(One of the couple of pictures I have from this week. Plus I love these girls like no other.)
This week I had the privilege and honor of being able to join the
SpringHill Day Camps staff for one week. Earlier last Fall I applied to be a full counselor for the summer, but unfortunately because of my age I wasn't hired for the summer(at least that's what I'm blaming it on). But boy, do I wish I could have spent the whole summer with these wonderful people.
It started last Friday (August 25) when I got a call from one of the SpringHill Day Camps directors. She said that she had noticed I was signed up to be a CIT (Counselor In Training) and that I had previously gone through an interview and asked if I wanted to be a counselor just for the week. At the time I had gotten the call, I was leaving the mall, and in that moment I almost collapsed onto the pavement. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me? A counselor? The job that I had prayed and prayed for. The job that I so desperately wanted. The job that when I found out they weren't putting me on staff cried about for weeks. This was the job I had wanted for over a year and there was no way I would be turning down an offer like that. Within 10 minutes I called the director back, and I began crying on the phone, never in my life had I been so happy. I was going to be a counselor for SpringHill Camp.
So Sunday afternoon was the day that I would meet the team that I would be on for the next week and to help them set up for this week. At first I wasn't nervous, I was ready, I was excited and I wanted to be there more than anything. But as soon as I walked in those doors of the church I knew and loved so much, I realized how weird it was to be there. These people had known each other for eight weeks, and here I was barging in on their team, joining only for a week and then leaving after that. It didn't feel right. I felt like I didn't belong there. Everyone had already known each other and were hugging and talking and loving on each other and there I was not knowing anyone and just sitting off to the side not wanting to interrupt what they had going on. So I watched them, I listened to their conversations. I became a wallflower for a couple of hours. The directors introduced me to the other people on the team. They still stayed in their groups. But I was alright with it, I understood. During this time I also met another girl who was joining for the week only. But then I heard it: her sister is on the team. Oh, great. Once again, I'm alone in this. My attitude continued the rest of the night, just keeping my head low, helping with what I could, and learning the basics of what I'd be doing for the week. It was a lot to take in. But even through all of this, I was excited. I was excited to see God work in the lives of these kids I would have, and for God to work in me.
Bright and early Monday morning we were called to the church: 7:15. I hadn't woken up before 9 almost all summer. So setting my alarm for 6:15 was brutal. I came ready to work, ready for the day, but also completely exhausted and confused with what I was supposed to be doing. Everyone knew what to do, where to go. I was lost. So I followed some people, answered questions when asked, and just tried to do my job well. Thankfully, I had a co-counselor who knew what she was doing. I let her take over checking the kids in, attendance, and everything else that she had been doing for weeks. I stuck to the side and helped when she needed me to. It was a lot to take in so fast and I was completely overwhelmed. Kids screaming, sweat dripping down my forehead, and trying to remember 20 camp songs to keep them entertained. The whole day was a blur, full of kids asking questions, all new activities, and an endless amount of new information.
The next two days were emotionally and physically exhausting. I never knew that my legs could shake from being so sore. I didn't know that there were muscles that you could pull in your stomach while sliding down a water slide. I didn't know that it was possible to have to take 17 kids to the bathroom all at once and keep track of them while another group is also at the bathroom. I didn't know that if you give a kid a fuzzy hat and tell them that they can talk only if they're wearing the hat would be so helpful. I have never told a kid to get in line so many times in my life. There was so much learning involved in what I was doing. I was learning that these kids really know about the Bible and about God's word. I was learning that each child learns differently. I learned that just because a child is quiet doesn't mean that they aren't listening, they're actually listening the most.
The next two days after those were better. My legs stopped shaking. The muscles in my stomach hurt a lot less. Taking 17 kids to the bathroom didn't seem like such a challenge anymore. The fuzzy hat trick still worked while in small group. Getting in line while still a difficulty but didn't take as long. I grew closer to the people I was working with. I began to know each of their name's, I began to find where I belonged in the group. I was making friends and they were accepting me into their group. Thursday night we had a meeting with just the girls. I didn't participate in much of their conversation since a lot of it didn't have to do with me. But just before we ended the meeting, I spoke. I wanted to describe into words what this opportunity meant to me. I wanted to describe what each and every one of those girls meant to me. But I couldn't find the words to tell them all that. And as I began to speak, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. Hard. All these emotions had taken over and all I thought about was having to leave these absolutely wonderful people that I had grown to love. Tomorrow was going to be my last day whether I liked it or not, so making the best of it was one of my only options.
The last day was bittersweet. I had never been so completely physically exhausted in my life and never before had I wanted a day to not end. I had loved the kids I as given, the co-counselor I was blessed to have, but in the back of my mind I knew that my time was up at this wonderful place. These counselors were off to a different city to bring Heaven to Earth there. This was their summer to do that. I knew that I would have my chance eventually, but this wasn't what God had wanted for me for the summer. I was there to bless that amazing group for the week and then to allow them to continue what they are trained to do.
It was an absolute blessing in disguise to be apart of this group. I loved every single minute of it, and I hope that I will be working alongside them next summer. They all have such a wonderful heart for kids and what they're doing. Each of them has their own story to share and I loved being able to hear a little bit of them.
