"A Greater Capacity for Caring"

On Camp Bethel's summer brochure, there is a quote by a former staff member. "I have realized a greater capacity for caring." I completely agree that I have realized a great capacity for caring by working at camp for the last two weeks. My "normal" life apart from camp is spent around children, but at camp I am entertaining, protecting, loving, guiding, watching, and leading a group of 10 children non-stop for an entire week. This has opened my heart (and at times stretched my heart) to care more and more for each individual child. Each child has different needs, different personalities, and different wants... and it is so neat to see how my co-counselors and I meet each child's needs over the week.
It is so cool how God uses the Body of Christ to help everyone grow... and usually at the same time. Just an example, my co-counselor this week, Jordan Luther, kept telling me how much he appreciated me. When I kept telling him how much I was learning from him and how awesome he was doing. How cool that we each benefited from each others company all week, working in such a tightly knit community. God is really using Camp Bethel to change so many people's lives. =) 

The first week... of an incredible summer.

Life as a camp counselor is beyond words. I can't describe it. Since I have been going to Camp Bethel every summer as a camper, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what my life this summer would look like. But after my first official week with campers, I can honestly say it was not what I was expecting. I thought I knew what being a counselor would involve. I have been working with children all of my life, after all. But just this first week touched my heart in so many ways.
Being able to lead a group of nine camper through a week's worth of activities and getting close to each camper, is so incredible. Answering their questions about God, life, and camp is one of the coolest things ever. =)
I love it so much, and am so glad that God has placed me at Camp Bethel for summer 2011. 
I can't wait to see what the next 6 or so weeks bring.

A Word Person...

I am a word person. I save every letter, note, and card that people give to me. (and I use the lock option on my phone often to keep text messages)  I LOVE when people spend the time to write something to me. To me, I know they mean what they wrote if they spent the time to write and send it to me.
I have a box filled with letters, notes, cards, keepsakes, etc.. all kinds of memories. Basically, words mean a lot to me. As I have recently been reading my mom and sister's blog, It made me want to share my words with other people. I have never blogged before and still don't know exactly where I will go with this, but I'm excited to start. =) Especially since a lot of new things are beginning. Since I finished up high school this spring, I move onto Virginia Western Community College in the fall, then hopefully to a nursing program after that. This summer I am excited about working at Camp Bethel! This is something I have wanted to do since I was a little tenderfoot camper.
As I go into a lot of new things, I wanted a place to share all of it. So, here we go. =)