Redwood helping us out. She also told me that Otter and I were going to be the only 5th and 6th grade girl counselors that week. Which meant 32 girls and our Bible studies would consist of 16 girls we'd be responsible for. Pressurrrrrrrrre!!!

When I got the girls who were going to be in my group, I was so nervous. Of course I wanted them to like me. I felt that my first Bible Study was terrible because I was so nervous talking to these girls. I was also stressed out because I had 2 girls who were deathly allergic to peanuts as well as other things and they needed me to carry around their epi pen and stuff. I also wanted each and every single girl to feel connected. I struggled with names on the first day which I HATE because I believe there is so much in a name and its super important to address your campers by name so that they feel like they are known and loved.

Monday night we had Treasure Hunt which means we run all over Conference Center looking for clues to a treasure. Unfortunately, within the first 5 minutes, one of my girl's fell and busted open her knee. I had to send Otter with her back to Day Camp and I was left alone to lead 31 girls on this treasure hunt. Not to mention we had forgotten our walkie talkie...and we had about 4 girls who were extra slow due to injuries. One of our clues also got stuck behind a sign on a brick wall and I had to improvise by taking out tweezers from our med pack and getting it. I thought we wouldn't finish on time, but we did! I made it back on time for Theme Skit as well where I played a character that I made up called 'Raptor Randall'...its a long story...I'll save that for another time.

The next day, Otter and I were feeling really down and overwhelmed...thinking that we weren't connecting to our girls. Spike (one of our team leaders/close friends) pulled us aside and specifically prayed for our group of girls. It meant so much to me and I felt so much better after he did that.
That day, our Bible Studies went extremely well and I felt like I had connected with most of my girls. 


God was so good this week. I literally felt that once I surrendered to Him, He literally just took over my words and actions and carried me through this last week. I had the best Bible Studies this week. Even though most of the time I felt like I was preaching to these girls, they were quite responsive to everything I felt the Lord was saying to them. I didn't have to worry.


Luminaria this week went so well too. I got the chance to share with the 5th and 6th graders how camp had affected my life growing up. My girls later told me that what I had to say was inspirational. Glory to God. I can't take that credit. One thing that we asked for the 5th and 6th graders was to think about how they had changed and how God had worked in their lives that week. We asked for them to write down something on a piece of paper that they would like to surrender to God and then we'd throw it in the fire. It was really cool to see all these young people respond. SO cool.


The last day was really hard. I did not want to say goodbye to these kids that had touched my heart. I took my girls to the Fountain for some ice cream and we also got to paint their nails. They loved it! I had one of my girls Madeline tell me that I was the best camp counselor she's ever had. She also said that not only that but I was an awesome person in general and that she looked up to me. Obviously, credit goes to God....I could not have done this without Him.


The Holy Spirit really guided myself as well as my girls this week. Its a cool feeling to know that God used you in a way to help bring others closer to Him. I want to remain humble knowing that it is not me, but this all comes from Jesus who gives me strength.


I have been blessed so much this last week. I am really going to miss these campers of Week 6.





Week 7...its Dallas Week! What's going to go down this week??