Tuesday, August 19, 2008

5 cacti and a bonsai...together in any weather

I just had the best summer of my life. (I say this as I type from my balcony on Maui.) It's hard for me to look back and put into any kind of words what this summer has meant to me, but I am so thankful for it.

It's hard to believe that I almost didn't go back to Camp Sonshine this summer. Thank God his plans are better than mine. I went back wanting it to be different than last year, knowing it had to be if I was gonna let God do what he wanted. Last summer the one huge regret I had was that that day that I left those kids, I wasn't ready. I wanted just a few more days. I still had so much left to give and I didn't want to take it with me. I refused to have that feeling this year. If I was gonna do it I was gonna give it everything I had. Then I got this "job" as HC and I realized that I just needed to dive into camp. Not worry so much about making sure I still get all my free time with my friends or other homey things but just put my undivided self into camp. I did. God put amazing people into my life who I know I will be friends with forever. My "boss" was an amazing woman of God who challenged me everyday in a new way. She wasn't going to let me walk away from the summer not being a changed person and I am so thankful. Not to mention some of the amazing other staff I got to work with. My counselors were beyond amazing and so many of the other staff just brightened up my everydays.

The best part of my summer...by far...was seeing those kids that were mine last year. It's amazing how they grow up so fast in nine months. Namely one little girl, Lacey. This girl is amazing and it will be so hard for me not to go back and not get to see her. This little girl is just so full of joy and life and just hilarious. I am so beyond thankful that I was able to spend another summer with her.

It was so hard to leave this year. I took that as a sign...something went right and it was nothing but God. There's no way anything that happened this summer was my doing cause if I had enough time to go through the last 3 months with you it would be proof that I am not equipped enough to do what I just did without Him. It's obvious. Praise the Lord.

For the Love of Christ puts us into action... -2 Corinthians 5:14