Avery County AKA The Learning Experience

Deep Impact, Week 1

Let me tell you, everything I thought that Deep Impact was going to be, I was terribly and horribly wrong.  

It has been so much better.  

Yes, I've had the stressfulness of Registration, fielding all of the youth leader's questions.  I've counted the money we've made from Canteen four times and gotten four different numbers.  I have very little cell phone service, so I barely get to talk to my family, which is really hard, as close as we are.  I've woken up earlier than I've had to in a LONG time, maybe since last summer's Deep Impact.  I've been stressed out, tired, weary, and frustrated.  

But it's also been positively brilliant.  

I've made such close, deep friendships with people that I'm working with, from both teams.  It's strange how terribly I miss them, even though I know I only met them a week and a half ago.  

I'm turning out to be a pretty good photographer, being able to capture all the moments the Campers experience on camera.  I like to think it's because of all those youth trips I've been on.  

I'm getting along with campers and chaperons far better than I expected.  I thought I might get along with one or the other, depending on my mood, but it turns out I'm getting along well with both at the SAME TIME!  I know, right?  It's crazy.  

I am actually being pretty organized and efficient with my space.  I've even voluntarily cleaned up around me because there was too much clutter and I knew it would get too messy.  You have to understand, that's a really big step for me.  Really.  

And I feel like every day I am walking in the Lord's will.  I know everything hasn't been smooth, but I've felt and sensed God along every bump in the road.  Around every sharp, mountain-winding-road curve, He's been leading the way.  And it's been phenomenal to see Him work.  

And the campers? They've been awesome.  I've made so many friendships with them.  And to be a tool in God's plan for their lives, I'm so humbled and honored.  I've helped them laugh, cheered them up, encouraged them, and smiled while they grew in their faith.  I'm so excited and thrilled to see how God has changed them in the course of the week, and pray that their growth will continue.  

And now, as I sit here in Shelby, exhausted but joyful, all I can think is: Bring on week 2!

-

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for both the Orange and the Blue teams, while we're in Shelby and they're in Honduras.  
• Pray that we remain strong in the Lord, that we would draw upon Him, and continue to fill ourselves as we pour out to others.
• Pray that I would remain peaceful and patient.  It's easy for me to get into my head, get stressed out, and shut down.  Pray that God would keep me calm and focused.
• Pray that we would continue to work together smoothly and happily   There haven't been any real issues on our team, which I am so thankful for, so I pray that this would continue.  
• Pray that every hour of rest we get would feel like two.  We're all so tired!  :)