Faith, Hope, Love and Summer--Update #3

Hey there! This will be a short post because I have to run to the dining hall for a quick lunch and then to the boat dock to lifeguard for three hours this afternoon. Just wanted to give you a quick update on life here at camp, though.

Things are crazy, as usual. Lifeguarding was the hardest this week that it has ever been, because this week was Kids Camp! That means that a boatload of 2nd-6th graders invaded FaHoLo for the week. I decided this week that little girls listen and behave much, much better than little boys in general. That does not mean that girls are better than boys or any such thing. But as far as lifeguarding goes, sessions with more girls go smoothly, while boys are harder to deal with. You see, girls are content to play happily in the pool and follow the rules. They play Marco Polo, the dunking-each-other-until-you-guess-the-color game, and swim around looking at the bottom of the pool with their goggles (which break all the time!). Little boys--and many of their teenaged group leaders--are not content following the rules. They would rather run, hang on the volleyball net, throw each other, wrestle each other, run and jump in, dive, splash each other, splash me, not hold still quietly during buddy check, and so on. They like to push limits on the rules and therefore push my buttons. That's frustrating to me, but I'm learning to deal with it. It is helpful that when we lifeguard we always have at least two people on duty. Usually I am partnered with a guy such as Kyle, Casey or Graham, and they can handle the little boys better than I can. Thus, we work well as a team.

I also had my first saves this last week. I was one of the guards in the water during swim tests, and so I pulled the kids to safety who couldn't make it all the way across the pool. I was surprised a few times, both by the kids that could and could not make it. There were some little 7- or 8-year-olds, that I was sure I would have to save, who made it across no problem. Some others were older and looked like they were doing fine until all the sudden they freaked out or got tired and started to panic and  bob up and down until I could get to them. I learned from that to never judge only by appearances, people will always surprise you.

Housekeeping is going well. We are working well as a team and getting the rooms turned around quickly and accurately. I still get grossed out sometimes, but most of the time I just suck it up and deal with whatever nastiness we find. I still like it when people leave soda, loose change, or unopened Oreos in their rooms...It makes the summer staff happy!

I began working in Laundry last week when one of the other summer staff couldn't work there anymore. I am getting to be a professional folder and sorter of sheets, towels, bath mats, and cleaning rags. Sam and I work together folding the flat sheets. It's a lot of fun, actually. I work in there on Tuesdays and Thursdays after my pool chores.

We found 4 frogs in the pool yesterday afternoon. I like catching frogs, but I will only do it with my net. I squeal pretty much every time I find one in the skimmer still. They camoflague very well in thee leaves and bugs and so I am usually very surprised.

I still love devotion time and staff meeting here. I hope that in the future I can work in another place that is as spiritually and relationally uplifting as this place is. I love the people here! I got to share one of my devotions with the summer staff this week. I spoke about freedom. There are many things that drag us down, but Christ has promised to set us free from the yoke of slavery and to help us cast of the sin that so easily entangles so we can run the race marked out for us. I still come back to "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1) I am learning to not be bound by what other people think, by fear, or by my circumstances. Christ helps me not be dragged down by that anymore, because He made me to be free. That is why He died on the cross, so what am I doing living in bondage if freedom is right there for me? I also have to extend freedom to others to live as God created them. Sometimes people drive me crazy. But I have to look at the bigger picture--that they are redeemed sinners seeking freedom, just like me--and extend freedom and grace to the people around me.

God is so amazing to continue speaking His Words to me, even when I am staring at my journal at 11:00 p.m. after a long day's work and just trying not to fall asleep before I finish my thoughts and prayers. He still speaks even when I am weak and tired. I just have to open the door of my heart and invite Him in to speak!

Wow...I wrote for longer than I thought already (and thus do not have much time to proofread!). I'm off to work again.

*sings* Hi-ho-hi-ho it's off to work I go!