Final Communique?

With the internship drawing to a close (sort of) does that mean the end of this blag? You wish. No, I will continue to write here, like some mindless thrall. Working away long after serving its purpose.

Sinus Trifecta

First, a sore throat due to congestion.

Next, a stuffed nose and more congestion.

Now, ear infection, with a side order of congestion.

Reflections of Camp

All in all camp was fun. I had a great time with my co-counselors, and if the kids were focused than meaningful things happened. The nature hike (which I did every day) was good exercise, and it kept me humble. Each day I asked the group what they would rather be doing. The previous night the activity that they wanted to do the next day was already full, so they chose hiking instead.

The food was fried. All of it. I didn't know you could fry Macaroni, corn, and pickles, but apparently you can.

I also learned that screaming at little kids all day really helps you hit high notes when singing hymns!

Unfortunately, one of my campers (naturally the one who never stayed put) hurt his ankle when he collided with a girl holding a greased watermelon and it fell on top of his foot. But, with two heart conditions and a camper with epilepsy in my cabin, a hurt ankle is the least of my worries.

Counselor's log...

I have survived camp. Barely. Now I fight for my life against some unknown sickness. Or a cold. We'll see. Here is the notes I was able to jot down during all of the crazy. Word for word as they appear in my "journal."

Day 1
Saturday, June 28

We have started the journey toward Henderson. I must admit, I am agitated by the compulsion to write out my sermon. Preston and I will be giving a tag-team sermon, where one of us will speak, then the other, on the topic of mentors and community. It is not your standard sermon, so that is my excuse for not writing it out.

As I look out at the rolling hills, covered in dense vegetation, cut only by meandering rivers and the highway, cares seem to drift away. The sky, a never ending sea of blue, filled with herds of roaming cumulus clouds.

Its only the first day of this 6-day "excellent adventure," and I am already waxing poetic.


Day 2
Sunday, June 29

This morning Preston and I preached in Henderson. It was a good learning experience, even though the congregation wasn't very responsive. They assumed we knew what we were doing. They probably would have waited all day before telling me I needed to pray for the offering. I learned that I have to write my whole sermon before I feel comfortable with it.

The first day of camp got off to a rocky start. We arrived early, checked in late, and the camp was hit by a storm at check in, throwing everything into disarray. I was yelling myself hoarse trying to get my cabin to sleep, when the other counselor, Pastor John Warren, came in and led the group in prayer. Instantly the group calmed down.

I look forward to leading the group in a hike tomorrow.


Day 3
Monday, June 30

A restless night. Ironically, I was too cold. What is it about 6th and 7th graders and showers? The first person in the shower today was at 6:45 and he didn't get out until 7:05. The breakfast was good, but it seems I am perpetually late.

The nature hike was fun. I led the group around the lake, using a dirt road instead of the trail. One girl was amazed at how fast "an old man" like myself could walk faster than them. We also went in a prayer trail, where we prayed for some of their concerns. It was a solemn time of contemplation.

Now a pillow fight has broken out, and it will continue until I become collateral damage. The kids think I am 40. I am pathetic.


That was the last recording. The journal was found caked in dry blood and tears. No word on the status of the author, although many say if you listen at night, you can hear him calling in vain for silence from unseen 7th grade campers...

Firey Irony

Yesterday Creative Arts Camp was brought to a hault as the fire department was called. Something had caught fire, filling the air with acrid smoke. The culprit? The very device designed to show the way to safety: an exit sign. Apparently, this is not the first time it's happened either. In fact, this the third incident in 2 years. Thankfully, the sign only smoldered, not doing any damage to anything but itself.

Fire safety, or ticking time bomb?

And they say irony is dead.

This is probably going to be my last communique for a while. See you on the other side.

Camp, Preach, Camp

This week and the next are/are going to be crazy.

After this week, I will have survived Creative Arts Camp. My job is to serve as one of the devotional leaders. Basically, devotional leaders (or devo-leaders if you prefer) provide spiritual insight for the campers, beyond what they learn in the musical they are learning. Did I forget to mention that the campers learn an original musical written by the music minister of the church? Yeah, and its good too. Campers also go to special interest groups where they learn how to build things, dance, play instruments, etc. Devotions leaders are the privileged few that get to see all of the campers, from 2nd to 7th grade. Its crazy.

Sunday, I will be "tag-team" preaching at a 20-30 person church in Henderson. That should be interesting considering I haven't written anything for it yet.

Next week I will be at Camp. With a capital "c". The real deal, with A/C cabins and everything. I get to be a counselor for junior high kids. Knowing this, nobody get mad that I don't post for a while. I nearly drown in the amount of negative feedback I get when I don't update my blag (hint of sarcasm).

Unless something happens, I will keep a realog (as opposed to a weblog) and post that when I get back. Wish me luck.

By the way, if you noticed, I put some pictures in my older posts. If you had not noticed, they were there the whole time.

Shack

For those of you interested, read "The Shack" by William P. Young. Its pretty good, I consider it to be C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" in fiction form. It has to do with the problem of evil, relationship with all parts of the Trinity, and relationship with others. Like I said, its pretty good.

Check it out here.