Update on my summer

Hello, all! I know it's been a while, but I figured I would update you on what I've been doing. As some of you may recall, I am working at a Child Evangelism Fellowship camp all summer as part of their college bound program. The first two weeks of the summer were Christian Youth in Action, which is an amazing program in which teenagers learn how to share the gospel with children through Open Air, literature distribution, and 4-day Bible clubs.

Those couple of weeks were followed by three weeks of junior camp. I was a senior counselor for weeks 1 and 3 and I ran the trading post and taught handcraft week 2. It is currently teen week, and I am a "floating counselor" which means I am a junior counselor for three cabins (for junior camp, there is a senior and a junior counselor in each cabin of 6-8 campers). 

I've definitely had some trying moments, but I have seen God work in me and through me, especially last week. I had an autistic girl in my cabin and I got really frustrated with her refusal to listen to anyone. At some points, I would have just yelled at her and walked away, but the Holy Spirit helped me to stay calm and patient.

If you think of me, I would really appreciate prayers as there are still two ad a half weeks left to go and I am exhausted. If you would like to write me letters, you can e-mail me at 

knittingphotography (at) gmail (dot) com and I can send you the address. 

These pictures are mostly from the two photography classes I taught so far this year.

Being a counselor means doing a lot of people's hair for the banquet. *smile* I love it

My family came to camp week 2, so I was able to spend some time with them even though I'm away all summer.

I got to hide underneath the riflry 

p.s. you can follow me on instagram and get more current updates. *smile*

I'm not ready

Camp is over.

I'm sad to see it go, but at least it was a good summer,

a summer full of socks and flip-flops, manicures, ice cream, picnics, sewing baskets, reading Sherlock Holmes, swimming, playing games.

I wish I could show you the campers' bright and smiling faces.

I wish you could hear their laughter,

listen in on their funny conversations,

watch them sing to and about their Savior,

see their eyes light up with understanding during chapel and devotions.

That is why I work at camp.

That is why I keep going back every summer.

It's indescribable,

but I cannot help it.

I love camp, and I am going to miss it.

Now it's time to think about school, college decisions, fall activities.

But before that, we are going camping for one last hurrah.

I'm not ready to bid summer farewell just yet.

camp

camp.

It is a word filled with many memories.

I have been going to camp for my whole life. I started as a staff kid, then a camper, and now I am a staff member. 

Today, I am headed off to CYIA (you can read about the program here, if you would like) which is held at the camp I attend. There, I will be learning how to present the Gospel to children, then going out into the streets to share God's plan of salvation with whomever we find. I will then teach at children's clubs for a week. I would appreciate your prayers! I will be leaving today and coming back next Friday.

What are some of your summer plans?

Hugs,

Emily.

Camp was...

Camp was...putting rubber bands around a watermelon in an attempt to split it in half...doing hair and nails...taking care of babies and toddlers all week...pushing a lot of swings...spending time with some of my best friends...staying up past lights out doing devotions and talking...hiding under a tree for a game...waking up to rain outside my window...spending afternoons in the snack shack in the air conditioning...swimming...buying a $5 long sleeved camp t-shirt...saying good-bye for another year.

first day

Excitement fills the air. Children are laughing and talking, looking forward to the day. Counselors are talking with their campers, explaining and answering questions. Guitar chords begin to replace the sound of talking.

The first day of day camp has begun.

my {short} time at camp

Hello, everyone!

Thank you so much to Hannah and Madie for guest posting this past week. I came home from camp early and will not be going back to camp next week because there was a virus that went around. About half of the camp got sick, including many staff members, and the state health department closed the next week of camp to get the test results to determine what it was. So, I will most likely be home next week. 

At camp, my job was to be a junior counselor. Basically, the other counselor was in charge and I helped them. There were six little girls in my cabin, and they were all sooo sweet! They were 8-9 years old which is just an adorable age. My week was going great until everyone got sick.

In the two full days that we had this past week, I helped out with the photography class which was a lot of fun.

socks and sandals = a typical day at camp

Have I mentioned how much I love sunflare?

{entering here}

These little guys were all over the place!

Well, that's a little glimpse into my {short} time at camp!

where i was

Hello, all!

I am home from camp for a week. I will be up there for the next two weeks. I am still looking for guest posters. If you're interested, please e-mail me!

Anyway...from June 20-30 I was at Christian Youth in Action (CYIA). For the first 4 days, we studied the way that we would share the Gospel. On Sunday we went out on the streets of local cities to share it with people. For the rest of the week, we taught children's Bible clubs and studied for what we were going to teach them. It was a lot of studying and a lot of work, but it was so worth it and so much fun!

I thought that you would enjoy a list of sorts talking about it rather than me attempting to fit 10 full days into one readable post. :)

CYIA was...

...devotions outside on picnic tables and canoe docks...

...studying...

...hard work...

...face painting...

...fellowship time...

...spending time with my friend Emily...

...note writing...

...early morning breezes...

...dragonfly wings buzzing...

...mosquitoes biting...

...rainy days...

...my umbrella turning inside out while I ran through the rain...

...puzzles and card games...

...listening to the radio on car rides...

...teaching children...

...reuniting with my family...

...a commissioning service...

...doing my sister's hair...

...laughter...

...hugs...

...promises...

...looking forward to a great summer...