Our summer continues at almost a non-stop pace, as the entire camp switches cabins for the rest of the summer. There are four more sessions to go, and I am now in the deer cabin which is the youngest girls (6-10yrs). Josh is now a mighty muskrat, taking care of the youngest boys. It'll be a different ball game for us both, as we go from being with the oldest of our gender to the youngest. It is now our break, and since Josh hasn't been feeling well, we both skipped the staff island party, and hung back at the camp ground, where we just booked our destination wedding to Vegas, online.
Session 3 was my favourite, so far. The girls were all so different, (personalities and medical needs) yet they bonded together and showed a lot of care and understanding. They enjoyed my Canadian accent and 'Canadian ways' and didn't call me by name but insisted on calling me 'charity'. Our favourite game to play together as a cabin was 'taboo' and I think this week, the bear cabin actually may not have been late for every activity ("I know we're going on the ropes course but I still need to look good!") My favourite and most memorable activity this week was the dance because theres something about dancing together that makes for a great bonding experience. Many of the kids who are in wheel chairs or have other physical disabilities, enjoy dressing up, and dancing in their own ways. 16 year old energetic Ashley, who wears leg braces because of Spina Bifida, threw on a purple and black sparkly mermaid-style gown and danced the night away, moving to the rhythm in an amazing way mostly using just her upper-body. The capability of the kids can be very surprising and impressive, especially in an environment of acceptance.
Half of the summer is gone, though memories of camp still dance in the minds of campers as they return home with tie-dye t-shirts, camp songs, photographs, and a longing to return to Double H. The oldest girls, the bear cabin, are not too old to cry, at the wish boat ceremony, which for some, ends their last summer at camp.
I feel a dissatisfaction as we say goodbye to the campers. Although, they were able to have a fun-filled week of new experiences, and doing things they couldn't normally do, I wish to offer them a joy and assurance that is lasting and doesn't depend on being at camp.
As camp continues, I feel that it is crucial for us to guard our joy. We can easily let our guards down and becomes stressed out by the atmosphere of who we work with,and being with them for almost 24/7. It is too easy to complain and let the little things irritate us. As long as we work with people, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to get annoyed, offended, and distracted. As we grow closer to God, depending on His mercy and His strength daily in our lives, everything becomes about kindness. We are not here to rise to the top, but to go lower.
We are at camp to do humble service for the children and those we work with. As we care for the most needy, we care for Jesus, and as we serve the ungrateful, we care for our people. I pray that God will use this summer to break our hearts for the people who need to know His love, the most.
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