Caity Joy. This if for you.

So I realize that I haven't been very faithful in keeping this updated. But seriously, the only people that read this should already be updated on my incredible life! haha. :-P Right now I feel like I'm in the eye of the storm...you know what I mean? The time in your life where there's nothing crazy happening. And I feel it's quite apropos since last week I was in NH for camp and next week I'm heading to Guatemala for a missions trip!

So I'll start off with my camp experiences. Seriously, if you've never gone (as a camper or staff), go. It will literally change your life. For me, I start to count the days til camp from the day I leave it. Camp has definitely helped to shape and mold my life and send me off into the right directions. As much as I enjoyed camp as a student who participated, I enjoy it so much more as staff. There's definitely a different perspective and approach/expectation that you bring to camp as staff. You leave your house thinking, I'm gonna help change someone's life. But in reality, while you probably accomplish that, you end up getting changed as well. I can't even describe to you the camp experience. One week to completely and wholly immerse yourself in God without any outside distractions (well, I guess if you tried hard enough you could find some distractions...but if you aren't looking for it, you're golden.)

People often say that New England is cold spiritually, but clearly they've never been to a SNED camp. To see students from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts congregate with one goal in mind is an amazing thing. There are always the kids who hold back a little, unsure of just how "undone" they should become. But then there are the students who just dive in head first, not caring about who's watching. Before that first chord is strummed, or the first note is sung, there are students at the altar praying and seeking after God. It's undescribably encouraging to see students thirsting for His presence. Sometimes in service I tend to hold myself back from fully giving worship my all. But then I always remember the words of the song "Here in Your Presence." It says Here in Your presence, we are undone. I'm sure different people look at that line with alternate thoughts and perspectives, but here are my thoughts. In God's presence, we are wholly His. Nothing that this world has to offer can compare to Him. So consequently all the masks and facades that we wear for the world are erased. We don't have to look pretty or put together. We can bring Him the pieces of our lives and let Him make us into His perfect creation. I've always loved that song, but when 57:7 played it at camp, I just completely lost it. Like bawled my eyes out. We come undone in His presence and He renews us and reminds us just how amazing He is. At least that's what it's like for me! haha.

So aside from outstanding worship and sermons, we also had tons of fun!! First day we had Primal...we had kids on tarps, giant inner tubes, plungers, and Rec Staff combined for an insane day! Just picture it now. haha. Second day we had Man Hunt. There were leaders and Rec Staff in trees, swimming into the lake, hiding in bushes, "hiding" in plain sight...you name it. It was crazy fun...especially since I was the Point Princess, I got to stay in the chapel and do virtually nothing the whole time!! : ) Third day we had a huge Relay Race, in which I had kids voluntarily flipping their canoes and kayaks in the middle of the pond for points! Mad funny. Especially when it was a bunch of girly girls!! Fourth day was clean-up and departure...it went by mad fast. : (

On the second day, I went River Tubing...which was ridiculously relaxing! But of course, I had all the crazy kids floating by me! But it was quite the experience....Rock the boat! : ) On the fourth day...that was (for me) one of the most memorable moments. I was "supervising" the kids that were using the canoes and kayaks on the pond. Even went out with some girls once or twice. Then I happend to be on shore. And I saw this girl sitting in a canoe waiting for one of her friends...when two boys yanked her out of the canoe and shoved off into the pond! (not quite so quickly, we definitely fought to get them out of the canoe...). So being the wonderful Point Princess that I am, I yelled to the boys and asked if they had any electronics on their persons. They answered negative. So I asked on of the girls to watch everyone, then ran upstairs to my room, put on my bathing suit and some grungy clothes and ran back outside. By this point, the guys were closer to shore and attempting to bash their canoe into one of the girls canoes. So I promptly jumped into the pond and flipped the guys canoe! The look on their face as they realized my intent was priceless!! They were good sports about it. And what insued was one of the top five highlights of my week! All around were flipped canoes and foul smelling, soaking wet teenagers! It was awesome. We probably spent between half an hour to an hour in the pond. Which let me tell you, has the nastiest feeling floor! You think you're on "solid" ground, then step and sink half a foot into the nastiest muck ever!

So now that have written y'all a mini novel, I must get to work.