Return

I know its a long way from summer. But I cannot get my mind off of Mt. Hermon. There are so many things reminding me about it. Its crazy. Now, don't think that I am not 100% here at PLNU or think that I am not content being here. I am very happy at the moment cruising through school and finishing the things that God has assigned me with here. I've been investing a lot of my time in my school work and the hard work has been worth my while. I've been content where God has me at the moment.

After the end of the day, my heart longs to serve. That is the whole essence of me. I was created to serve. I've been thinking about my kids a lot. Wondering if they even took anything out of last summer. Wondering if the kids who needed extra love are safe. I'm sure they are. We have an amazing Father. I send a short prayer there way whenever they come into my head.

Its funny how much the last summer really changed my life. I have become so much more confident in my capabilities and gifts that God has blessed me with. Its really helped me get through the challenges I have faced here at Point Loma this year. I have had to make the decision of whether or not I will return to Mt. Hermon for the summer of 2012.

Well, I can happily say that the pros far out way the cons. I have decided to put my future plans in Christ's hands. I trust that He will take my plans and make everything work out. In the mean time, this servant needs to love. God has given me this gift. I need and want to use it to further His kingdom....even if it means 17 units for the rest of college. Hey, if I can do what I did last summer, I can definitely pull through school with God's strength. He never fails to give us strength. I'm pretty sure that He has given me this desire to return for a reason. I am determined to go back to Mt. Hermon, put my 'Kricket' name tag back on and love recklessly. I want to be open to what God has for me.

His work will never cease until He returns. I want to love kids because Christ has so greatly loved me.

Mt. Hermon 2012. Kricket is coming back with full armor of God on and a heart full of love.

"We must go live to feed the hungry/Stand beside the broken/We must go/Stepping forward keep us from just singing/Move us into action/We must go."

Life After the Herm

I know its only been a couple of days since I left Mount Hermon, but I've already seen a major difference in my life. I am fully confident that God used me this summer and that He was also preparing my heart for what was to come for this next year. I've been hit with some heavy news since being home. At first, I was scared, confused and frustrated. Why does the world like to hit you so hard after you've just had an amazing summer serving God, seeing Him work and falling in love with Him harder than the first time? This world we live in is not fair. Its broken and its wandered away from the God that gives life and gives it freely and generously. This entry is not meant to vent on how awful and scary this situation is. Instead, I have a full confidence and a weird little faith that I cannot explain in God. I have faith that everything is going to be ok and He is going to take care of it. I was sitting with my friend and told her, "Jesus says that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed that we can move mountains. This is just another mountain that we will cross over together." Its gonna be a hard year for her, but I reassured her that I will be there to walk beside her and when I can't do anything, I know that Christ will hold her up and carry her.

This is an entry about hope. The hope we have in our Savior. That He is in control. That His work doesn't stop and continues on beyond Mount Hermon. That He has built me up more and placed a new confidence in me. That I can come to Him with any request and He promises to listen and answer. Our God is a God who is very mighty to save. He's gonna pull through in this one. I can just feel it.

If there's anything I've learned this summer, its that when we allow God to take hold of our lives and reign within us, He does wonderful things. When we allow Him to take the reigns, it is then that we see the full majesty and wonders of Christ. And what great love He has for us.

Take heart, brothers and sisters....He has overcome the world.

Why I Work at Camp

The End: Blessed...What More Can I Say?

I am currently lounging in a fluffy, soft, clean queen sized bed at a hotel in Avila Beach. The parentals picked me up today and decided to sweep me away to a cute luxurious hotel by the beach. Amazing? Yes. Even though I am sick, the unexpected surprise hotel room is so wonderful. I decided to soak my cares away with a nice bubble bath complete with candles, relaxing music and a coke. Pure Bliss.

The final days up at Mount Hermon were nothing short of amazing. Although I hated to end on a sick note...(I missed work the last Tuesday and Wednesday morning session). I had a horrible cold and then I think I got a 12 hour bug where I was throwing up until the wee hours of the morning. I know....cute, right? Anyways, Chinese family camp had to be the hardest thing ever. Night session was super long. About 5 hours per night with the kids to be exact. Melt downs, tantrums and the water works. But hey...it was a crazy fun adventure. We got to work with Amp's older brother, Rooster, Boonis' older sister Coca-Cola and Cosby and Chewy from Redwood. It was great having new people with us, but I missed Rolo, Whinny, Toaster, Frogger, Hooligan and Avalanche...It was like missing a chunk of our family.

The last couple of days literally consisted of us going crazy. Heidi shot me in the butt with an airsoft gun followed by Rafiki falling to the floor in laughter while he also got shot in the leg, Mowgli and I ran and hid in the skit closet where we thought we'd be safe, but Chewy decides to move a chair in front of the closet and sits on it...we couldn't get out for probably 10 minutes. It was great. The next day my staff thought it would be funny to try to stuff me in our kitchen freezer. I was hesitant at first, but then I was all for it....I didn't fit.

Good-byes today were tough. I've literally spent every waking moment with these people. Its hard to believe that we are parting ways. I am so thankful for these new and wonderful friends I have in my life. At the same time, I didn't take it as a good-bye...its more like a 'see you later' kind of deal. I am currently having a hard time processing this summer still...so much has happened in such a short amount of time. The life lessons I have pulled out of this summer will last me for a lifetime. I've learned what it means to be a servant of God. To offer your body up as a living sacrifice. To step out of your comfort zone. To love recklessly even when kids get difficult. I've experienced Jesus in a whole new way this summer and I've seen the Holy Spirit move through the lives of my campers and staff.

As of now...I'm gonna rest. I can't believe its done. I will be back someday though. I have a feeling Jesus is going to call me up there again....

I'll write more later...Night ya'll!

Week 9: Let Him Live Through You

I am currently lounging on a chair that is nestled in a little corner on the porch of Toaster's house. Her porch overlooks the mountains. Redwood trees as far as the eye can see. Its stunning. I am going into my last few days up here at Mt. Hermon. I am here till the 17th for Chinese Family Camp Week. Looking back on this last week of regular family camp is bittersweet. I faced many challenges with myself this week. I was tired. Just drained. With my good friend Avalanche gone and Hooligan soon to leave on the coming Friday, I wondered how this week was going to go.

The first day of camp was ok. I was exhausted trying to put a smile on for the kids during boats. I even kissed a banana slug along the trails to get my kids excited for the week...don't ask me why I thought that that would get them pumped...but ya know...it does work for the kids. After program, I was walking over to the Dining Hall for lunch when out of no where, I felt extremely sick. I pretty much sprinted back to my room where I thought I was going to throw up. It was so weird since I rarely ever get sick. The rest of the day was fine, but I was still plagued with fatigue.

A couple of days later, I had to do memory verse for the kids. It lasts for about 10 minutes so that the people in Bible Study Skit can get ready. As I was sitting in the back waiting to go on, I prayed. I needed to. I literally no longer had the strength to go on. I came to Jesus kneeling face down at His thrown begging Him to give me strength. I realized I didn't have to beg because our God is a generous God and is willing to bless His children when they are in need. Especially when they are trying to further His kingdom. The rest of the week I felt God move in my heart and speak through me at Bible Studies. I was in awe at the words coming out of my mouth. They were sure definitely not mine. At all. I was learning from the things coming out of my own mouth. As the Holy Spirit was talking through me, I observed my girls. I could tell God was stirring things up in their innocent hearts. One of my girls was moved to tears...which moved me to tears. The words of God are just so beautiful at times that you just can't help but cry in awe to the Mighty God.

When you pray a prayer for strength and go humbly to the thrown of God, you can be sure that He will answer and help you. You just got to let him live through you.

Week 8: Restless and Bitter-Sweet-Ness

Week 8 was a week I will surely remember for the rest of my life. Sadly, I took no pictures of my 1st and 2nd graders this week...I'm bummed, but I was just so busy, I just forgot on Friday. However, I feel that this week was not only about the kids, but about my staff. We had some wonderful bonding time this week. Its hard to believe how much time we finely found to spend together. I'll start with Girls' Appreciation night.

We held a boys appreciation night a week prior. It was filled with nachos, root beer floats, candy, smang jugs (inside joke), affirmation, airsofting the girl counselors, back massages and the A*Team at Rafiki's house. It was a wonderful night. The boys threw us one too that I will surely remember forever. We had celebration rotation theme. There were 4 stations: Spike and Hooligan mixed us drinks (complete with them only wearing aprons, pants and funny chef hats...it was hilarious.), Boonis, Amp and Ollie did our nails and gave us back rubs at the next station (the nails weren't salon style...but its the thought that counts and I LOVED). Frogger and Rafiki "read our palms" while giving us hand massages and finally Breck and Avalanche sang us love songs. The night continued on at Rafiki's house where the boys actually made us dessert. Then they took us outside under the stars where each guy chose one girl to write a letter too and to affirm them. It was the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me. We then danced the night away under the stars. My dear friend Avalanche affirmed me and wrote me the sweetest letter I've ever received from a guy friend. And I mean that full heartedly. His letter moved me to tears. It seriously meant the world to me.
The next night was staffirmation night/Ollie's 20th birthday where as a group, we gathered at Joe and Heidi's house. It was a night filled with love and appreciation for everyone.

And yesterday was probably the hardest/funnest day ever up here. The night prior we did a day camp sleepover where we all watched Zoolander at day camp and fell asleep. The next day I got up and did the Redwood Canopy tour with Christian, her family and Rachel (my roomie). We then ate a wonderful brunch at Caf Brazil. Once I got back, I made yummy cream puffs with Toaster and Avalanche, went shopping with them, Rolo and Mowgli, then got ready for staff banquet where the theme was Cubano at Mt. Hermono. There was dancing, food and wonderful memories of the summer. At 10:45 we headed up to Rafiki's house to watch Braveheart. Yeah...I know....crazy since it was a 3 hour movie....it ended at 2:15. It was so funny seeing how into it Amp and some of the other boys were. It was worth it.

Waking up this morning was bittersweet. I had the best breakfast at Toaster's house, but it was the final good-bye to Avalanche. Out of all the guy counselors here, I felt the closest to him. Saying good-bye was super hard and I don't know if or when I'll ever see him again...he had been a huge encouragement to me this whole summer and his passion for the LORD I will never forget. I miss him dearly already.

To sum up this week, I'd say it was a restless week because we were up late all week. God has been moving still amidst the hours of the night. Late nights, fun talks and quality time. Week 8 was a blast. Yet so bittersweet.

Week 7: Why I'm Here

At the beginning of the summer...I couldn't really find out why I've been called up here. I mean, sure, I felt the Spirit's calling and had that weird desire that I couldn't explain inside my heart, but I really had no exact reason WHY He was calling me up to Mount Hermon. To serve, yes...but why? For who? I learned that this week.

Week 7 brought some challenges. Her name being (I'll just use a fake name) 'Squirt'. This little 'Squirt' was only going into third grade, but she was a handful. I realized this the first night when the little squirt held onto my leg all through lawn chants, climbed on top of my back and constantly had her hands on my face. The first thing I thought of her, "Oh God...why did you put her in MY group. I don't want to have a psycho child." Squirt would be singing and having fun on lawn chants and then the next minute she would stomp off to the back behind everyone else. A frown on her face and her arms crossed. I would go and check on her and she would constantly complain, "I'm too tired...and my arm hurts. No wait! My leg hurts. NO WAIT! Its really my hand." I would roll my eyes and urge her to join the other kids who were standing in their lines. Throughout the week, she would squirm in Bible Study. Cling all over the other counselors. The tiniest third grade girl with the personality fit for a diva. She would bring up death a lot in prayer requests. It was strange. Then I realized that she had just lost someone she loved. She talked about life at home. Her parents were divorced. She didn't miss being at home. My heart went out to this little girl. Throughout the course of the week, I felt a strange connection with her. I couldn't explain it, but I knew it was the Holy Spirit drawing me to this little hyper active child. She craved attention probably because she didn't get much of it at home. I knew that when she would act up it would be because she was either tired or had something on her mind. I would talk her out of it and encourage her. The last night was at camp fire and she was off by herself. I went up to her and asked her what was wrong. "My stomach hurts really bad!" she cried. I knew it didn't. She over reacts at times. I had her come sit in my lap while a man on his guitar played 'Come Thou Fount'. She looked around during campfire. "Mom forgot about me!" she would say. I had to reassure her that she didn't and that we had everything under control. Squirt is a funny girl...it was kind of gross when she would fart in my lap, look up at me with a huge toothless grin and say, "HAHAHA KRICKET! I just farted in your lap..." I did some fake laughing, "Yaaa you sure did!". When campfire was over I stood holding her looking around for her parents. They weren't there. "I told you they forgot!" She was obviously terribly upset. My boss and I headed up with her to Day Camp to call her folks when her mom came down the hill, "Hey Squirt! Look I went to the fountain and got you food!" Not telling her this before going to Day Camp. Knowing the parents were supposed to pick up there kids...and it was already 9:30. The last time I saw her, she stomped away with her mom in tow asking 'What's wrong?'.

I know why I'm here. Kids like Squirt...like Dustin...like a lot of other children. Coming from broken homes...coming from places where they feel like no one listens or knows they exist. They come to a safe place like Day Camp to have fun for a week. I have always felt like I had a lot of love to offer....I felt like a lot of people didn't respond to it. People of my past. My heart carries a lot of burdens. Doubt, fear and brokenness. God responded. He knew that my heart would be perfect for this job. He also knew I had a lot of love to give. So He called me here. Where the love I pour out is accepted. Is encouraged. Is reciprocated. I give love and God gives it right back through the little kids I interact with. He sees and knows my heart. He calls me beautiful. He wanted to use it. He WANTED to use it....let that sink in. I am wanted by the creator of the heavens and the earth. He doesn't need me. He WANTS me.

I have fallen in love with God even more this summer. Being a camp counselor was my calling. He knew I'd be perfect for these kids. I am so blessed. So humbled....and so in awe of the majesty and great wonders of this King that I serve. My heart is overflowing. I want it to be contagious.