Week 8 - Last Week - Gods Amazing Love

So this week has been a mini camp week for my unit. Which means that the campers came in on Monday and then left on wednesday. Our last campers were good. I have a bitter sweet feeling about leaving though. Camp has taught me many things, but I am ready to move onto bigger and better things in life. Camp taught me a lot about myself and a lot about helping others/kids.

I have been asked already by several people what has camp taught me or what have gotten out of this experience.

It took me a while to really think about it and to really know what I learned and took out of camp. In the end I think the thing that I got most of out of camp or the thing that I learned at camp is, that I need to trust God with all my heart and not worry about things as much as I have. I was caught up in loan stuff for school, missing family and Evan, and tons of other things, that sometimes I feel like got in the way of me learning and helping others. I think this summer God taught and really showed me how much more I need him in my life than he already was. Don't get me wrong, I learned how to clean, take care of kids, and teach them all how to do crafts, and all of those are good things and I am proud that I learned how to do them, but thats not the most important thing I learned. I learned that Gods love is above all things and that I need to show that to others and receive it more than I have.

Thats going to be my goal with going to school this, to show others that God does and always will love them more than anything.

Thanks everyone for praying for me while I was at camp, and for the letters, emails, or messages. They really did make my day when ever I saw them!

I will try to keep doing this while I am at school too!:)

Weeks 4-7

Its been way to long since I have updated you guys and Im sorry for not staying on top of it! The past few weeks have been very busy for me. Not only just because of camp but also because of trying to get things finished up with school things, trying to see & spend as much time with Family and friends as possible before I leave for school, and trying to clean up and get ready/packed for school.

Needless to say its been a pretty crazy past few weeks. But These weeks have been good and a learning experience for me. Over the past 4 weeks I have had over 30 different campers and Moms. Every single one of them different in their own special way.

I write and sit and tell you about everyone of them and all the experiences that I have learned from each, but this would be extremely long.

I tried to think of words to describe the past couple of weeks that sum up all the experiences -

Fun, full, surprising, frustrating, nerve-racking, stressful, loud, hard yet easy, and many others.

But out of the words that I could come up, Accomplished and eye-opening seem to be the two that explain the past couple of weeks the best.

I have completed most of my paper work for school, including loan applications that are bring approved as I type, and everything is almost set and ready for me to transfer. So I feel like accomplished most of the hard part of that finally!

And eye-opening because of the past few weeks at camp, God has shown me a little bit of why he put my at mundo. Oviously he put me here to share his word with little girls, but a part of my is now thinking that he put me there because of my artist abilities. I do worship art. Its something that not many people know what it is. When I came to camp no one there had ever heard of it. I told them that I paint during worship so they put me on a schedule to paint durign one staff worship. Then that next week I painted 2 more times. Then the next week I painted again. Every time I have painted this summer at camp, people have told me great it was and that I have a very special talent to be able to do that. Then one day a little girl told me I should sell some of my paintings, then he mother came up and was hinting at wanting me to come to her church and paint. I had several job offers that were hinted (but not really asked) when I painted for mother daughter. But the last 2 times I have painted God has really showed me why, at least I think why, he put me at camp. One time I painted with a with a girl named macy who never had painted in front of a crowd before, so she was pretty nervous about doing it at first. But the thing is she did awesome! After we finished she told me how much she loved it and how when she was painting she wasn't focused on the crowd that she was just focused on the painting and on Jesus. Later on this past week, we had Acteens at camp that some of the staff got to work with. Macy did a special thing for their worship, where some of the girls shared their testimonies through painting. When she told me this, she told me that I inspired them and that I was pretty much famous with the acteens! When she told me that, and from hearing how I was inspiration not only to them, but also to mothers who had come the week before mother daughter, it hit me. Right when I was told all of this, I knew that God had sent me because of my worship art. He wanted me to share him through art. Which is what I enjoy most and what I am meant to do. Also over the past few weeks, I have been working on loan applications and really stressing out about taking out loans for school. But when I was painting and afterward when i was told I was an inspiration, I knew then that I was meant to go to NGU and do this at school, and that God would provide for the loans. Knowing that I know one and maybe the only reason God put me at camp, really made me open my eyes to see how much he wants to work through me and my art. But sometimes I stop him from doing that. I get caught up in trying to please everyone else, that I'm not really listening to him and what he wants me to do. And now that I know that may be one of the reason he sent me there really makes me thankful that I have that gift.

These are a few verses that have really been showing up a lot lately and that have gotten me through the past few weeks!! If you don't know them, I encourage you to look them up.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 19:21

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Week 3 - Angel Tree

Coming into this week I had no clue what to expect. All the previous staff talked about how Good Angel tree was but at the same time it was so hard. A part of me was scared and excied at the same time.

Normally the campers come on monday mornings, but this time they came on Sunday afternoon and only stayed till Wednesday afternoon. Even though this camp was short, it felt like it was going to go on forever.

Camp Angel tree is camp where kids come who have one or more parents in Jail. The girls that came were all great and special in their own way but they came into camp with a lot more "baggage". Many of these girls have hard home lives and don't know what it is like to have someone to love them and to tell them about god and how much he Loves them.

Amy & I had 5 girls in our cabin. Needless to say that was just about all we could handle. All of our girls had very strong personalities. They all wanted to be the center of attention all at the same time. They complained about everything and didn't want to do some of the activities that were planned. (I know I'm making them seem horrible, but I'm getting to the good stuff;) ) As much as our girls complained about having to sit up during bible study, not talk during rest time, took almost 2 hours getting ready for bed and going to sleep, creamed and argued at each other, each one of them in their own special way taught me so much. Not only about caring for kids who are don't want to listen, but also so much about God and about myself.

I don't know what situations these girls came from (even though I put some pieces together and had a good idea) but I hope with every inch of my body that if they got anything out of the week, bible studies, devotions, or anything Amy and I said to them, it was how much God loves them even when no one on earth does.

It was such a struggle to have to watch them yell at each and disrespect Amy & I and each other because they were at camp. Camp is their safe place for four days. Camp was the place they were supposed to forget about everything for a few days and have fun. By the end of week some of them did let their guard down a little and did seem to have a little fun. The last night the girls were here Amy & I let them paint our Toes and finger nails. This was the first time all week that they laughed and smiled and got along with each other for more than 20 minutes at a time. I can't tell you how much it touched me to see them smile and laugh. They each had such beautiful laughs and smiles, that I knew they didn't get to share very much with the rest of the world. It kills me knowing that. I came home this week with carolina blue toes and strained finger nails, to remind me of them.

Surprisingly the things that I learned from these girls came in the smallest moments of the day. I guess people are write when they say that sometimes the little things are the best. There was one girl in our cabin who came into camp with shoes that didn't fit her feet like they should. The AD's at camp or Tammy got her some shoes and gave them to me give them to her. At first I didn't know how to give them to her without all the other girls seeing and getting mad that they didn't get something. I pulled her into our little room and sat her on my bed and handed her the shoes. She just looked at me for a second with shocked face. I told her she could have the shoes but she had to promise me that she wouldn't brag about her new shoes and she wouldn't make a big deal about it. She said she promised and put the shoes on her feet. I'll never forget the look on her face or what she said to me that night. She said "I can't believe I actually have shoes that don't hurt my feet, and that I can move in." I don't think I have ever seen someone so happy to have a pair of shoes in my life. It's moments like that where God is showing me everyday why he has placed me at a camp this summer. It was amazing to see how just a simple pair of shoes can mean so much to someone. Earlier that day I thought to my self how ugly my shocks were because they were dirty and starting to turn grey and brown from dirt, then to be able to give a girl who's shoes didn't even fit her feet and new pair was so eye opening for me.

Along with those little moments, God really showed me to be thankful that I grew up and still have 2 parents who love me and who would do anything for me. Some of these girls don't have that. They don't have homes to go back to where they have someone to love them all the time.

That is what made it so hard to watch them leave. As much as I wanted a break and as much as my girls drove me crazy, it really hurt to have to send them back. Camp was their safe place. I had to send them back to homes where they aren't showed as much love as they could be (some of them). While they were loading up and before I left I hugged each one of them and told them to be good and that I loved them. It was so hard to watch them leave and not know where and what they were going home to, but at the same time I knew that God is and always will be there for them. Even though I might have given their only Bible studies for the rest of their lifes, or showed them the only love they can feel and see for a long time, I knew in my heart that God loves them. If got anything out of the week, I hope they took home that God does and always will love them for exactly who they are and no one can take that away from them. Not their parents, drugs, sexual abuse, friends, no one!

Both of the following verses I used through out the week. Even though this was a hard week for all of us, I feel blessed to have been able to experience each and every moment of this week.

I ask of everyone who reads this, please pray for all the girls who came to camp this week. That even though they went home (some good and some bad) that they alway remember the things they learned this week. Pray they stay safe and alway remember that above everything else, God does and alway will love them!

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance again someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on Love, Which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Romans 8:37-39 - "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will e able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Week 2

This past was my second week at camp with campers. This week there were two mini camps. The first half of the week were mother/daughters and the second half was a G.A. mini.

My cabin had mother daughters the first half of the week but no G.A.'s.

Mother Daughter camp went well. It was really short so we didn't get to know them very well at all. But it was fun. Since I didn't have campers the last half of the week, I got to paint and do odds and ends kind of jobs. I got a blister from painting so hard, but it was fun. I got to come home on thursday night since I didn't have campers. I was home for my birthday which was on friday. It was nice to be home for my birthday! Today (saturday) was the best day of the week by far.

Evan also had today off, so I got to drive up to Black Mt and see him for the first time in almost 4 weeks. Words can't explain how happy and how good it felt to see him. We spent most of the day at Chimney Rock. We both went there

as kids but couldn't really remember anything about it so we decided to take a trip there today. It was a beautiful day. It was a little hot, but it was really great to get to see everything around there from being so high up. Also it was just great to get to spend time with him.

As much as I loved getting to see him and spend time with him, it made it really hard to leave. You would think that after having a long distance relationship and having to say "good-bye" so much, that it would make it easier and that I would get used to it. But I haven't. I don't think I ever will, and neither will he. Honestly I don't want to have to get used to that. As hard as it was to leave and have to say goodbye again, I know that God has different plans for the both of us and this is part of both plans. We both have to follow what he has planned for us even if we want to have our plans.

God has really been showing me this today and the past few days. That his plan is over any that I will ever have. As his followers, his children, its our duty to follow him and listen and obey what he has planned for us, so thats what Evan and I are doing. I had an absolute amazing time today and wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Tomorrow I leave to go back to camp for a few days. This camp coming up is called camp angel tree. Its where one or more of the parents of the campers are in prison. This camp can be challenging, so if you would please say a prayer for my campers and my self.

Also if you could be praying for Evan as he gets new campers tomorrow as well. He has a 2 week secession this time. Pray that God will give us both strength when we feel week or get stressed out and pray for our campers.

Thanks for praying for all of us! I will update more when I have a little more time when I come home for break!

:)

Week 1 Recap!

Wow. My first week of camp is over and done and now its the weekend and I am home again!

There are several words I could use to describe this week. Interesting, full, busy, hard, overwhelming, fun, relaxing during breaks, exciting, and many more. With as many words as I can think of to describe the past week not one fits perfectly. maybe this is because God wanted me to learn many things this past week. Patience with kids and other things, to rely on him more than I ever have, and most importantly to learn from the challenges he has put in front of me. (this is a picture of the outdoor chapel!)

I had a great group of girls this week. They were all different in many ways. I had the girls who had been to camp who knew how everything worked. Some who hadn't been to camp at all, and didn't like it, while others did like it. I had one girl who thought she knew everything and had a smart comment about everything.

As different as they were, she taught me the most this week. She taught me to have patience and to respect her and to teach her about Jesus because that might be only chance she ever gets to hear the word. As much as I wanted to say something smart right back to her, I didn't and couldn't. I held it back because I knew she couldn't help it that much. I could tell it was the way the she was raised. She talked like she was about 5 or 10 years older than she was. Even though she was smart, she still was respectful most of the time. She really taught me that I might give her the only bible study of her life, and I might be the only one she ever comes in contact with that will share the Word about Jesus with her. Knowing this, really kept me going this week!

This coming week we have 2 mini camps. We have a mother/daughter camp on Monday and Tuesday. Then we have another camp towards the end of the week. There aren't may girls signed up for the second secession so I am coming home on Thursday night so I can be home on Friday for my birthday. I got to talk to Evan on weds night for a while because I had the night off. I am going to drive to Black Mountain on Saturday to see him for the first time in 3 weeks. I honestly can not wait to see him. He also has a day off in July and hopefully I will be able to drive to see him then also! When I talked to him he said his campers where also great. He also had one who he was/is going to have to work with. He is loving it there and learning/teaching a lot. It was really great to talk to him for the first time in about 5 days. I'm really excited for him for the rest of his camp also, and wish him the best!

I have never had a camp with Mother daughters both. From what I hear it can be a challenging experience yet a rewarding one also. I am excited yet nervous. I think it will be this way every time because they will be new kids and new mothers. But thats ok!

I am really excited for the days and special dates to come. My birthday is on friday, I get to see Evan on saturday (the best birthday wish!!), I get to paint during worship at camp coming up in the next week or 2, 11 months for Evan an I is on July 7th, I might get to see him again on the 24th is it works out, camp coming to an end on August 7th, 1 year for Evan & I is also on the 7th, I move to Tigerville/NGU on the 13th. With all of these exciting and very eventful weeks to come, I know in my heart God is showing me his wonderful plan for my life. While some things might go as I planned, they are going just as planned according to him. Also with all these events coming up I am going to you all to pray for me that I keep my eyes on him and his plan and not focus on my own. As much as I would love to things go as I want it to, I know often times it doesn't. So if you all could please pray I stay focused on him, camp goes well for both Evan & I, the we both are able to share Gods word to the best of our ability to our campers & that they learn something from us, also for my family as I have some life changing things that are going to take place.

Thanks everyone for all the prayers!

If you want to talk to me, your more than welcome to email me or call me and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

Thanks!:)

Almost the end of the week!

This week is coming to an end fast! We have one more full day of the first week of camp left before these campers go home!

I knew that I would be busy when I took the job, But I guess not this busy!

But I am loving being so busy! I don't want to be bored and have nothing to do. The past few days have been busy and kind of stressful at times, but also good and rewarding at other times. I am really liking being able to teach crafts and newspaper/photography.

Being on a mountain and somewhat in the woods, is really showing me again how wonderful and how beautiful Gods creation really is! Even thought this is my Job and I have to treat it like that, God is teaching and I am learning more things everyday! I would love to write about some things that have happened this week, but don't really have much time on my break! I am going home this weekend so I will be able to update and write more about my experience and some funny stories, etc. I want to thank all of you again for praying for me. If you please continue to pray for my campers, Evan & his camp/Campers, and myself.

I'll update soon!

Thanks everyone!:)

Day 1 with Campers!

So yesterday was the first day of camp and when we got our campers! It wasn't really that bad. I couldn't get to sleep very fast since we had campers. But once I was asleep I slept pretty good! But we have a sleep walker in our cabin, so it makes it a little more stressful. But it really has gone pretty well. I really haven't missed Evan that much because I have been busy. I have been pretty focused on everything because we don't have much down time. So thats good!

I have had some very good encouragement the past few days and it has really helped! I don't really have much time to write about things right now, but will on my night off tomorrow night.

Thanks again for all the encouragement and prayers.

Please keep praying for my family, Evan, His camp/campers, and me!

First weekend home!

Its been a few days since I have written anything! It will be like this for most of the summer. Maybe a post a weel if I can do that!

Anyway, I went home this weekend! It was great to see my family and to get a break for a few days! When they say there is nothing like home I never really thought about it. But there really isn't. While I was home over the weekend I got to hangout with Paul and Liz and their kids, my family, and just take some time to rest. It was so nice. Also while I was home on friday night I got a text from Evan. He has just moved into his cabin and was getting everything set up. This is what he sent me! At first I couldn't really tell what it was. Then I really looked at it. Before he left I printed out pictures for him of us because he said he didn't have any printed out and would use them and look at them if I printed some out for him. So I did. Honestly because of the person that he is I didn't think that he would put them up. But he put them up beside his bed so he could see them before he went to sleep. After this picture I got a call and got to have a 50 min conversation. It really meant a lot to me. Even though that and then for 10 mins the next day was probably the last time I would get to talk to him for a while, a part of me is at piece right now. All thanks to the big man up stairs. Through this experience and the past week, I'm really learning more about myself and the person who God has made me out to be. So as much as it hurts not to talk to evan and family as much as I want, I know this experience is a good one for me! I was reminded of that several times today. That this is a chance to really learn who I am and be the best person I can be! Also to rely on God when I think I am weak. After all he is the only one who always will know what my weaknesses are and the only one who can truly help me through them! Thank you for the people who reminded me of this!

We have campers come tomorrow so I need to go get rest.

Hopefully I will be able to update soon!

Please keep praying for my campers, my Family, Evan & his campers, & myself.

Thanks so much!

Day 6, 7 & 8

I decided to combine these 3 days. Each one of these days have been a little different but yet similar. Similar in the way that God is really really showing how much he wants me here at Mundo this summer. I still don't know exactly why he wants me here, but I hear about 10 times a day that God has me here for a reason even if I don't know what it is.

He has showed me just through the little things. I got a phone call from Evan last night (Weds.) that I wasn't expecting to get at all. It came just at the right time too. Its been my prayer since I got here to still be able to talk to evan, but still let both of us put our all into camp and not be distracted on talking to each other. I prayed this one night. I surrenderd one the things that meant a lot to me and that I really cared for. When I did that he answered that prayer, then I got a call about 1hr later. I love knowing even though God has us separated for a while, that when I am down and surrender to him, that he does answer prayers.

Tonight (thursday) we had a special ceremony before the offical camp started. It was really great and moving. We also were given prayer partners. A girl namde Courtney Holt and I are prayer partners. Courntey just happens to be going to NGU in the fall also. Tammy (my Director) said she didn't even look at who we were pared with. So it was totally God. Courtney and I are going to continue to be prayer partners throughout the school year. The little things like that are what is keeping me going here. When God shows me the little reasons why I am supposed to be here is really encouraging me to continue when I think I can't. I really hope more of these moments continue.

Tomorrow (friday) there are going to be Mother/Daughters here for a mini camp. I am going to be painting a back drop all that is going in a building here that we will use throughout the week! I am excited about getting to paint something so big that so many people will see through out the summer! After I finish painting I am heading home for the weekend because my cabin has no campers. I am going to go see Ayden play soccer and attend Zach's Graduation. It is going to be weird to be home over the summer and not have one of my best friends there, but I know that someday very soon we will be together again at home and then at school for the first time ever! But I will be home, and thats all that matters, because there is just something about being home that feels so right and so good!

Keep praying for all the campers that Evan and I will be ministering to this summer, the both of us, and everyone who we impact this summer.

Thanks so much guys!

Miss you all!

:)

God is showing how much he loves me! Day 5

Went through more training today. I am just about sick of training. I just want campers to come so bad. I want to be busy and just get this summer going and over with.

I know that I don't want to rush it, and I want to remember everything that God has to teach me this summer. But I just really want it to go fast so I won't be bored.

I had a great night tonight. We got a break tonight here at camp and had to leave and go somewhere. I met my Family at the mall in Asheboro. We went to dinner, went to the mall, and then we played pool. I had a great time. I felt bad because I couldn't show it as much as I really wanted to. I couldn't show them how much it meant to me to be able to see them. I tried my best to not let missing Evan affect me. It sort of did though. By the end of the night, I told them I was sorry for not being able to be completely happy for them when they came to see me. I told them I was just so overwhelmed and stressed from not seeing Evan. They completely understood and told me everything was going to be ok that they were proud of me for staying. My daddy just held me and told me he loved me and then he told me that Evan was missing me too, that it wasn't just me. He told me that it would all be ok. This made me feel so good. My Mom did also! She is awesome too, and I am so thankful for her also! And also my sister. She gave her up afternoon and night to come see me. We haven't really been that close lately, but it meant a lot to see her and spend some time with her.

But it really made me think and relate this to God and the Bible. When ever we are upset and sad and think we can't go on, God is ALWAYS there for us, even though we can't see him, he is there. He is the only one who knows exactly what we are thinking, and is there for us. I cry to him and he will always be there. My daddy will just hold me and tell me that he loves me and that everything is going to be ok.

To know that I have two daddy's (& a mom) that will always be there for me to lean on makes me relax a lot more. Even though I still miss Evan so much, to know that I have friends and Family to lean means the world to me!

Here are some verses that prove GOD will always be there. And he proves it through his word!

Exodus 22:23

If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 1 - O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. ² May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. ³For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.

2 Chronicles 20:9
'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'

I also Got a Text tonight right as I was getting ready to post this from Evan. All I can say is.. I am so glad something as simple as a few words means to mean. I can sleep better now!

Please keep praying for Evan & I as we both go through this life changing experience.

Thanks!!

Day 4 - Fast? yes please! yet learning day by day what God's plan is.

The days seem to be getting a little easier. I am still overwhelmed, but maybe its just because I am getting used to being overwhelmed and used to not being home and used to not talking to everyone. I still want it to go by fast so I would be bored and start to think about home and Evan. I want to remember this experience, but I want to be done at the same time and go away to school, which I am so excited to do!!

I have to say, of all the days that I thought would be the hardest for me, it really wasn't. Today was the day that Evan left for his camp. I thought that I was going to really be distracted and really be upset about it. For some reason I wasn't as upset and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I think it was the fact I know over the next few months, God is going to teach us so much and really bring us closer as individuals and a couple. I was reminded today by a close friend through text, it was ok that I didn't talk to him hardly at all over the next few months because it would be a life changing experience for us both and will end up making us stronger as a couple and individual. He also told me I had nothing to worry about over the summer because of our relationship being as strong as it is. He said if our relationship was strong, then what did I have to worry about? When I read that, I though of what I really had to worry about. I thought about Evan as a person, my boyfriend, and as a servant of God. Evan is so true to me, so he isn't going to cheat on me, he isn't going to do anything that would make me unhappy or upset at him (or try his best not to anyway), he is going to be working, and Above all he is going to be doing Gods work which he was called to do. When I thought about all this, I really had nothing to worry about. Of course being a girl, not talking to him is going to bother me a lot because thats all I want, is to hear his voice every once in a while, but I honestly have nothing to worry about when it comes to our relationship. I was told by another person tonight that he cares way to much for me to lose me and "has it Bad" enough that even when I think he doesn't care or isn't missing me, that he really will be and that he might not want to show it in a letter because he doesn't want to disappoint me and say the wrong thing, that he just wants to please me. All of these things meant the world to me. I can't even find the words to express how good this made me feel. (thanks guys if you read this, you know who you are!)

Even though I will be sad & missing him, I know that he will always be my Evan. Even 2 months from today when I get to see him again on our 1 year. God really showed me today to value my relationships even when I don't have contact with them. He showed me its ok not to have contact with someone you love, because if you really mean a lot to them and they mean a lot to you that you have nothing to worry about. He taught me this through some very good friends and people who I admire and look up to.

Which reminds me of 1 reason I am here. To be a servant of God. I am to share his word with Girls, who wouldn't and might not have that chance if they didn't come to Mundo Vista. I can talk about how Evan and others are servants of God, but it took this event and it took my being upset and missing someone who means so much to me, to realize that I too am a servant of God and that he has planned so much for me.

This is the beginning of figuring out why I am here at Mundo.

Day 3 - prayer for one of my best friends and i

Yesterday wasn't a very exciting day of training. We sat a lot or most of the time.

But we did get to do a fun craft at the end of the day. We made homemade paper.Being an art major, this was fun to me.

There isn't much to talk about that happened other than moving into my cabin with my roommate. Her name is Amy. I am looking forward to getting to know her. She seems really cool!

The air conditioning in our cabin isn't working so we spent the night in another cabin with air!

Hopefully they get it fixed.

I just really want campers to come and be done with all this training. All of this training is overwhelming me. Once campers come, I will be busy enough to not worry about things like my home, Evan, and friends. Not that those things aren't important, just thinking about them makes me miss them more and more.

Once campers get here I hope that the summer goes fast. I have a new and exciting part of my life coming in August and I honestly can not wait for it to get here. August 7th is Mine & Evan's 1 year since we started dating. I come home that day too. I will be home with my family for a week!! And then on August 13th I move in at North Greenville University, and I can not wait!! At the same time I don't want it to go to fast, so I can remember and take in everything. I want to hopefully find out why God put me here in the first place since I don't have a clue as of right now. I know at times it will seem fast and times it will seem slow, but I am going to do my best to enjoy this since God has a plan for me.

I need a favor of some of you. if you could please keep me in your prayers. This week is going to be very hard for me. I'm into being honest right now, so I will be honest. It's going to be hard because Evan leaves tomorrow for the summer camp he is working at and I wont get to talk to him hardly at all over summer. But thats not what I want prayer for. If its not to much to ask, would you please pray that I wont let missing him so much, distract me from what God wants and has planned for me to do. Even though I will miss him more than anything over the next two months, I want prayer to be strong instead of prayers about me missing him. Even though we are both going to miss each other like crazy, we know and have agreed that we took these jobs for a reason whether we know what that reason is or not, and we have to do our jobs and not let missing each other get in the way of what God has planned. So If you could say a prayer for the both of us that would be awesome and very much appreciated!

I am thinking about you all a lot and can not wait to be home to see some of you!

Send me some mail so I can keep up with you all!

:)

Day 2 of Training

Today is the 2nd full day of Camp training. It has gotten better than the past few with being overwhelmed with tons of stuff. Even though it has gotten a little bit better, its still SO much to take in never having this experience before.

I had a little slap in the face today and I think that helped a little also.

Throughout the day God really showed me that I focus to much on my relationships with other people and with other things in my life instead of focusing on what he has put in front of me.

I normally don't just come right out with things, but I'll be honest this time.

On the first few days that I have been here I have been so worried with how I am going and when I will get to talk to Evan and my family. Especially when I will get to talk to Evan because he will also be at a camp. I was (and still am a little bit) worried with how and when I will get to talk to each of them, that It really scared me and kept me from really seeing why I had been given this opportunity this summer. God put me at this camp for a reason. I don't know just yet what that reason is, but tonight I was reminded by someone at home and by Girls here at camp, that If I trust them and trust in God that everything is going to work out fine.

This verse was read today during trainging and is one of my personal favorites because it has also gotten me through the challenges of transferring schools.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer. 29:11-13

Jesus has a plan for me whether I know what it is or not. And when I start to give up or when I start to think I can't go on he is going to be there for me and is going to hold me up and give me strength to continue. I am going to try my absolute hardest to stay strong for my campers, stay strong for my evan, stay strong for my family, and stay strong for myself. If you see me start to get weak or you see me start to think I can't continue, will you all please remind me to stay strong for God, stay strong for my campers, stay strong for my relationships, and to stay strong for myself too. Thank you for your support and encouragement. It means the world to me to know that people care enough to call me at 11 at night and make sure that I am fine!

Miss all of you a lot! :)

So, I'm here at camp!

So, I'm here at camp!

First day - Super overwhelming.

It was a lot to take in for one day! Having to say Goodbye to my parents for a while, and Having to say goodbye to Evan for two months was really hard for me. I love my parents, but I get to see them off and on over the summer. So having to say goodbye to evan was really hard for me since I wont get to see him at all over the summer. And then on top of not being good with good-byes, I had a lot of rules thrown on me and it finally hit me that this will be a 24/7 job. I knew that when I signed up, but I think it just hit.

But on top of all this I know that God has put me here for a reason. And I will find that out very soon!

Send me some messages or emails and I will respond!

Miss everyone!!

Changes

Over the past 6 months I have been debating if I wanted to transfer schools or not, starting this fall. For several reasons I was not happy at UNCC. I was studying art and was going to go into the B.A. program to study graphic design.

While visiting Evan several times at North Greenville University, and the city of Greenville SC, I started to really love the city and the school. After staying a few weekends with some friends at NGU, I really felt like I needed to be at a school like that. I started researching schools to transfer to and visited some, but none of them felt right to me, I didn't feel like I fit in as well as I did at NGU.

I looked into NGU and found a major that is exactly what I can see myself doing when I graduate from College. The major is called interdisciplinary studies. It is combining to majors and interest. I would combine Art with Graphic design concentration with Mass communications and Print Media. With this degree it will make it a lot easier to work for a church or christian organization, which is what I want, and think I am meant to do when I graduate. I feel God calling me to do this instead of just graphic design.

I have been very hesitant to say that I want to transfer to NGU for a couple of reasons. NGU is a private school, which means it cost a lot of money. Since it is a lot more than UNCC, I would have to take out students loans in order to attend the school, and I was just not sure if I wanted to do that yet. I came to love NGU because of visiting Evan ever so often. He and our relationship were the main reasons at first I was very hesitant to transfer. I didn't want to hurt his education or our relationship if I were to transfer there. I care more about the people I love and the relationships I have with them instead of making myself happy sometimes. I made is clear to him and everyone else who knows I was in the process of transferring schools that I was not transferring for him. I want to transfer to do something I love and know I will be good at. I don't want people to think I am transferring for him. Even though I know this will come up all the time, I am ready to explain and tell people he is not the reason I transfered.

After having numerous conversations with him about this subject, one of the many things he told me was to forget what other people think and do what I feel is right for myself. I need to stop trying to please others so much, (since I do it all the time) and please myself and go where God wants me to go and wants me to be.

After hearing this from him several times, months research, of thinking and praying, I have made up my mind where I want to attend school next year.

Even though a part of me doesn't want to go into and come out of school owing money, I have to go where I feel like God is leading me to be. After visiting a church in Greenville, a few times with Evan, one sunday the message and a performance really hit me and showed me what I was meant to do with my life. There was a performance artist at Springwell that performed during worship by painting the face of Jesus. This really hit home with me because I have done this in church also. I asked God before that serves to give me some sort of sign as to what I was supposed to do with my life and where I was supposed to be in the fall. As he was painting I had chills the whole time. That's when I knew, that was my sign and I was meant to make art like that and to make art for God and not just a corporation. That's when I knew that I was to use my talent for his will and not mine or anyones else's. This is why I have chosen to transfer to North Greenville in the fall of this year. It isn't for my friends, it isn't for my boy friend, it isn't all for myself, its to please God and honor what I feel like he is leading me to do.

Contact

I have been asked a few times by friends and some family how they are going to be able to get in contact with me once I leave. During the week day its going to be better to email me because I more than likely will not have my cell when you want to talk with me. Here are some ways to contact me once I am at camp!

Email:

- xacelesteax@yahoo.com

- acalmond@carolina.rr.com

Mail:

Amanda Almond- Staff

Camp Mundo Vista

3140 Camp Mundo Vista Trail

Sophia, NC 27350

You can call me also, but more than likely I will have to return your call over the weekend or during time off when I have access to my phone.

Cell - 704-622-4478

Also, I am not sure if it will work there, but I am going to take my Mac with me, which means I will have access to Skype and iChat. It may work, it may not, depending on how strong the wireless is.

Skype - acalmond

iChat - xacelesteax@mac.com

I would love to hear from you guys so send me letters and emails!!:)

Packing

Today starts the packing process for camp.

Since I've lived at home my whole life and haven't left home for a significant amount of time, I'm not sure what to pack beside clothes.

So I am taking a guess and probably going to bring way more than I will ever need or use.

As I am getting things out and packing up, it hasn't really hit me yet that I am leaving in two days. A part of me is ready to go, but another isn't.

I am ready to go because it is a new chapter in my life that I think I will be good at and that I know God has put in front of me for a reason, and I am thankful for that. But I am not ready to leave, because I've never been away from my friends and family for this long. I am really going to miss everyone, especially Evan. He is also going to be working at a camp over the summer and won't be able to come home and more than likely won't get time off to were I can drive to see him on a weekend since I have most weekends off. But I know that God has put this challenge in front of him and I because he knows We can handle this. He knows that even though we wont get to see each other for two months and will only be able to talk every few days, that we can overcome the challenge and still have a great relationship. We are both doing his work and pleasing him in the process. Which means that only good things can come from this experience.

As I am putting clothes and belongings into containers and thinking about all the things that I have and all the things that I will leaving for two months, it makes me thankful for all the things that I do have and to have the opportunity to show how God blesses us with the things we have to girls who might not understand that fully just yet.

Even though I am nervous about leaving, I know this is what God wants me to do, so I will do it to my best ability!

Forms

I recently applied for a Job at Camp Mundo Vista for the summer of 2010. I was offered the position of cabin leader. I accepted the position and will be working for 8 weeks as a cabin leader.

Seeing as this is a summer camp, I am not sure how often I will be able to get on the computer and update everyone on my adventures/life/condition. Hopefully I will post an update at least once a week if not more. I will have time throughout the day to make phone calls and use the Internet, but since it is camp, the Internet may not always be up and running.

I will also try my best to write letters. If you would like for me to send you a letter instead, then please let me know, and I will be glad to! When I update my post, hopefully I will be able to post some pictures of camp for all of you to see as well. I will also be checking e-mail each time I get on the computer. You are welcome to send me emails at acalmond@carolina.rr.com, or xacelesteax@yahoo.com . I will check both as often as I can. I will try to respond as quickly as I can, but if it has been a week or so, then please resend your email. Sometimes I get so many that are junk emails that I miss a personal one or two.

As silly and crazy as this sounds, since I live at home at the moment, I normally do not get much mail or any letters, so I am really looking forward to getting mail from my family and friends at camp!!! Packages are great also!:)

Here is the address to send letters/packages to me!

Amanda Almond- Staff

Camp Mundo Vista

3140 Camp Mundo Vista Trail

Sophia, NC 27350

I am really looking forward to this summer but ask that you keep the campers. other staff, and myself in your prayers.

Thanks for your support and I looking forward to hearing from everyone!