Today
Hey there! I haven't had much time to blog recently. Busy Busy Busy! Tuesday was my birthday (happy 20th to me!) and it was really rainy here, but I got one present from "family," one from my mentor here and a few phone calls that were GREATLY appreciated. I have been working hard outdoors trying to help get everything ready for the campers who get here in 10 days. The thing that I have been looking forward to the most here at camp happened today: the rest of the counseling staff arrived! It is nice to be with everyone who will be working with me this summer and to not be the only new person here. Previously, I felt like I was! I am getting geared up and psyched to run around with these kids. I know that it will be a trying time and I will be pushed a lot. Challenge will come my way, but I just am ready for a bit of toughness I think. And I am ready to question things a bit.

I have been asking a lot of questions about God lately (as in this past year). And sometimes I wonder if I still believe in God, which is a hard question to ask when people look at you like you are bad Christian for asking that question or infer that God doesn't like it when people question Him. But I am ready and I hope that I can find people around me who are ready to take that journey with me and breathe questions. Sometimes I feel like all I do is breathe questions. God help me...

But on a fun note, I am working here with my friend Chris who I grew up with but hadn't had much time to hang out with because he started attending EMU (yeah, I know). He arrived today-exciting! But his girlfriend, who I hadn't yet been introduced to, arrived on my birthday with a present from Chris and his family (the one I mentioned earlier). It wasn't weird at all! It was wonderful in fact. And I am excited to see what is going to be happening this summer to come. Well, I gotta go get back to my 40 degree weather. Brrr! Send me letters! = )

Mercy Oyana Spruce Lake Retreat RR1 Box 605 Canadensis, PA 18325
Posted at 22:21 #

Day Four?
Still not sure what to do or where to go, but I am starting to forge friendships. And I am living up all the "free" time I get since I don't have campers yet. One thing to note: the nights are COLD! so cold that my sleeping bag, which is usually fine for cold nights, is not enough. In fact, I don't sleep well because I'm curled up in such a tight ball. The temperature is supposed to rise so I am just anxious for that. Well, I'm off to the pool. Write more later!
Posted at 19:56 #

Whoa
Whoa, it's weird that this is already set up. I just got to Spruce Lake yesterday, I haven't even been around for 24 hours yet! And I've already been put to work clearing out some wood area for teepees that are going up. I guess we're jumping right in.

So what is going through my mind right now? A lot of nervousness. More than I thought I would have. But now that I am here I feel underprepared. I don't know where to go or who I am supposed to be with. I hope that the longer I am here, the clearer it will be.

I've been asking EVERYONE for advice on how to be a counselor and I've gotten some good stuff. Some tips on how to get campers to go to sleep and how to enforce rules. Whew! God help me.

What excites me? Well, I can't wait for everyone else to get to camp so that I can have other counselors to hang out with. Other than that, I just don't know what to expect. If YOU have any advice just let me know...facebook me or email me. = )
Posted at 11:46 #