Well Hello, End of Week One

Oh hey completion of week one!  It's hard to believe that an entire week of camp is done and done.

Thursday
Today was a really good day.  The Bible Study was about Hannah and that story just blows me away every time I read it.  I cannot fathom what she went through.  My kids did a lot better today with getting involved and excited about rec and their cheer today.  Thanks for your prayers.  Voice has been going going going all week.   I got to perform the Hannah piece tonight.  It's such a pretty monologue.  Very tender but very emotional at the same time.

Friday
Friday was by far my favorite day this week.  My kids did really well today at rec and won the spirit noodle!  I was so proud of them!  They were really active and participated today in Bible Study!  It was really exciting!  Finally, the highlight of today was Mega.  I was really nervous about my kids participating and did not have high expectations at all.  Somehow though, they managed to win their heat for seventh and eighth grade!  I might have tackled some people!  I was so excited!  That whole "don't yell, use your whistle" rule I was given kinda got thrown out the window... (bad idea). Sooo my kids got to compete in the championship heat against the 3 older groups that won their heats.  My kids came in third!  I was so proud of them!  In the spirit circle, some of my boys in my group decided that it would be a great idea to grab a water cooler while closing out mega and douse me with water.  I was drenched but felt so loved.  Worship was great on Friday as well!  We took up the missions offering and to see kids just so openly give was amazing.  Praise.

Saturday
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, it was over.  We had closing Bible Study and Closing Celebration.  It was kind of bittersweet for the kids to leave.  It was exciting because I know they are going to go out and use what they have learned, but at the same time, they are so much fun and I will miss them dearly.  Must start focusing on Week 2 though!  Today I also tried to make it to Rachel's wedding.  I didn't make it to the ceremony but made it to the reception.   Loooong story.  I also got to see my best friend in the whole wide world. Unfortunately it was while she was in the hospital but none the less.... I got to see her beautiful face.

Today was a day of rest and then we moved our stage from the Arc to Spillman because we go from 250 kids this past week to wait for it.... 1300 kids next week.  AHHHH!  It's going to be crazy!

So what have I learned this week?  I learned that first and foremost I cannot rely on myself or my own strength but my strength must come from the Lord.  That was proven more this week than ever before in my life.  Strength of family was definitely affirmed this week.  I am so thankful for my fuge family here. I have never in my life met 30 more incredible individuals in one place at the same time.  Praise the Lord that we are going to be serving together all summer.  I learned that it's probably not the best idea in the world to yell at rec when you have to perform everyday.  That's kinda sorta difficult for me.

Please cover this week in prayers.  Pray that there would be opportunity after opportunity to have intentional conversations.  Pray that these kids would just experience the Lord in ways that they never have before.  Pray for strength and endurance for our team.  Please continue to pray for team unity.  Please.  Also pray that we will not grow tired or grow into a routine.  Let us keep things exciting and fresh for these kids.  It's been a great summer so far!  I can't wait to see what's yet to come!

-kar