6am - Wake up
6:44 - On the train
6:49 - Off the train
6:50 - Bike to work
7:15 - Arrive (Hopefully it’ll soon be earlier)
7:30 - Swim/Shower
8:15 - Start work
Noon - Lunch
1pm - Break ends
5:15 - Off work
5:46 - Train
5:52 - Off Train
5:55 - Home
Despite how early it begins and how hectic it seems, I love my schedule. Unfortunately I have yet to go to bed at a decent time…but you know me.
Today was the first day of official work. And I love it! My kids are wonderful and I’m so glad to be working with all the staff. There weren’t really any problems, a few glitches here and there but that’s not unexpected. It was so good to see the kids again and it made my day when they were excited to see me and to just hang with them. Our group did face painting and they ended up painting on my arms, hands, face, legs and the bottom of my feet (!). I’m already so in love with these kids. I’m stoked for the rest of this summer!
Today was Father’s Day and we had a wonderful time celebrating. After church we went to Fresh Choice and ended up hanging out and talking about random things…like we always do. After we got home Dad opened his cards and presents. And Micah and I started messing with the camera, trying to catch ourselves midair as we jumped. We had a pretty fun time doing that as you can probably tell:
Dad decided he wanted to go to the beach so we headed over there. It was perfect weather, not a cloud in the sky and not too cold or hot. Micah and Dad tossed a football around while I played with Dad’s camera (Nikon D80, that’s what I want for my birthday). And then we tried taking pictures where all four of us were jumping. It took a long time but after almost 10 tries we finally got it:
My family is so goofy and for that reason and many more, I love them more than I can say.
This past week we had training and yesterday we went to a lighthouse/hostel for the last day. It wasn’t just those working with me, but the summer staff for the whole church. Over 30 people came and it was amazing. It was a great time of bonding for everyone and I met a lot of people and grew closer to those I already knew. We went down to the beach, played Egyptian War (aka Egyptian Ratscrew aka Egyptian Ratrace), ate dinner, played more E War, had a time of worship (with lots of hand motions), and shared our hearts as we sat in a giant circle.
One of the guys I met wanted to go out to the rocks below the cliffs. At first I didn’t want to because it was really cold outside. After thinking about it though I changed my mind. Five of us headed out and down the cliff at about 11:15 pm. The fog had rolled in while we were worshiping and it was misting everywhere; I could begin to taste the salt in the air. We sat in the rocks watching the waves crash and shoot up over the crags. It was so powerful and we wondered how anyone could doubt in God. After a little while, Justin went back up and Jordan and Linda went closer to the water. John (the one who invited me to come with them) and I stayed on the rock and Matt came down. Matt is going to be my partner in crime this summer, he and I will be working with the same group of kids. He just graduated college and moved to California where he feels God has called him. It’s going to be awesome working with him.
So anyway, Matt came down and started pouring his heart out to John and me (Jordan and Linda went up soon after that). It was so wonderful to hear both of them speaking (surprisingly I didn’t really do any talking; I just listened) and encouraging each other. Eventually Matt asked if we would pray with him. And so as the waves crashed around us, we shouted our prayers to God and poured our hearts out. Even now I get chills thinking about what happened on those rocks. I could feel God moving in me; I don’t think I’ve ever prayed with that much passion before. After all of us had prayed John started singing "Sanctuary" and we sat for a little while longer as the mist fell over us.
I am so excited to see what God is going to do this summer. It’s already better than anything I could have imagined and hoped for. I pray that it only gets better as time goes on.
So last summer and the school year before that I worked at a daycare run by a church. Part-time during the school year I was the counselor for the 1st and 2nd graders. During the summer I had a full-time position with the 3rd and 4th graders. I’m hoping that this summer I’ll get the 3rd and 4th graders again. I want my kids back.
Even though staff training doesn’t start until next Monday, I’ve been going in every weekday since Wednesday. Well, I actually just went on Wednesday to visit the kids. But when I got home I got a call asking if I could sub for one of the counselors the next day. So I went in on Thursday and Friday to sub. Monday I went to help get organized for the summer and got to meet some of the other staff. Yesterday I was supposed to start putting together the groups for the summer but ended up getting recruited to sub again. This time it was for the Kindergarten group and fortunately they are all sweethearts (last year there were a few problem children). Today I’m going in again to get some other odd jobs done with the same people as Monday. Should be fun.
Tonight at church I’m going to the BBQ kick-off of the summer session for the Children’s Ministry. And this year I’ve volunteered to help on Wednesday nights with the preschoolers, Sunday mornings first service with the preschoolers and help with crafts during VBS. Oh, boy. It’s a good thing I adore children.
