Day numbero uno.
Oh yeah boy.
So today was the first of several to be spent at Willow Sprigs Camp. I came at 1:30 to go set up and start the meeting. My name is now Temp. As in temporary. As in this-is-your-name-for-now-because-we're-changing-it-next-year-at-Staff-Training. But yes, Temp is how it shall remain. So if you are writing a letter, adress it to Temp.
We sat waiting for campers to arrive and set up inside the cabin. I had several name tags made for myself and my campers then decided to wear them. We have a huge mix of different kids of different ages and just overall personalities. They're all adorable and follow me around and give hugs and try to pull me beside them when we sit down. It's cute. They're all cute. They were sad to see me go tonight.
After all the campers checked in, we made name tags for everyone and stuck them beside our beds. I stuck mine over a chair. Because I do not have a bed. My little buddy with Downsydrome, her name is Victoria. So her name tags said "Justin Bieber" "I love you Justin" "Be my boyfrid" "Justin <3"And then we informed her that her name is not Justin so she made one with "Victoria" on it. She's got a huge case of Beiber Fever. Its actually really amusing. She has Bieber shirts, Bieber towels, Bieber notebooks, and a Justin Doll that of course sings. Why wouldn't it? Never say never is her favourite movie and the same to her favourite song. She's got a crush on our Program Director, so that's fairly cute to watch, but he's trying to be nice. She is very stubborn though, and she likes to get her way. We start skills tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.
After the name tags were posted, the name games were all done, a tour of the camp was complete and Ninja was played, the whole camp gathered on the basketball court. We introduced all the staff. Their name (Temp) Who they're staying with (VISTA) Where in the world they would love to travel (Turks and Caicos) Yes, I am in Vista again, which is fantastic because I have Winnie, Pocho & Krutch in the cabin with me. And they're a lot of help too. I mean, all the counselors are helping me out, because she's a lot of work.
Then we went to go have dinner which was wonderful because it was pizza and then we had icecream for dessert. After dinner, we then went to Chapel. Jeremy Best was speaking. He was our speaker at Bedlam this year. I didn't really get a chance to sit and listen or even talk to him because Tori was freaking out about the noise so we left. I do want to go and talk to him later on through the week though. As always, after Chapel we had a widegame, and so we played capture the flag. Which is like one of the counsellors holding a flag and being torn across the field having their arms ripped off. Always fun. It's always played either by cabin, or Girl campers & Guy Staff vs. Girl Staff & Guy campers. I don't even know who won, but it was fun. Tori didn't play the first rounds so I always had to kind of keep watch over her, but she did play the last round and she got the flag, which she was very excited about.
After the game, we had campfire, which is always lovely. We sat down and watched skits and sang songs. They did the handshake one and the beans one. Then the chair skit. If you remind me of these, I will tell you about them later. Ocho spoke but unfortunately I didn't get to listen because I was chasing down Victoria who was just all over the place. After campfire, we have devos. Therefore everyone brushed their teeth and got into their PJ's, all ready for bed and sat in the middle of the cabin. We just did our testimonies tonight. I did mine. Obviously not the full story, I have to keep things PG for the little ones. The campers are aged 9-11 by the way. I almost cried though. I felt dumb. I'm probably never doing it again. But that's the thing. I felt something. And I haven't felt something in a long while. So I really don't think I should be trying to push that away.
I was amazed at how okay the campers were with praying out loud to us. It was so cool to see. We ended devos and sent them to bed. Then stayed up half and hour past curfew going around to each bunk and talking with the kids. Jasmine's in my cabin, yeah Reanna's sister. So that's pretty sweet. Then I pretty much spent the whole night blowing up balloons with Krutch because it is Minioc's birthday tomorrow and I will be arriving at camp extra early tomorrow to go help stuff them in her cabin. That will be fun.
Hope you're doing well wherever you are.
