It is officially the last day of camp! I cannot believe that it is almost over.. this week has flown so incredibly fast. The kids are eating lunch and getting ready to pack up their things before one last activity until parents get here!
Parent's- I know you are so excited to see your kids! I wish I could say the same about the kids but I don't think anyone is ready to leave yet! When I told the kids this morning that they would see their parents and go home this afternoon, I expected shouting and excitement but all I got was a long sigh. They have definitely had a great week.
I didn't post yesterday because it was so busy and I didn't have a chance to even look at my computer! Yesterday morning was spent mountain boarding (yes everyone is still alive), hiking, and playing field sports. After a much needed nap everyone went swimming one last time. We then headed up to do the Shady Chute but it has been raining a lot this week so we weren't able to do it.. but the kids decided to play an intense game of dodge ball. The teams were all of the kids (20) against the counselors and me(5). The counselor's lost if you couldn't figure that out. :)
Last night was skit night where all of the groups came up with skits about their week and performed them in front of the group. We then came back to the lake for our last worship service where we all shared communion. I've said it before but listening to these kids worship with everything they have is the greatest thing in the world. No doubt.
I will tell you all that your kids are going to CRASH as soon as they get home tonight. You're welcome! Ha. Since last night was our last night we all stayed up late and watched Madagascar 2 and had smores... from the microwave. Oh burn bans we love you.
This morning both groups went out to the garden where they were able to feed some goats and chickens, mulch some blueberries, pick corn and tomatoes, and much more. They ended the morning at the DAC which is Ferncliff's Disaster Action Center where they made hygiene kits to be shipped around the world when a disaster strikes. I think they made close to 300 kits!
So now it is time to say goodbye to our friends and prepare to come home and back to reality. I don't think anyone is ready just yet.. maybe if we had just a few more days. It has been an amazing, life changing week. I am so blessed to know these kids and to have the opportunity to watch them grow beyond measures in their relationship with Christ.
The Bible verse this week was 2 Peter 1:3, "God's power has given us everything we need to live a godly life." I have no doubt that these kids have been changed this week. They are plugged in to God just as Peter was and I cannot wait for them to come home and share it with their friends and families. We have a God that is BIGGER than BIG who has done some HUGE things through these kids this week. Amen to that.
We will see you all at 4! Just 3 more hours of camp.. Now to prepare for next year!
-Emily
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Camp KIDventure Day 4
Good Evening Parents!
Wow what a day! I didn't think camp could be any better but I was wrong on so many levels. When I say today was the best day that we have ever had at camp, including past years, it is an understatement. I am so incredibly proud of your kids!
We spent the morning on the low ropes course doing team building exercises. The kids had a blast learning to work together. They have all said that we are one big family this week. They are divided into 2 teams, Blue and Red, so they have decided to rename the group to Bread, because we are all one.. One Family, One Camp, One Body of Christ. Bread United. Amen to that.
This afternoon we had water games. The sun finally came out just in time after a gloomy morning! They played all sorts of games including a water balloon toss, drip drip splash (a version of duck duck goose), and a game called Torpedo. Torpedo is when you line up and through a bucket of water on the person behind you and yell TORPEDO. The point is to get everyone wet. The kids loved it.. so much that they(with the help from the counselors) torpedoed me with a HUGE trashcan full of water. It was lovely.. and cold, but worth it to see their faces and hear their laughs. Sadly, we did not get pictures. The camera stopped working. Darn.
After water games we had a cookout. The kids made "Hobo Bags." This is where they prepare their food and wrap it all in foil to cook on the grill. While the food was cooking, the kids had time to just run around and play. It was so encouraging to see all of them playing together and having a blast.
We then went to a carnival where they played lots of games and were able to interact with other kids that are here at Ferncliff. Everyone had snow cones which made the night 10 times better than it already was! We ended the night with worship around the lake. I am convinced that the greatest thing in life is listening to a group of kids singing and worshipping God with everything they have to give. There is nothing better.
We have been blessed with some of the greatest counselors. Tonight we were talking during snack and all of the counselors told me, no lie, that they have been amazed this week because your kids have been absolute angels. Yes.. every single one of them! And I couldn't agree more. We have not had one problem.. none. A few nights ago I challenged the kids to learn our memory verse and talk about it with each other. Jordan, one of the counselor's said he got out of the shower that night and was worried because it was so quiet. He then found every boy in the cabin reading their Bible quietly on their bunk. We have been focusing a lot this week on what it means to spend time with God through prayer, journaling, and scripture reading. I told the kids that if they just spent 5 minutes extra each day with God then things would change. They would learn how to be plugged into God. Another counselor told me that this morning the kids woke up early and spent 10-15 minutes reading their Bible and praying. The counselor didn't tell them to read their Bible.. he was just making sure they were ready in time. They are getting it. I truly believe that this week has been life changing for these kids... and we still have 2 more days! When I say your kids are blowing me away.. I mean it. I am so amazed at the things that God is doing through them this week. They are true blessings.
Tomorrow is another full day so I will leave you with a few pictures from today! I know that you are missing your kids.. I think the homesickness has hit the Parent's way more than the kids this year! We have still not had any problems.. knocking on wood and saying a prayer again tonight!
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Wow what a day! I didn't think camp could be any better but I was wrong on so many levels. When I say today was the best day that we have ever had at camp, including past years, it is an understatement. I am so incredibly proud of your kids!
We spent the morning on the low ropes course doing team building exercises. The kids had a blast learning to work together. They have all said that we are one big family this week. They are divided into 2 teams, Blue and Red, so they have decided to rename the group to Bread, because we are all one.. One Family, One Camp, One Body of Christ. Bread United. Amen to that.
This afternoon we had water games. The sun finally came out just in time after a gloomy morning! They played all sorts of games including a water balloon toss, drip drip splash (a version of duck duck goose), and a game called Torpedo. Torpedo is when you line up and through a bucket of water on the person behind you and yell TORPEDO. The point is to get everyone wet. The kids loved it.. so much that they(with the help from the counselors) torpedoed me with a HUGE trashcan full of water. It was lovely.. and cold, but worth it to see their faces and hear their laughs. Sadly, we did not get pictures. The camera stopped working. Darn.
After water games we had a cookout. The kids made "Hobo Bags." This is where they prepare their food and wrap it all in foil to cook on the grill. While the food was cooking, the kids had time to just run around and play. It was so encouraging to see all of them playing together and having a blast.
We then went to a carnival where they played lots of games and were able to interact with other kids that are here at Ferncliff. Everyone had snow cones which made the night 10 times better than it already was! We ended the night with worship around the lake. I am convinced that the greatest thing in life is listening to a group of kids singing and worshipping God with everything they have to give. There is nothing better.
We have been blessed with some of the greatest counselors. Tonight we were talking during snack and all of the counselors told me, no lie, that they have been amazed this week because your kids have been absolute angels. Yes.. every single one of them! And I couldn't agree more. We have not had one problem.. none. A few nights ago I challenged the kids to learn our memory verse and talk about it with each other. Jordan, one of the counselor's said he got out of the shower that night and was worried because it was so quiet. He then found every boy in the cabin reading their Bible quietly on their bunk. We have been focusing a lot this week on what it means to spend time with God through prayer, journaling, and scripture reading. I told the kids that if they just spent 5 minutes extra each day with God then things would change. They would learn how to be plugged into God. Another counselor told me that this morning the kids woke up early and spent 10-15 minutes reading their Bible and praying. The counselor didn't tell them to read their Bible.. he was just making sure they were ready in time. They are getting it. I truly believe that this week has been life changing for these kids... and we still have 2 more days! When I say your kids are blowing me away.. I mean it. I am so amazed at the things that God is doing through them this week. They are true blessings.
Tomorrow is another full day so I will leave you with a few pictures from today! I know that you are missing your kids.. I think the homesickness has hit the Parent's way more than the kids this year! We have still not had any problems.. knocking on wood and saying a prayer again tonight!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Camp KIDventure Day 3
Hey Parents! Ever wonder how amazing your kids are?! Becasue the have blown me away the past few days!
Wow has it been a long day! All of the kids are fast asleep in their bunks and gearing up for a long day tomorrow! It has been such a joy to spend time with these kids and to witness them growing closer to Christ each day. This week we are learning what it means to be "Zapped" by God's love and power. Today, one of the kids told me that without God's power and love in our lives, we would be like a TV that had no outlet to turn it on.. pointless.
We discussed the story of Peter walking on water towards Jesus this morning. When Jesus told his disciples to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, they ran into a huge storm. When they looked up they thought they saw a ghost. Matthew 14 says "The figure on the water spoke to them and said, "Be brave! It is I. Don't be afraid." Peter looked out at the man and said "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come." This is where Peter shows courage and jumped into.. or onto the water. He focused everything on Jesus and forgot about the storm that was going on around him. He was plugged in, connected to Jesus. He was walking on the water. But then Peter started to look around and saw the wind and the storm. He got distracted and started to sink. Peter cried out "Lord, Save Me!" Immediately, Jesus reached out and caught him. He said 'Your faith is so small. Why did you doubt me?'
Peter had a 'superpower' for a moment while he walked on water. But Peter was just like you and me. An everyday, normal human. Sometimes he got it right and sometimes he got it wrong. Like us, the times he got it right were when he was focused on Jesus, when he wasn't distracted and was really plugged into the power of God. The times he got it wrong were when he took his eyes off of Jesus and tried to do it all himself.
Sometimes, we feel like we are stepping off the edge of the boat to do the right thing. We may be afriad of what is going to happen and sometimes we get distracted by a fear or a storm in our lives. We have to remember that it's God's power, not our own, that keeps us from sinking.
Our Bible verse this week is 2 Peter 1:3a, "Gods power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life." We may go through times where we think that stepping off the side of the boat is scary and insane, but if we learn to depend on God and to keep our eyes focused on Him we will tap into the things that God has given us to overcome the storms and discover the things that He has planned for us.
Just like one the kids said, without God we are like a TV without an outlet. The campers have blown me away and we havent even made it half way through the week yet. Tonight they all made a goal to spend a minimum of 5 extra minutes with God before they went to bed through prayer, journaling, reading the Bible, or talking through the lesson with a counselor. I am so blessed to have the oppurtunity to witness the kids grow closer to God each day. They are being "Zapped" and plugging into Gods Power and Love.. becasue we have a God that loves and forgives us no matter what.
These campers get it. I am constantly amazed as I listen to their conversations, watch their actions, and listen to them worship a God that is bigger than big. Or in the words of a camper "A God that is bigger than big, large, huge, and ginormous."
It is a great week to say the least. One that is life changing.. for the campers, counselors, staff, and myself.
Tomorrow is another full day of worship, a low ropes course, water games, swimming, campside cookout, and a carnival! Please keep us in your prayers as we hit the halfway mark! I know it will be another amazing day so stay tuned for more!
If you are not on facebook, here is a link to the pictures that I am posting. It is a public album so you should be able to see them without an account. If not, let me know!
-Emily
PS: I have videos from each day but the internet is SUPER slow this week :( If I cant get them to upload you will all get copies at the end of the week!
Camp Kidventure Day 1.5
Good Morning Parents!
It is the 2nd morning at Camp KIDventure and things could not be better! We spent yesterday doing crafts, archery, swimming, and birdwatching for our main activities. Last night we played a game called chaos.. which is just that... chaos. It was so much fun and the kids were exhausted by the end of the day! We wrapped up our day with an awesome worship service led by 3 youth that came out to help for the night. Here are some pictures from the past two days! I hope everyone is enjoying the peace and quiet at home! If you are missing your home being loud and crazy don't worry.. we are being loud enough here so you should be able to hear us in Maumelle!
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It is the 2nd morning at Camp KIDventure and things could not be better! We spent yesterday doing crafts, archery, swimming, and birdwatching for our main activities. Last night we played a game called chaos.. which is just that... chaos. It was so much fun and the kids were exhausted by the end of the day! We wrapped up our day with an awesome worship service led by 3 youth that came out to help for the night. Here are some pictures from the past two days! I hope everyone is enjoying the peace and quiet at home! If you are missing your home being loud and crazy don't worry.. we are being loud enough here so you should be able to hear us in Maumelle!
I will have the video uploaded at some point today from Sunday and Monday I promise! Internet is just a little slower than expected so it is taking a long time to upload :)
-Emily
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