Wow. I do not know what to say other than that. It is amazing to think how rough and what a struggle last summer was and the difference being in a role you were specifically hand picked and created by God for. I have no doubt, everything that I feel in my heart I am supposed to be doing at this point in the my life, I am actually doing it. It is so incredible to be serving in a role that you are so passionate about. I feel so blessed.
Not only do I feel that I am supposed to be leading worship and creating experiences in which we hope and pray the Spirit will move mightily in these campers lives, but I also have the pleasure of being able to disciple and minister to staff. God has been at work in my heart for many years and it has been truly a blessing to see how God has used my story and my life experience to help others. I am not worthy of this joy and I constantly am thanking and praising for this experience. Truly blessed.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Camp.
So, it took me forever to post the last post for summer camp, so here it is. Let me just start by saying that this summer has been an absolute blast, one of the best I have ever had. Traveling the south, bringing the gospel to thousands of kids, and getting paid for it? Let's be real here, that is truly incredible. Truly blessed.
Lakeland was a blast, from having the opportunity to use the churches existing set, to having camp in an old shopping mall, to the giant gator stuck in the storm drains, it was a perfect way to end the summer. The owner/operator in Lakeland, Scott, was super sweet and together with our team provided an amazing camp experience for these campers.
Lets not forget Stephen Moore, this was his last week of camp, so blessed to have him as my director, had an absolute blast. I couldn't have hand picked a better leader and role model, thanks bud!
You know that you have a great job when you cannot wait to wake up at 5 in the morning to head off to set up camp. It went by so fast, I can't wait for it to happen again.
Thanks Zach for making camp even better than it already was and being there for support and wisdom, it was greatly appreciated. You are a man of God, don't let it falter, keep going strong and He will continue to bless you and your ministry.
Camp was amazing, cannot wait to do it again next year.
Late.
P.S.
O'Haire for 8 1/2 hours has got to be one of the worst things ever.
Lakeland was a blast, from having the opportunity to use the churches existing set, to having camp in an old shopping mall, to the giant gator stuck in the storm drains, it was a perfect way to end the summer. The owner/operator in Lakeland, Scott, was super sweet and together with our team provided an amazing camp experience for these campers.
Lets not forget Stephen Moore, this was his last week of camp, so blessed to have him as my director, had an absolute blast. I couldn't have hand picked a better leader and role model, thanks bud!
You know that you have a great job when you cannot wait to wake up at 5 in the morning to head off to set up camp. It went by so fast, I can't wait for it to happen again.
Thanks Zach for making camp even better than it already was and being there for support and wisdom, it was greatly appreciated. You are a man of God, don't let it falter, keep going strong and He will continue to bless you and your ministry.
Camp was amazing, cannot wait to do it again next year.
Late.
P.S.
O'Haire for 8 1/2 hours has got to be one of the worst things ever.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saturday in Lakeland. Best Day of the Week.
Going between 50 and 60 mph down a water slide is the most amazing thing ever. But talk about a major wedgie, haha. I rode the tallest and fastest free fall water slides in the world! Pretty truly it is called summit plummet, dropping you down 125 ft. It was incredible. Talk about a rush. Then going to dinner at Bahama Breeze (by the way didn't know there was a specific type of Cuban bread, but it is freaking delicious. Thanks Megan, Melody, Katie and Anna! And then afterwards going to Downtown Disney Marketplace for some desert at Ghirardelli chocolate store. Not to mention just walking around DDM is super cool, being on water. It's a totally different feel than Anaheim, much more spread out, but less like a downtown feel, which I kinda missed, but then I remembered I'm at Disney World and I loved it, haha.
To top the night off, we watched fireworks over WDW while we were driving out of the park, such an amazing cap to an already amazing day.
Shout out to two rides an hour and Cuban Bread.
Late.
P.S. Cali get ready! Only 6 more days!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday in Gainesville. Best Day of the Week.
And it was. I was really nervous about this week, with all the videos I have to do and stuff, but I prayed about it, prayed for patience and calming of nerves and this week has been flying bye without any hitches of any sort. It has been a blessing for sure. We also ran Lights, Camera, Action, (the skill I help Mac run) and this week has been the best so far out of the 3 times we have run it. The kids are having a blast and this location has been great for filming and we had some fun on the archery field, a very Braveheart moment with the kids. It was incredible!!!!
Sorry I didn't get to take a picture of the stage, was too busy with Wet Wacky Wild Wednesday today, getting some sick vids for the flashback video tomorrow morning.
So the first two days here in Gainesville I broke no sticks, stoked on it. Then of course today I break two :(, haha. Luckily I have enough pairs no to make it till the end of the summer with the way I am going. But the new ones I had shipped are just a little different and a little heavier, but now I'm complaining about half an ounce. Woe is me.
I will be so happy when August 5th rolls around and that will be the last day I will have to set up EZ-UP tents this year. They are so annoying, and made terribly and break like twigs. Seriously, one gust and they fold up like paper.
My bedmate is telling me that my screen is too bright and I put the brightness down all the way, but Apple wants you to light up your world even on the lowest setting, so I gotta go, sorry to cut it short.
Cali get ready! 18 days!!!!!!
Sorry I didn't get to take a picture of the stage, was too busy with Wet Wacky Wild Wednesday today, getting some sick vids for the flashback video tomorrow morning.
So the first two days here in Gainesville I broke no sticks, stoked on it. Then of course today I break two :(, haha. Luckily I have enough pairs no to make it till the end of the summer with the way I am going. But the new ones I had shipped are just a little different and a little heavier, but now I'm complaining about half an ounce. Woe is me.
I will be so happy when August 5th rolls around and that will be the last day I will have to set up EZ-UP tents this year. They are so annoying, and made terribly and break like twigs. Seriously, one gust and they fold up like paper.
My bedmate is telling me that my screen is too bright and I put the brightness down all the way, but Apple wants you to light up your world even on the lowest setting, so I gotta go, sorry to cut it short.
Cali get ready! 18 days!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday and Tuesday in Gainesville. Best Days of the Week.
Two posts in one night? Insanity.
I'll start off by telling you about my Saturday. I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wow. What an end to a movie dynasty. I was so glad that they split the last book into two movies, a wise decision from the HP people. I laughed, and I cried (no joke, I cried tears when Snape died and during the pensive part where we see Snape's past) and it was a joy ride for my eye balls. Please tell me you have seen it? Tell me what you think about it.
And just as a side right now, one of my teammates told me I have nice hand writing and that it is masculine and then the girl talking with us told me I have feminine writing. Which one should I take? I don't know. Haha.
So on Sunday we had to set up the whole entire camp for use that night for a Sunday night service and it was insane. We had literally 3 hours, maybe a little less to do all the set and all the sound and tech stuff. It was legit though, we got it all done and even had time to rehearse for that nights worship service. I will try to take a picture tomorrow of the stage and post it on tomorrow night's post. It is legit, let me tell you, but a pain to pack and to move all the time.
So I help teach a skill called Lights, Camera, Action and it has only run two times, and of course it runs again this week, with the smallest camp, haha. I mean it isn't that bad, and actually since the first week, it has gotten a lot better and today and yesterday was amazing. The kids are having a blast and today we got to shaving cream pie four staffers in the face. Two of which did not even know it was coming and it looked so good on camera, their faces were priceless. Absolutely priceless, haha. It will be interesting though to see how tomorrow will go when we have to get the rest of the video filmed and begin to edit tomorrow and Thursday. Prayers.
So I walk around getting various skills on video for the recap videos and get to do all the skills and help out if I am needed. Today, I became Aragon when I went to archery. I preceded to arch( I think that is what you say?) some arrows into some targets, concluding shooting an arrow with my eyes on the camera not on the target, perfect shot! Boom! Haha.
For dinner, we had kind of a warmed up meal yesterday, but tonight we had bbq, and it was incredible! So good and I ate like a pig, while eating pig, haha. Pulled pork, smoked bbq chicken which is absolutely amazing, a party in my mouth, especially for my taste buds.
I know now why there was so much more Lindt 90% cocoa supreme dark chocolate in the store on Monday.
Late.
P.S. Cali get ready! 18 days!!!!!
GR get ready! 17 days!!!!!
I'll start off by telling you about my Saturday. I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wow. What an end to a movie dynasty. I was so glad that they split the last book into two movies, a wise decision from the HP people. I laughed, and I cried (no joke, I cried tears when Snape died and during the pensive part where we see Snape's past) and it was a joy ride for my eye balls. Please tell me you have seen it? Tell me what you think about it.
And just as a side right now, one of my teammates told me I have nice hand writing and that it is masculine and then the girl talking with us told me I have feminine writing. Which one should I take? I don't know. Haha.
So on Sunday we had to set up the whole entire camp for use that night for a Sunday night service and it was insane. We had literally 3 hours, maybe a little less to do all the set and all the sound and tech stuff. It was legit though, we got it all done and even had time to rehearse for that nights worship service. I will try to take a picture tomorrow of the stage and post it on tomorrow night's post. It is legit, let me tell you, but a pain to pack and to move all the time.
So I help teach a skill called Lights, Camera, Action and it has only run two times, and of course it runs again this week, with the smallest camp, haha. I mean it isn't that bad, and actually since the first week, it has gotten a lot better and today and yesterday was amazing. The kids are having a blast and today we got to shaving cream pie four staffers in the face. Two of which did not even know it was coming and it looked so good on camera, their faces were priceless. Absolutely priceless, haha. It will be interesting though to see how tomorrow will go when we have to get the rest of the video filmed and begin to edit tomorrow and Thursday. Prayers.
So I walk around getting various skills on video for the recap videos and get to do all the skills and help out if I am needed. Today, I became Aragon when I went to archery. I preceded to arch( I think that is what you say?) some arrows into some targets, concluding shooting an arrow with my eyes on the camera not on the target, perfect shot! Boom! Haha.
For dinner, we had kind of a warmed up meal yesterday, but tonight we had bbq, and it was incredible! So good and I ate like a pig, while eating pig, haha. Pulled pork, smoked bbq chicken which is absolutely amazing, a party in my mouth, especially for my taste buds.
I know now why there was so much more Lindt 90% cocoa supreme dark chocolate in the store on Monday.
Late.
P.S. Cali get ready! 18 days!!!!!
GR get ready! 17 days!!!!!
Chick-fil-a Friday Family Fun Day in Dothan. Best Day of the Week.
Soooo, sorry for the late post. Got busy and tired and a tad bit lazy. You know me, haha. But it was amazing! You gotta love CFFFD (Chick-fil-a Friday Family Fun Day). It honestly is the best day of the week. For Fridays we invite all the parents to come to camp to see a camp day and experience what their kids experience for the week, and in doing so they get to do all the skills that their campers have been doing as well. It is insane. When we were in Gulf Breeze, there was over 1000 people at CFFFD! That was absolutely incredible!
At CFFFD the local Chick-fil-a that we partner with provides chicken sandwiches for lunch for all attenders! It is awesome. The parents and the campers love it, and believe it or not I have not gotten tired of Chick-fil-a yet. I have been grown into a Chick-fil-a addict and love it! Waffle fries, I used to think weren't that good, are my favorite part of Chick-fil-a. And, as I mentioned before I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lemonade, it is soooo dang good. I am kinda not looking forward to not having any Chick-fil-a's even remotely close to me in Grand Rapids. But it's all good, I can eat some in California for two weeks when I get back!
I love playing for the parents and showing them how we have been leading the campers in worship everyday and how we bring them to the throne to praise God. The best is when the parents get into the songs and do the hand motions with the kids. This week we played a special song cause we are in Alabama. It was the tune Sweet Home Alabama, but we changed it to Sweet Home Up In Heaven. Everyone cheered when Anna (our worship leader) started the guitar lick. It was so fun to jam that song, something I can check off of my bucket list, that I played Sweet Home Alabama in Alabama! Are you kidding me?!?
And afterwards getting to eat Chick-fil-a is always a great cap to a great week, filled with some amazing memories and awesome fellowship with the children and parents and of course my friends on the red team. I cannot believe I am so blessed to be doing this as a job. It is unreal.
As true to myself, I forgot stuff in Dothan. Imagine that right? Haha, luckily the youth pastor is going to send it to Westside here in Gainesville, Florida. If I would have said I would be in Florida this summer, I would have said you are crazy, but I'm here. Boom!
Late.
At CFFFD the local Chick-fil-a that we partner with provides chicken sandwiches for lunch for all attenders! It is awesome. The parents and the campers love it, and believe it or not I have not gotten tired of Chick-fil-a yet. I have been grown into a Chick-fil-a addict and love it! Waffle fries, I used to think weren't that good, are my favorite part of Chick-fil-a. And, as I mentioned before I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lemonade, it is soooo dang good. I am kinda not looking forward to not having any Chick-fil-a's even remotely close to me in Grand Rapids. But it's all good, I can eat some in California for two weeks when I get back!
I love playing for the parents and showing them how we have been leading the campers in worship everyday and how we bring them to the throne to praise God. The best is when the parents get into the songs and do the hand motions with the kids. This week we played a special song cause we are in Alabama. It was the tune Sweet Home Alabama, but we changed it to Sweet Home Up In Heaven. Everyone cheered when Anna (our worship leader) started the guitar lick. It was so fun to jam that song, something I can check off of my bucket list, that I played Sweet Home Alabama in Alabama! Are you kidding me?!?
And afterwards getting to eat Chick-fil-a is always a great cap to a great week, filled with some amazing memories and awesome fellowship with the children and parents and of course my friends on the red team. I cannot believe I am so blessed to be doing this as a job. It is unreal.
As true to myself, I forgot stuff in Dothan. Imagine that right? Haha, luckily the youth pastor is going to send it to Westside here in Gainesville, Florida. If I would have said I would be in Florida this summer, I would have said you are crazy, but I'm here. Boom!
Late.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thursday in Dothan. Best Day of the Week.
Triangulation. Translated to Troyneese meaning "liquid excitement." The most epic day of camp consisting of a giant triangle arena where the campers complete various challenges to gain a popsicle stick and then throw it in a bucket for their village. It gets intense, kids get literally trampled by other kids, campers running in every direction and epic music playing in the background. The staff and some of the campers look like they just walked off the set of the movie Braveheart. Zach looked like William Wallace only without long locks.
We do this thing on Thursdays called Raving Fan Parking Lot and today there were a couple of sweet cars. One dad had taken regular car window paint, diluted it and put it in a paint sprayer and literally sprayed his whole car white blue and safari red. It looked so legit. Props to the parent, I don't think I would do that to my new Tahoe. One lady had a tent or tepee on top of her car and a bear rug on the hood, so sick. All the cars are judged by staffers and then the top three are given prizes from the Chick-fil-a operator we work with. Some give like free Chick-fil-a for a year and others give away different prizes, its really cool and gets people pumped about camp and Chick-fil-a. You actually get more points to have Chick-fil-a logos and stuff on your car, and for Chick-fil-a that is just free advertising. Genius.
Again, it never fails that we bring the rain, and today it poured again. Just unleashed on us and lightning just going insane. So, outdoor skills were cancelled for skill times 2 and 3, naturally. It is still weird having to cancel stuff due to lightning, something I have had happen maybe once or twice in California. Haha.
So I am rendering and exporting one of my videos for tomorrow and it is taking forever! This is the thorn in the side of every video editor out there. Rendering. Even with i5 it takes a while to export full HD videos. But it looks so good when done it is totally worth it. For sure.
Late.
26 days and counting. California! Get Ready!
We do this thing on Thursdays called Raving Fan Parking Lot and today there were a couple of sweet cars. One dad had taken regular car window paint, diluted it and put it in a paint sprayer and literally sprayed his whole car white blue and safari red. It looked so legit. Props to the parent, I don't think I would do that to my new Tahoe. One lady had a tent or tepee on top of her car and a bear rug on the hood, so sick. All the cars are judged by staffers and then the top three are given prizes from the Chick-fil-a operator we work with. Some give like free Chick-fil-a for a year and others give away different prizes, its really cool and gets people pumped about camp and Chick-fil-a. You actually get more points to have Chick-fil-a logos and stuff on your car, and for Chick-fil-a that is just free advertising. Genius.
Again, it never fails that we bring the rain, and today it poured again. Just unleashed on us and lightning just going insane. So, outdoor skills were cancelled for skill times 2 and 3, naturally. It is still weird having to cancel stuff due to lightning, something I have had happen maybe once or twice in California. Haha.
So I am rendering and exporting one of my videos for tomorrow and it is taking forever! This is the thorn in the side of every video editor out there. Rendering. Even with i5 it takes a while to export full HD videos. But it looks so good when done it is totally worth it. For sure.
Late.
26 days and counting. California! Get Ready!
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