I figured out this week...that I am not normal. Not even a little bit! You know why? I'm a 16 year old girl who works at a Christian camp, teaching kids about Jesus all week and giving my all, getting up at 7am every day during my summer, working anywhere from 16-18 and even 24 hour days depending on the job, working over 100 hour 5 day weeks, while getting less than minimum wage. Now, if I did not have God in my life, then yes, I would be absolutely insane for agreeing to anything close to this! But guys, I have such a cool opportunity here. 2 of my girls this week became Christians, and one of them rededicated her life to God! I heard of SO MANY kids becoming Christians this week, AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I, for the first time, got to lead a little girl in a prayer to ask Jesus into her heart. God is so so so good. So good.
This week has stretched me so much. Sunday just seems like it was so far away. At the meeting, we were just feeling such pain for these kids. There are kids at this camp who go through so much, and being at camp for one week is the only good thing in their life. We have to go so hard for these kids, no matter how tired we are, we have to be so intentional and make their week great. I had so many kids shouting "Ariel! Ariel!" all week, and I have no idea how they know my name! It's just fantastic that I have the chance to make even just one kid's day.
I prayed for this week that God would teach me to rely on him. Oh man, did he ever! We had one girl whose dad died a year ago today; we have another girl who just has so much spiritual battle, what she described sounded like she was seeing demons. Both of these things became bigger on Tuesday night at the same time, there was so much prayer and comfort, man, God was just moving in me and my co-counsellor. This stuff is something that I never would have imagined dealing with at 16 years old. Dealing with demons?! Telling Satan to get the heck out of our cabin??
The feeling that I'm not good enough for this job never seems to go away. There's other people at camp who are cut out for it, but not me. But I think that this is a good place to be, because that's when God can really work through me. When I know that I can't do it, but God can, great things happen you guys. God has just been working so much through me.
I've seen God so much this week, I am just in awe of his awesome power. I can't understand how anyone would ever just want to live for themselves instead of living for God. He is just so awesome.
Please guys, keep all Christians camps in your prayers this summer! There is such a battle going on; Satan is fighting hard for the souls of all of these kids, but you guys, God is so much stronger! He's proven it time and time again. He never fails. Please also keep me in your prayers, I need energy and wisdom, and I need my time with God.
We're now half way done the summer, it's crazy to think about it. But God is moving here. He is just so awesome! Ahhh!!!
God bless!!
Ariel
2 Thessalonians 3:3
July 29, 2011
July 28, 2011
The Saga of Gerald and Cledis
So, this is what we do at camp. This is the EXACT note I received from Cailey today. Something tells me she needs a life.
Enjoy!
[Note 1]
:(|) This is Gerald. He's a happy monkey friend. Gerald likes to ride bikes and swing from trees. He also LOVES to eat turtle and banana sandwiches. but only on rye bread. Gerald's favourite colour is purple. His favourite thing to wear is a purple loincloth (because monkeys aren't a huge fan of clothes)
(turtle) This is Cledis. He's a happy little turtle friend. He likes to have his claws painted and he can ride unicycles. Cledis' favourite food is monkey sandwiches. with peanut butter. His favourite colour is teal. and he likes to wear teal shawls. This (next note) is their story.
[Note 2]
One day Gerald was sitting alone in his tree and he was HUNGRY. So he decided that he wanted a turtle and banana sandwich. At that very moment, Cledis waddled slowly by Gerald's tree! Gerald jumped down and landed on Cledis' back and attempted to stab him with his loincloth, however it didn't work since it was a loincloth. But Cledis was a ninja so he jumped around and stabbed Gerald with his nail/claw polish brush. Cledis has monkey and peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of the week.
THE END
Love, Cailey :)
What a dork!
Strange but awesome things I have done with Cailey:
spatula fight (a silent spatula fight, mind you)
putting ranch on her pizza
getting water poured on my head in the middle of the dining hall
Enjoy!
[Note 1]
:(|) This is Gerald. He's a happy monkey friend. Gerald likes to ride bikes and swing from trees. He also LOVES to eat turtle and banana sandwiches. but only on rye bread. Gerald's favourite colour is purple. His favourite thing to wear is a purple loincloth (because monkeys aren't a huge fan of clothes)
(turtle) This is Cledis. He's a happy little turtle friend. He likes to have his claws painted and he can ride unicycles. Cledis' favourite food is monkey sandwiches. with peanut butter. His favourite colour is teal. and he likes to wear teal shawls. This (next note) is their story.
[Note 2]
One day Gerald was sitting alone in his tree and he was HUNGRY. So he decided that he wanted a turtle and banana sandwich. At that very moment, Cledis waddled slowly by Gerald's tree! Gerald jumped down and landed on Cledis' back and attempted to stab him with his loincloth, however it didn't work since it was a loincloth. But Cledis was a ninja so he jumped around and stabbed Gerald with his nail/claw polish brush. Cledis has monkey and peanut butter sandwiches for the rest of the week.
THE END
Love, Cailey :)
What a dork!
Strange but awesome things I have done with Cailey:
spatula fight (a silent spatula fight, mind you)
putting ranch on her pizza
getting water poured on my head in the middle of the dining hall
July 22, 2011
Suit Up
I have been crazy busy this month with summer camp. I just finished my 3rd week! It's crazy to think that there's only 5 more left.
For week 1, I was working at petting zoo. I love being on support staff! We have the most amazing group of staff here at camp, and I love them all so dearly. It was a fantastic week, obviously, seeing as most of our conversations during staff meetings revolved around poop. It was ridiculous, actually. The places kids put their poop at camp...ugh! It's just nasty! But makes for such funny stories! I always laugh so hard at evening staff meetings. Imagine this: a bunch of over-tired teenagers just having finished a 16 hour work day, all coming into one humid room to share about their day. Chaos!!! So. Funny. To be a fly on the wall.....
During week 2 I was counselling. I honestly had the perfect cabin. They were very quiet at first, but warmed up pretty soon. They were calm when they needed to be, and got hyper when we weren't really doing anything. They were all such sweet girls and awesome to hang out with. They shared during Bible Break and prayed out loud. I just love them! It was a very hard week for me because my grandma's boyfriend of 24 years and fiance passed away on the Tuesday. Tuesday and Wednesday were very difficult for me because I saw what it was doing to my family and the people who were close to him. My thoughts that week were that if grieving were a person, I would punch it in the face. During chapel on the Wednesday, I said to God, I want YOUR peace, YOUR strength and YOUR joy. It was like a light switch, I was just so happy, and it lasted all week. That unexplainable joy. God is just so good. I learnt that I was not using my shield of faith. I didn't do devo's on Wednesday either, and I was depressed all day, but when I prayed, God was instantly there.
I will definitely be sharing about week 3 when I'm not ready to crash out! Blessings all.
Ariel
For week 1, I was working at petting zoo. I love being on support staff! We have the most amazing group of staff here at camp, and I love them all so dearly. It was a fantastic week, obviously, seeing as most of our conversations during staff meetings revolved around poop. It was ridiculous, actually. The places kids put their poop at camp...ugh! It's just nasty! But makes for such funny stories! I always laugh so hard at evening staff meetings. Imagine this: a bunch of over-tired teenagers just having finished a 16 hour work day, all coming into one humid room to share about their day. Chaos!!! So. Funny. To be a fly on the wall.....
During week 2 I was counselling. I honestly had the perfect cabin. They were very quiet at first, but warmed up pretty soon. They were calm when they needed to be, and got hyper when we weren't really doing anything. They were all such sweet girls and awesome to hang out with. They shared during Bible Break and prayed out loud. I just love them! It was a very hard week for me because my grandma's boyfriend of 24 years and fiance passed away on the Tuesday. Tuesday and Wednesday were very difficult for me because I saw what it was doing to my family and the people who were close to him. My thoughts that week were that if grieving were a person, I would punch it in the face. During chapel on the Wednesday, I said to God, I want YOUR peace, YOUR strength and YOUR joy. It was like a light switch, I was just so happy, and it lasted all week. That unexplainable joy. God is just so good. I learnt that I was not using my shield of faith. I didn't do devo's on Wednesday either, and I was depressed all day, but when I prayed, God was instantly there.
I will definitely be sharing about week 3 when I'm not ready to crash out! Blessings all.
Ariel
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