Camp - joys and struggles ;)

Jumpstart has been amazing so far! Currently the kids are in class which means I have some free time to prepare and relax. This week we have 14s, 15s, and one 16 year old here and there are 16 of them so it is crazy! But they are all super sweet and they're even starting to get used to us as their crazy leaders. =) Today one girl asked me why I had ever wanted dreads, I told her that I like them because they are big and crazy, and she said, "oh, like you!" Yes. Thank you, I will take that as a compliment I guess. 

But I do have one dilemma...it's something I have been struggling with all week actually. Let me tell you about it...

It's getting pretty cold here now (remember it's fall on this side of the world) and it gets down to freezing temps at night and we don't have central heating...we have a fire place. Anyway, in order to counter that cold I start the day off with a cup of tea before the fire is built. Then when Kelcey comes down she makes coffee and I have a cup of that too (camp leaders need their caffeine!)...at this point I am starting to warm up. Unfortunately, our bathroom is the coldest room in the whole house and drinking tea and coffee leads inevitably to a visit to the bathroom. Well, once I've been in the bathroom I'm cold all over again, and I have to go make a hot drink to warm up...you can guess what that leads to and how the cycle continues. It's really been a struggle for me. ;) 

Hehe, but really camp has been awesome! Keep the prayers coming, because we have another week after this one! 

Guilty of avoidance? …yes!

Wow, I am a horrible blogger, sorry world, I've just been avoiding you to be honest. As school was coming to an end it seemed to sad to admit it, so I could not bring myself to put it into words. But alas, it came anyway. Graduation was on June 23rd and it was beautiful. A few of us shared testimonies of what God has done in our hearts and lives this year, and I was honored to be one of the people to share. Though it was very hard to sum up my growth into just 5 minutes when God has been working non-stop these past 9 months. And it was also a challenge to get through a speech without bursting into tears, but I just thought about how we tricked most of our lecturers into trying a super sour lolly (candy) just to burst into a fit of laughter at their reactions and I made it through.

The next day I said goodbye to 5 of my best friends and now family members. Only God could count all of the tears that were shed by all of us! (I'm actually surprised our house didn't flood!) But while it hurt to say goodbye there was also joy in knowing that all that we've learned here will be spread out to 13 different places as we go. And that we are a forever family in Christ and He will be with us always...nothing can separate us from His love.

The weekend was weird and quiet and we were missing the 5 who left, but also the beginning of a new excitement as we began to prepare for the next two weeks. Those of us who stayed are hosting a camp for the next two weeks called Jumpstart. It's gonna be such a blast! We are adding 16 kids to the house, so it won't feel quiet and lonely anymore! Please be praying for and with us as we embark on this adventure. Pray that these kids would grow in the Lord and have the best week of their lives. That we would lead well with joy and love. That there would not be any injuries. That memories would be made. That nothing in the house breaks down. That we all stay warm (it's getting really cold over here!). 

Hopefully I'll post again soon and tell you how it's going, but if not, just keep praying! I'm most grateful for your prayers! And to those of you in MI see you in less than 2 weeks!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well here we go… on the morning of my birthday this beautiful outfit was laid out for me to put on by my roommates. I wasn't quite sure what to do, but I put it on and got ready to embrace the day.

They said since my favorite color is rainbow I had to wear it all day and they decided to surround me with a rainbow too, and assigned everyone a color to wear all day.

After lunch they took me on a scavenger hunt that lasted all afternoon. 

All around our house and yard. I had to go to each person in the "family" to get clues or do something else.

No day is complete for me without a wheelbarrow ride these days

At one clue I stopped for a tea part with the boys

Later I had a clue that led me to a coffee date with Kelcey 

Jess played me a song on the piano 

The boys kept on making me hot drinks all day! I've never been so hydrated!

Card with Erica…I won…of course

Amy took me for a bike ride…the first one they let me go on since I ruined my foot…gonna say I didn't feel all that safe once Jess and Erica let go, but it was fun and I survived! 

Kelc did my nails 

And it ended with brownies and ice cream and games all evening.