Training Week is HERE!

Training week is FINALLY underway!!!!!!  I absolutely adore our staff!!!!  They are so incredible!!!!  I have met so amazing people in the past two days that are going to be completely used for the glory of God this summer!!!!!  It's going to be so incredible!!!  Today, we had a tour of the campus, met the Ridgecrest staff people, had some lunchy lunch, had Bible Study training, had rec and first aid training, had dinner, split up in groups and did different tasks, met our prayer partners on staff then formed family groups, then decorated a journal for someone and presented them.  Woah slammed packed day.  That's the absolute truth.  Tomorrow holds... well I am not sure.  What I do know is that it will be great and fun filled but extremely busy!!!!!!!!

-kar

Training Week: Commence!

So it's been an eventful last couple of days.  Program Training has ended and now we are left with just our program staff here at Ridgecrest.  That will change tomorrow because our Fuge Family will be here!!!!  I am so excited to meet everyone!!!  

Monday we moved into our home sweet home for the summer!  That was exciting!  We moved some stuff around and then took a little time off and went to eat and to the baseball game in Asheville!  What great fellowship!  After that, there was a Wal-Mart run where the power went out for a brief moment.  Never a dull moment!  

Tuesday we split up into groups and did different various tasks.  I helped Erica (our Developmental Director)  get the staff office ready along with Adam (our Missions Mobilizer).  That was a lot of fun!  We cut and taped a lot of things!  It looks great though and we had fun!  After this adventure, we went on a bear hunt.  That probably wasn't the best life decision.  I was a little scared.  We were not successful in finding a bear though.  

Wednesday we helped Nanette (our Site Director) clean out and organize her supply closet for X-Fuge on mission!  We got to monogram everything with XFM and take inventory of all the stuff!  We are took the afternoon off until dinner.  We then went to dinner and got stuff ready for staff welcome tomorrow!  After that, there was a lovely trip to the Dairy King, yes that is k-i-n-g, not the ever popular, queen.  After that, there was a movie viewing party.  Currently, I am sitting with Brandon (my fabulous acting partner), Jake (our Video Producer), and Justin (our Rec Director) while browsing the web.  Tomorrow STAFF ARRIVES!!!!!!!

Thanks guys for all of your prayers!!!  Official training week starts tomorrow!  Please pray for unity for our staff.  This is SO important!!!  Also that we not lose focus and that everyday we are renewed and energized.   

Brittany Anne Steen: 
1. I miss you.
2. I am stealing your song of the day idea... I hope you don't mind. 

Song of the day: "You're Beautiful"- Phil Wickham

-kar

Program Training Weekend Day 4

Hey hey!  Here we are at Ridgecrest for the final day of Program Training.  For those of you unfamiliar for what Program Training is, I'm going to break it down.  There are 14? (I think) camp locations this summer. All of the Camp Directors, Developmental Directors, Financial Directors, Rec Directors, Program Directors, Site Directors, Video Producers, Missions Mobilizers, Actors, and Backpackers for every camp location come together for training, plus a lot of other important people that are in charge.  Everyone is training for their specific jobs this upcoming summer.  We have been doing a ton of preparation for the AM Shows at camp this summer. There is a spoken word that will be performed on Thursday night that I have received.  It is BEAUTIFUL.  I absolutely love it.  It's been great to start meeting the program staff I will be serving with, as well as individuals from other locations.  We're all in this together.  (I may or may not be singing High School Musical in my head....)   It is really exciting and really encouraging to see so many people who have a passion for students and what God is going to do this summer.  I am really exciting about meeting our family on Thursday.  I can't wait!!!!

On a side note... one of my very best friends, Christy was baptized today!!!!!  I hate I wasn't there to see it but I know it was awesome!!!!!  Love you girl!

I am starting to miss everyone back home a little, but I know that this is exactly where I am supposed to spend my summer.  There is no doubt.  It's going to be tough.  I am going to be stretched, challenged, and taken out of my comfort zone but it is going to be all worth it at the end of the summer.

The rest of the day consists of a meeting with everyone, a fun dinner with our program staff, worship, then more rehearsal.  Then that's a wrap!!!  PT weekend will be finished!  It's crazy!!!

See ya!
-kar

Program Training Weekend Day 2/3

Program Training.... what a whirlwind weekend you have been already.  It has been great to meet the program staff I will be serving with this summer!  I can't wait to meet the rest of our family!!!!  The past few days have been spent with the actors from all the camp locations this summer.  We have been constantly going over the AM show script and memorizing lines!  My acting partner in crime is fantastic!  Couldn't have asked for a better one!  Praise!  Tonight will consist of worship and then working on pieces for worship during camp this summer.  Following that there will be a nightlife!  Program training wraps up tomorrow night!  Then it's on to training week we go!  Keep us in your prayers!  They are much appreciated!  God is so good!

-kar

i am here!!!

Well!!! I am here!!!! After an hour of sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on I-26, I am at camp! I have already climbed the rec hill once, just for kicks! I am in a room with five other lovely actor ladies! We are all excited but anxious about starting blocking tonight! It should be an experience!!!! It's going to be great! I can feel it!!!! Will blog again soon!!!

-kar

Jesus, You are all I need. I'm clinging to the cross...

Well, here we are.  Less than a week out.   Only four more full days at home and I will be at camp.  It seems kind of surreal.  With each day that approaches, my eyes are opened even more to the fact that I literally will not be at home for an entire summer.   I know you are thinking that two month isn’t a long time but for me, it kind of is.  Even though I will only be about two hours away, I will be leaving people I love.  I will miss some important family events that will never happen again.  It’s kind of hit me hard when being around friends and hearing about their summer adventures and know that these upcoming months I’m going to miss out on that AND not see these people for two months.  It’s hitting me that I’m not going to be at VBS or other church activities this year.   While this is all going through my brain, I am reminded that this pales in comparison to the adventure I am fixing to embark on.  I know as soon as I get to camp, I'm not going to want to leave.  It's just the uncertainty. My little brain cannot even begin to imagine what God has in store.  He is preparing me, He is going to stretch me, and He is going to use me.  

When I had my interview for FUGE, I went to North Greenville, about half an hour away from AU.  This particular November morning, it was monsooning.  I mean seriously... I don't think it has ever rained that hard or that long in one day.  I rode with Lizzie Frye (who, thank the Lord, is working on the same team as me!)  After the interview, we were riding back to school.  We were both kind of quiet, just thinking about what just happened.  I distinctly remember this ride and as I was sitting there, I had SO many thoughts running through my brain.  I remember just praying that if this was meant to be, that God would make away for it to happen and place me where I was supposed to be this summer.  I was so eager and just wanted to be used!  I didn't want to waste my summer.  We were riding and all of a sudden the Kings of Leon song "Use Somebody"  started playing.  (yes I know this song has another meaning, but God used it to speak to me in this situation) I just wanted God to "use somebody, use somebody.  Someone like me."  That's all I wanted, was to be used by God!  So now, he's chosen to use me.  All I can say is "I'm ready now, I'm ready now!"

I'm already beginning to learn that I am not going to be able to do this by myself and that I am going to have to trust God more than ever.  Emotionally, I'm a little exhausted.  When I leave for camp, I will have gone to three funerals in three weeks.  God has showed me so much through these circumstances.  Even in the midst of that, I am thankful and overwhelmed for the outpour of love and support of my family, friends, and church family about camp this summer.  Know that it is such a blessing and SUCH an encouragement!!  I will do my best to keep you guys updated on what's going on at camp!   I'm already nervous about physically being able to handle it and just not getting worn down.  I'm in mid preparation of learning my lines.  If you guys could throw some prayers up that I learn them all, that'd be awesome!  Also some prayers that I can be content and not nervous about where I am going and what I am doing.  Finally be praying for the hearts of the teenagers we will be ministering to this summer.  That is the biggest thing.  It's what it is all about!  Pray that they will be open and receptive to what God is going to do in these weeks and that he will be preparing them now, even before they get to camp.  

Pheeeeew!

-Happy Birthday, Sara A!   Good luck on your exams!  Finish strong!!!! 

-Involved was really good tonight!  Thanks to Glenn and Patti for their dedication to this ministry!!!

-My best friend starts her internship tomorrow!  Know that I am praying for you, Brittany!  You will do awesome!

-My granddaddy's brother passed away yesterday... This hasn't been easy on him or my grandmother.  I admire them for being such strong people. 

- Mommy's little kiddos graduate on Tuesday.  They are such a cute bunch.  I love visiting their classroom and I am going to miss them deeply!  I hope they go on to do great things!

- Went on Thursday night/Friday morning to see the midnight premiere of Robin Hood with Caleb, Mikey, and KT Mid.  Basically you should go see this movie.  I only fell asleep once and it was because it was so late.  I would definitely go see it again!  Fantastic!

-So this Ke$ha girl.  I'm not feeling her name.  Like who says hmmm... I am going to be called K-E-money sign-H-A?  That Your Love is My Drug song though.... have to say it's quite catchy!

-I really hate when things are left unsaid.  It's frustrating.  SO very frustrating.  

- The Survivor season finale was on tonight.  Epic season.  The villain that was closest to a hero won!  I was still pulling for my favorite cowboy, Colby but settled for Sandra's victory.  At least that meanie poo Russell didn't take the title.  Ugh. Don't get me started on him. 

-Last night, I was right beside a cross dresser.  Cross that off my bucket list. 

- I am adding an item to my bucket list though.... "Visit the Holy Land."  This could be possible in February as my mom's cousin is taking a trip and told me I could come along.  It probably won't happen this go round but... it will!  One day!  (And when I asked my dad if  I could go, he told me that he could just sing "The Holy City"  and that would be the same thing......)

- I should probably consider getting some rest.  It's going to be a long and busy week.  

-kar

Though the Sorrow may last for the Night, His Joy comes with the Morning!

"Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love!!" Lamentations 3:32.  I've been claiming that this week!  Since I've been home the past week as been rather... heavy.  I guess that's the best word to use.  Seeing people I love and care so much about suffer and grieve is not easy, but it's so much easier when we know the individuals who have passed away are sitting at the feet of Jesus!  Revelation 4 doesn't even scratch the surface!  "Day and night they never stop saying...'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!  Who was, and is, and is to come!"

Tonight, I said goodbye to a dear, precious man, Roy Barnes.  Never in my life and never again will I meet  an individual who was like him.  He was the definition of minister.  His love for Jesus Christ, his love for people, and his love for music impacted so many lives.  He inspired me and instilled in me a love for music from the time I was a little girl in children's' choir to studying Worship Leadership preparing to do music ministry.  He had a voice as big as the sea.  Christmas will not be the same this year, as Roy Barnes will not be there to sing "Sweet Little Jesus Boy."  Man oh man.  This was my favorite part of the Christmas season.  To sit and just reflect on those while this booming BEAUTIFUL bass voice sang was incredibly special.  I remember the "old timey" car he had and one day after choir practice, he took me for a ride!  I was just a little girl but I so vividly remember sitting in that front seat with the wind whipping through my hair, all the while Mr. Barnes is just cheesing in the front seat.  I remember when we found out he had cancer and the many battles he fought, but his positive attitude was so contagious and so infectious that it was nearly impossible to become upset.  Time after time he repeated "If I get better, I'm ok and if I die, I'm ok."  He was a walking example of Philippians 1:21.  Tomorrow, we will celebrate his life and there's going to be a ton of singing!  Just they way he would like it!  I am a better person because of Roy Barnes and I know many people would say the exact same thing.


On to something a bit lighter...

- I leave for Fuge next week... and I'm pretty excited!  It's becoming more and more realistic with every day that gets closer but at the same time that means I'm becoming more and more nervous.  I'm a little nervous about leaving home because of several circumstances.  Some that are obvious and some that are not so obvious.  Philippians 4 is getting me through this one.  "Do not be anxious...." "I have learned the secret of being content in any situation..."  Christ doesn't need me, or doesn't have to use me this summer but the fact that he has called me to Fuge leads me to say "Here I am, send me."

-Never fear about cowboy boots!  My cousin, Stephanie, saved the day!  I should have known my shoe addicted cousin had not one but two pair in her closet she has never worn!

-Downloaded the entire Train album last night.  Praise.

-I've decided I'm going to write a book.  It's called "Life Lessons According to Katie."  If you are an avid tumblr follower, this is just the beginning.

- Dinner tonight with my family and the Steens was an absolute hoot.

-Likewise lunch today with Christy Catoe was a hoot but also had some nice discussion.  She lets me sort my mind out verbally and when one of my thoughts is crazy, she just gives me a look.  I love it.

- So back when I was taking exams, Mom sent me a "care package."  It consisted of a CFA giftcard and a massage and a pedicure.  Now, I am going to state that massages for females should be mandatory monthly by law.  Like if you don't get one, you should go to jail.  I'm serious.

- I hate confrontational (good and bad) conversations.  They just stress me out but alas, they must be held sooner or later.

-Missed Glee tonight... Don't tell me what happens.

-In other television news, The Survivor finale will be on before I leave for camp!  Woooot!

-Got to see Pam, Annette, Dr. Collins, Dr. Cox, and Marybeth today!   What a treat!  I miss them!

-I've decided to teach a course entitled Hymns of the Baptist Church.  Caleb is going to be the vocal demonstrator!

-Brittany, Bethany, and I are going to start a Mexican band.  Bethany has brushed up on her Zumba moves, Brittany called the Uke, and I'm going to sing.... even though I only know like two words in Spanish... hola amigo.

-My best friend starts her internship next week!  She is going to do awesome!  Go Boo Bear!

-It might be time for me to get some sleep

-k

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know"

"All my bags are packed... I'm ready to go." I sang that song yesterday morning.  Exams were FINALLY over!  After packing last minute things in my car (because the majority of my stuff was packed with the help of the great Mikey Shirley the night before) , cleaning the room, saying sad goodbyes, and being checked out by the lovely Elizabeth Frye... I was homebound!  Normally I would be very sad to leave AU and don't get me wrong, I am going to miss the amazing individuals that I have encountered along the way, but other activities are calling my name!

This year to say the least was an experience like no other.  It had it's ups and downs.  I had great days and terrible days.  I was broken and I was restored.  I had success and I made mistakes.  I had great adventures and I had just boring days.  I gained new friends but kept many old ones!   I could sit here and give you a play by play about what happened this year but in short:  I grew, I flourished, I thrived, I blossomed in this one year than I have in my entire life.  We are halfway finished my friends, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next two years!

The next couple of weeks are going to consist of seeing as many people as possible in the short amount of time that I am home and getting spiritually prepared for this summer.  In the next couple of weeks I will post a blog probably dedicated to FUGE and specific ways that you can be praying!!!  Right now, I ask for prayers that I am able to get focused about this summer and get adequate rest so I can be physically ready for what's in store!

Since I have been home, I have been rather sad.  Several individuals I know have become very very ill.  Selfishly we want them to recover but it has been said in His word that better is one day in the courts of the Lord than thousands elsewhere!  These individuals I know are ready to meet the Lord when the time comes!  Fortunately healing is in the hands of our God and out of our control.  Big prayers going up for these individuals and their families and friends in the coming days!  In 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 we are reminded that our God is the God of comfort!  What a peace and what a blessing!


In other news:

-Nearly everytime I turn on my radio, I hear Train playing likewise when I turn on my ipod I hear needtobreathe.... Caleb Story:  It is a sign.

-I had a lovely lunch with my dear friend SA yesterday!  I miss her greatly!  Likewise I had a great visit with Nathan and Ashley after leaving Wofford!  It's always nice to catch up with the Neighbors clan!!!

-I am pretty positive that Pandora has changed my life for the better.

-Hey Mom!  I got your mother's day present today!  And you didn't know about it!  Heheheh!

-Christy Catoe played the ultimate joke on SAH today!

-My heart is breaking for those in Nashville.  What a horrible, tragic situation!

- I could not have done a more terrible job packing my stuff to come home.  It was a packing fail.... Except for one box.  It was packed pretty well.

-Tony Noms were Tuesday!  It didn't excite me very much but some of the noms surprised me.

- Speaking of Tony's... I should see La Cage aux Folles very soon.

- Ice cream date tomorrow with Jamie Gray!

- My pal Jbates has her surgery tomorrow!  Let's lift her up in prayer!

- Packing up yesterday was a highly interesting experience to say the least.

-I slept 11 hours today.  Eleven.  That is double digits. I have not slept that long in one session in forever.  I think the time I slept that long was when I came back from Poland.  Seriously.

- Speaking of Poland, we sang Your Grace is Enough at Basic Life Sunday night!

-If anyone knows where I can get Cowgirl boots for under one hundred dollars, please let me know.  I need them for Fuge.

-Tomorrow is Thursday... that means Survivor night!  Russell has got. to. go.

-Technically today is Thursday which means it's bedtime for me!  Peace and blessings!  (I showed my mom those videos tonight. Hilarious.)

-k