"It's Fine, I'm Fine, We're All Fine."
Hey y'all! As many of you know, I have been working in Texas all summer at the camp called The Pines Catholic Camp. I recently came home and am adjusting back to Minnesota, even though my heart is in Big Sandy! This summer, God has been so gracious to me in so many ways. Being in Texas for 12 weeks was one of the hardest things I've ever trusted God with, but let me tell you, it was so incredibly worth it.
I left the Minneapolis airport on May 23rd, scared shitless. I remember hugging my parents outside of airport security, not saying much, with fear that I would breakdown and bawl my eyes out. When I was offered the job in October 2015, I was pumped to do something this amazing. I was so ready to take on whatever God wanted me to do and was so excited. Now, on May 23rd, all of those emotions were covered with fear, doubt, and anxiety. Relentlessly, I said my goodbyes, and stepped into the unknown. What would camp be like? Would I make friends? Would people judge me without knowing me? Was I even fit for this job? Why on Earth did God want me to do this? Everything was going through my mind all at once, and I was definitely overwhelmed.
The first week of camp was hard. Like, real hard. The campers hadn't even arrived yet, but we had staff training before they came. I was so out of my element. Think about going from Minnesota, where the temperatures are no higher than 75 degrees, where people said "baaaag" and "taaag" in that "Minnesotan accent" and it was normal, and where trees, grass. and bright green were all around you in nature, then switching that to East Texas, where sand is everyone's best friend, on a good day, the temperature is 95 degrees with 90% humidity, and where there are southern accents. Everywhere. It was definitely a culture shock. On top of everything, I was doubting my mission that God had sent me on. Why did I even make the effort to come to Texas?
As time went on, conditions became more comfortable, people were super welcoming, and I slowly started giving my anxieties to Christ, in hopes that he was sanctifying me through all the fear. Well, God never fails, because by the end of staff training, I was so excited to be there and be a part of the campers' faith lives'.
Being a camp counselor has been one of the biggest blessings in my life! Throughout the summer, I was able to work with kids in 2nd grade all the way through 12th grade. Each age group is so completely different, but just as beautiful as the other in multiple ways. Many children who came through camp didn't have the intimate relationship with Christ. It was the staff's job to help them find the beauty of one and guide their hearts to Christ. One cool thing about kids, especially t a young age, is when they're started to form their idea of Jesus and who he is. I remember working with 2nd-4th graders one week, and we asked the question about what Jesus looked like to them. One 3rd grader (basically me as a child; awkward, quirky, loved to eat, messy hair, and goofy as all ever...needless to say, she was my spirit animal) spoke up and with all humor aside, explained how her Jesus looked like an African American man with blonde hair, blonde beard, and specks of black in the blonde hair. Now, this sounds goofy to us, but to her, this was her Jesus! The fact that this little girl was able to close her eyes (yes, she actually closed her eyes to better visualize it), see her Jesus, and able to replay that image in her mind was amazing. We all have different views of who Jesus is, and maybe this was how she could connect with Jesus the best. If we helped her visualize Jesus for the first time, and this is how she saw him, that's incredible. In that moment, I knew this was her beginning stages of forming a relationship with Christ.
Other times, being a counselor was spiritually and mentally draining. Prayer is a huge aspect to camp and making sure all goes well. Without prayer, what would be the point of calling it a Catholic camp? When I was a counselor for high schoolers, these were the weeks when I felt my prayers were needed the most. You never know what kinds of things kids are struggling with, but when they share their stories with you, it puts a whole new idea on prayer for the week. I had to change the way I ministered to kids every week, depending on different situations they were going through at home. As tough as these weeks were, God was so present within our cabins. Each week ended beautifully and the campers, once again, left with a new idea of Christ in their lives.
I know I couldn't have done what I did without the support of the staff. My oh my, let me tell you, the staff was incredible! I felt fully supported through prayer, thoughts, actions, etc. all because my staff had my back, and I had theirs. Nothing is more beautiful than after a long day with the kiddos, going to 10:45pm mass with half of your staff. We may have been exhausted, sunburnt, sore, and drained, but still, we made the commitment to see Christ in the Eucharist, late at night, all praising him as a group. We all wanted nothing but the best for each other. I made beautiful friendships with people. Some friendships that are deeper and more connected than at home. In such a short amount of time, I have made lifelong connections that I know are Christ centered and ones that I can count on any time.
God is incredible. I am so blessed to be his disciple and make that lifelong commitment to him. Praise God for his everlasting love.
"God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called."
My OIX (One In Christ) Female Staff. What a group of blessed babes of the Lord!
I left the Minneapolis airport on May 23rd, scared shitless. I remember hugging my parents outside of airport security, not saying much, with fear that I would breakdown and bawl my eyes out. When I was offered the job in October 2015, I was pumped to do something this amazing. I was so ready to take on whatever God wanted me to do and was so excited. Now, on May 23rd, all of those emotions were covered with fear, doubt, and anxiety. Relentlessly, I said my goodbyes, and stepped into the unknown. What would camp be like? Would I make friends? Would people judge me without knowing me? Was I even fit for this job? Why on Earth did God want me to do this? Everything was going through my mind all at once, and I was definitely overwhelmed.
The first week of camp was hard. Like, real hard. The campers hadn't even arrived yet, but we had staff training before they came. I was so out of my element. Think about going from Minnesota, where the temperatures are no higher than 75 degrees, where people said "baaaag" and "taaag" in that "Minnesotan accent" and it was normal, and where trees, grass. and bright green were all around you in nature, then switching that to East Texas, where sand is everyone's best friend, on a good day, the temperature is 95 degrees with 90% humidity, and where there are southern accents. Everywhere. It was definitely a culture shock. On top of everything, I was doubting my mission that God had sent me on. Why did I even make the effort to come to Texas?
As time went on, conditions became more comfortable, people were super welcoming, and I slowly started giving my anxieties to Christ, in hopes that he was sanctifying me through all the fear. Well, God never fails, because by the end of staff training, I was so excited to be there and be a part of the campers' faith lives'.
Being a camp counselor has been one of the biggest blessings in my life! Throughout the summer, I was able to work with kids in 2nd grade all the way through 12th grade. Each age group is so completely different, but just as beautiful as the other in multiple ways. Many children who came through camp didn't have the intimate relationship with Christ. It was the staff's job to help them find the beauty of one and guide their hearts to Christ. One cool thing about kids, especially t a young age, is when they're started to form their idea of Jesus and who he is. I remember working with 2nd-4th graders one week, and we asked the question about what Jesus looked like to them. One 3rd grader (basically me as a child; awkward, quirky, loved to eat, messy hair, and goofy as all ever...needless to say, she was my spirit animal) spoke up and with all humor aside, explained how her Jesus looked like an African American man with blonde hair, blonde beard, and specks of black in the blonde hair. Now, this sounds goofy to us, but to her, this was her Jesus! The fact that this little girl was able to close her eyes (yes, she actually closed her eyes to better visualize it), see her Jesus, and able to replay that image in her mind was amazing. We all have different views of who Jesus is, and maybe this was how she could connect with Jesus the best. If we helped her visualize Jesus for the first time, and this is how she saw him, that's incredible. In that moment, I knew this was her beginning stages of forming a relationship with Christ.
Other times, being a counselor was spiritually and mentally draining. Prayer is a huge aspect to camp and making sure all goes well. Without prayer, what would be the point of calling it a Catholic camp? When I was a counselor for high schoolers, these were the weeks when I felt my prayers were needed the most. You never know what kinds of things kids are struggling with, but when they share their stories with you, it puts a whole new idea on prayer for the week. I had to change the way I ministered to kids every week, depending on different situations they were going through at home. As tough as these weeks were, God was so present within our cabins. Each week ended beautifully and the campers, once again, left with a new idea of Christ in their lives.
I know I couldn't have done what I did without the support of the staff. My oh my, let me tell you, the staff was incredible! I felt fully supported through prayer, thoughts, actions, etc. all because my staff had my back, and I had theirs. Nothing is more beautiful than after a long day with the kiddos, going to 10:45pm mass with half of your staff. We may have been exhausted, sunburnt, sore, and drained, but still, we made the commitment to see Christ in the Eucharist, late at night, all praising him as a group. We all wanted nothing but the best for each other. I made beautiful friendships with people. Some friendships that are deeper and more connected than at home. In such a short amount of time, I have made lifelong connections that I know are Christ centered and ones that I can count on any time.
God is incredible. I am so blessed to be his disciple and make that lifelong commitment to him. Praise God for his everlasting love.
"God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called."
My OIX (One In Christ) Female Staff. What a group of blessed babes of the Lord!
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