Day 21 Friday

It was an early morning on Friday. We have to do luggage runs on friday mornings. So we did those for a while and then at 7 had quiet time but I ended up helping with breakfast and the kitchen. Then crew had breakfast. After breakfast we went down to the parking lot, me and Collin were in charge of parking cars. That was actually pretty boring. After that I went and worked like crazy at three sink till lunch. We had a crew counselor debrief after lunch. It was so nice to spend some time together as a crew staff and it was helpful to hear things that had been happening that week. I felt like I got a much better understanding of some kids because of our discussion. After that we had time to chill with kids till dinner.

During free time one camper (David) hurt his knee playing dodgeball (turns out it was a bone bruise) But that was a cool opportunity to have the other campers circle up and pray for him. Thne later kyle, Chris, and me were waiting with him and we prayed for him.

We had a very nice staff dinner on Friday. Kelsey and I talked a lot before and after dinner. One time when we were talking Mark(Camp director) looked over and gave us a funny look. Essentially it was the "you two are flirting" look. That was interesting. Then I said something to him about it later and he said "hey there are worse things, and then he said I like it". LOL ridiculous.

It is getting harder and harder to repress my feelings. I'm feeling more and more strongly. I think this could be serious. I just feel like I'm not a boy anymore and I'm even more prepared to leave behind things that need to be left behind. It is very weird for me because I've started to realize that I really didn't believe God had someone for me. i mean I always thought I would get married but I think I believed it wouldn't be for a long time. I think part of that is because of past relationships as well as not really meeting anyone over four years of college. I don't think that really explained it but maybe it did. Friday night after dinner I had bible study. I'm leading a group of four guys. I was very nervous about leading a bible study but it went so well. I felt like I connected with the guys. We had smores and sat around a fire. I'm so excited to meet individually with these guys.

Day 20! June 10th

Thursday was a good day. It was basically a day off. I had laundry duty but we don't do laundry the first week, so I asked Hanley if he would like me to do anything and he had nothing for me to do. After breakfast Hanley, Chris, Kyle, and I went out to the man cave to work (Chris and Kyle and the day off).

We worked for like two hours then had lunch. After lunch we hung around and helped out with some stuff then we went on the crew camper horse ride. The ride was a lot of fun Chris, Hanley, and I stayed in the back so we would slow down some times and then gallop to catch up. When the ride was over Alex (The horse director) took the three of us out for another short ride and we went flying. It was amazing we galloped a lot. The only down side is I am really sore from yesterday. Kelsey got back yesterday. I'm hoping to get some time with her this weekend (I have off from Friday at ten to Saturday at seven) But I'm also planning on going to Denver to watch the world cup with Fjelstad and Mergens.

Day 19 June 9

Well journaling every day with an agenda of documenting the day before is not as insightful as I thought it would be. I feel like it is pretty dry on emotion. So today I was sitting on a couch in the lower I and was fighting off sleep so I decided to grab a cup of coffee and journal. I am a counselor for PM service crew today. So after breakfast we had devos ad then free time from 8-11:30.

I just got done talking with Hanley, we talked about potentially switching the counselors to being am, pm, or utility for a week at a time. I would love to go to AM permanently (Which we also talked about) So hopefully that happens. I am currently the role of utility (AKA I switch every day).

Well i have been at camp for 18 days now. I can't decide if that seems like a long time or short time. Kids have been here for three days, I feel like we are getting into a groove. We have terrible coffee here, I'm thinking about it right now because I'm sipping on it :/ The lower I is so much better now than when I was on crew. They have shelves and more couches than we had. Also they have slightly less crappy coffee. The kids have been good, my works crews have been awesome There are a few kids that are just punks. I have a guy in my tent who has a comment about everything and won't shut up at night. Him and another kid are already getting on each others nerves.

Day 18 June 8th

Tuesday was my first day of actually working with the kids. I was pretty nervous going in. It didn't help that Derek had said he had a lot of trouble with the am group the day before. But it turned out to be awesome. Most of the hiccups we had were my fault, but even those didn't slow us down and we got done way early in the morning we even got a bunch of the once a week jobs done. They all talked about how it was so much better than Monday, that felt good to hear. During our debrief I praised them but also tried to challenge them to reach for excellence.

It was also really cool because I got a chance to talk to peter about really accepting criticism and changing with it. because he was so helpful for me and Derek said he had been fighting them on a lot of things (Peter is a third year crew camper) so that was a sweet opportunity to really encourage. Other then that yesterday was good and I had fours hours of free time that I just hung out at the lower I for. Then our activity last night was Zots which was way fun. On the way to the cabins me and Derek had a good talk, we have not had much time around each other since kids came so that was good.

Day 17 Monday

This morning I'm sharing a table with Kelsey as we both journal/devo/share coffee(she didn't make any and Derek gave me a cup. French press of course) And occasionally talk. Today is my day off but I won't have much of a day off. I'm going to try and get at least an hour of bible study in I'm also going to meet with Mark to talk about baptism so I should probably study it a little today.

Yesterday was my day off. But because it is the first week we have to stay at camp. So i got up early had some QT, went to breakfast and tghen decided to go back to bed. When i woke up two hours later. I went to the dinning hall and wotked on updating my blog. then i went to lunch and after lunch me and Hanley hungoug. We went and worked on the man cave, hung out in the A-Frame and then went back to work on the man cave. We hung out for like five hours and it was really good.

Well I need to get some time in the word.

Day 16 June 6th (I know my dates were off, but this is right)

Yesterday was the first day of camp. We started the morning with shaunda and jack talking aobut bible study. Then we met with our bible studies. After that we followed tradition and had chapel out at the point. They have the first chapel every summer at the point. I got torched by the sun. amazing what a few thousand feet closer to the sun will do to you. After chapel we got commissioned, then had brunch. (Kira was here, Rez counselor last summer). It was really good to see her.

At 1:00 the gates opened and kids flooded in. Camp will never be the same. As much as we want them it is hard to adjust from two weeks of staff training. God, I am really nervous, nervous I won't like these kids, nervous i will feel myself pulling away. Give me a lens to see them with even a speck of the love you have for them. Father, show me three guys to request for my bible study. The rest of Sunday was taken up by luggage, moving in to the tents, games, dinner, cleanup, and a meeting.

Day 15 June 6th

Saturday was my official two week mark of waking up at camp. Wow that is weird. What I love about being up here is the feel of such reliance on God and just how obvious it is that life is so much more joyful and deep when you are committed to walking hand in hand with God and serving him. I wouldn't trade these life experiences and relationships for any amount of money or prestigious internship (Thank you Father for providing me with an internship) Saturday was a work day.

Andrew Brown shared a great message about stopping and the sabbath. Then we worked..... lol.

(interesting strategy Eagle Lake). I lead a group of counselors of which Cole, Kelsey, and Broderick were part. At times it was tough keeping the four guys on task but we got a lot of work done. I worked closely with Kelsey for most of the day, that was good and also tough. It is just difficult for me to keep my feelings of that of a friend as well as keeping myself from hoping for more than that. I know the obstacles would be numerous but that doesn't concern me. I ate dinner with Hanley, katilyn, and Kelsey. We had a blast, so much joking and laughing I didn't' even really help clean after dinner we just kept hanging out. one of the staff from the glen spoke after dinner about the relational covenant. then we had a short crew meeting to gather and pray for kids.

Thank you for the heart of this crew staff Father we were/are so excited for kids. Please continue to bless our relationships and bind our hearts together lord. Give me extra love for these kids/ We spent some time after our meeting planning our tent bonding. The dudes are going to have a highland game competition at some point. We are planning on buying fabric for kilts (?).

Then we hit the hay for a good night rest. Eight hours for the first time in a while.