Camp was so so great. I drove a car down with one of my fav youth riding shot gun. We planned his retirement. After he is an optometrist, he is going to buy a hummer (chill, by then they will be electric/hybrid cars and not gas guzzlers... this is my daydream, don't poke holes in it) and call it the "Think Tank". It will be a transport service, but instead of the driver ignoring the passengers and vice versa, it will be a forum to posit new ideas and foster intelligent discussion. I'm pumped. Eli needs to hurry up and get old.
Once at camp, the youth's eyes were really opened to what it means to walk the Christian walk without putting up a fake front for the world. The theme was avoiding going through the motions and being yourself, but it kind of morphed into a time of learning what it meant to be honest with yourself and how to walk in the "newness of life" without a care for what the world thinks. This honesty really seemed to push the kids closer to truer worship and friendship. It was touching.
The spiritual/growth part of camp was fantastic. The physical aspect was not. The doc told me exercise would help a headache, so instead of reaching for some pills that would likely make me useless for the day, I went hiking with the kids. Bad idea. I lasted about 15 min and then turned around and came back to camp feeling much much worse than before. I was pretty sure I was going to pass out before I made it back. The pain sucked, but that wasn't the worst part. I felt completely irresponsible in that moment. I had two other girls depending on me to lead them back to camp and I wasn't sure I was going to make it myself. It sounds dramatic, and maybe it is, but I felt really disappointed and like an irresponsible adult. I went the pill route as soon as I got back.
As the days progressed, I realized it was a mistake to think I could be the counselor the kids deserved. I couldn't plan small group studies because of this absurd headache and ended up sitting in on Henry's. Luckily, this worked out super well. We made a great team and our group seemed to really benefit from what we talked about.
The most depressing part of camp with a headache was my inability to worship with the group. The more the youth were empowered and inspired, the louder they sang and clapped. Thats my favorite part of camp, singing. I had to listen in from another room. Like small groups though, God seemed to take this apparent handicap and turn it into an opportunity for me to talk to some friends who were seeking advice and conversation. I think we all grew in that little room (It became called "office number two").
I'm hoping it was the lack of sleep/heat/irregular diet that made camp so painful. If things don't ease up by the end of this month, I will be seeking alternative medication for sure. Speaking of, I found relief the last day of camp in a pretty unlikely way: a stretchy head band! I found one at the bottom of the pool not too long ago and decided to give it a try. It felt so great I bought a pack at target when we got back to town (my head is small, so I got the ones for little girls). Its hit or miss if it helps though. Today it just made it worse. Not a bad trick to have up my sleeve though.
Anywho, the trip lasted long after camp ended. On the way back, the car developed a violent vibration. Henry drove it back while I drove the van (yes, a 15 passenger through Memphis) and thought we could make it home. We decided to stay an extra day to debrief so we headed out Saturday night instead of Friday. As soon as we hit interstate, it became apparent that the car had other plans. Nothing was open Sunday so it had to wait until today. I'd like to give a public shout out to Mysee and Morgan and their families for letting Henry and I couch surf for so long.
Being home is great, but I might have to flush fish. He can't make it to the top of the tank and has turned a funny color. I'm kind of bummed.
Congratulations if you made it to the end. There are so many more stories I wish I had time to tell!
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