I am so pleased I decided that I had to go to Lambec just one last year. My parents told me no after last year and that being my most incredible year to date, I was not going to let that happen. I agreed to pay for it myself (and the mission trip..but luckily that was part of my graduation present instead..) and registered and a year later, this past week, I walked (literally...thanks to the flooded vale) into that camp and felt like I was at home again. It felt completely normal, comfortable.
I was in cabin 8 again, the senior "Grove City Cottage." I roomed with Amy and Leila and across the hall was Megan, Karen, Anna, and Andrea, and the other two rooms were Nicki, Kate, and Emily and Mackenzie, Rachel, Melissa, and Jena. Complete with Adrienne and Kristen as our counselors, I can easily say it was the best cabin I've ever been in and the most bonded cabin ever. We all knew each other from the past, but we grew closer than ever this week. I would have to say that was the very best part of this year.
At dinner time, we sang grace and the room flooded with amazing harmony--my favorite sound in the world. It is so fascinating to watch the first year campers' expressions when they hear the first note in choir practice. You fill up with such amazement and surprise that yes you are helping to create that perfect sound. Harmony is the perfect word, whoever decided to name the fusing of chords that create such a wonderful and fulfilling sound. Besides musical, I don't really get to experience singing with a four-part harmony choir and I love it. It's dangerous at times at music camp, because often times you find yourself wanting to sing praise songs because it sounds beautiful, not because you want to worship the Lord. But because you are surrounded by God's love and continuous learning, you find yourself really into the song because of its power and words.
My cabin became some sort of a legend this year. Well, in fact, our group of super seniors and seniors were really incredible. We all bonded and set a great example for the younger campers. It was difficult at first because so many people that mean so much to this camp were not there this year. It definitely threw us off at first, but we were determined not to let that affect what turned out to be an awesome week. In that loss, we made up for it in closeness with one another. Throughout the week, cabin 8 wanted to leave our mark for years to follow. We ended up winning Quietest Cabin the first night (NOT planned and NOT happening ever again) and we somehow won the scavenger hunt on Tuesday night. We decided to go Polar Bear swimming on Wednesday morning, which ended up being very epic considering Lake Erie isn't really water. It's really mud and seaweed, only it actually feels like you're swimming in poop and vomit. No joke. It's probably the grossest thing I've ever felt in my life.
Then as we entered, we started losing our shoes...But we made it in anyway, seaweed, mud, and sharp rocks, and all! After that, we ran into the vale to "Eye of the Tiger" and that was fun. Wednesday also included much domination at the Olympics (can you say me and Leila, co-champions of Simon Says?) except maybe tug of war against cabin 7...but we won't mention that. Or the balloon volleyball. Or beach volleyball. Or stick toss. BUT ANYWAY, the night ended with a rousing game of Capture the Flag that went all too quickly and without dancing music, in which Amy and I ended up having more fun joining Karen and Tiffany on the side playing Mad Gab.
Tuesday and Thursday nights were very memorable from club. Tuesday they put on a drama that can be seen here (only with different people, of course, not at camp). I have seen this before, online, and I think at camp in the past (not quite sure), but it was really powerful this time. In our drama, they had the counselors doing it, who are a bit older and more believable than in the youtube one. I know they got their idea from the movie clip though, so credit definitely goes to them. However, it felt so much more real when it was performed right in front of you. Kacie, someone I knew well, was the girl in the drama, and despite that, I felt so deeply for her. In fact, it probably added to the feelings because I felt like she, a friend, was going through all of those situations...temptation, greed, vanity, depression, and then trying to fight so hard to get to Christ. I don't know why it affected me so much more this time around. Maybe because those things are very common for people my age...sins that can curl around you and yank you away before you realize it. In the end, you leave hopeful, knowing that despite all of the obstacles you can face, you CAN overcome it with God's help.
Thursday night's drama was a change. We all expected the usual "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or the one where the girl dances with Jesus. But instead, they wanted it to end on a more hopeful note. They started off with Jay, dressed as Jesus (he is perfect for the role) and carrying his cross in. He saves people from their sin and cured their deformities (such as blindness) and they begin to nail their sins and burdens to the wooden cross on slips of paper. We had all received our own paper earlier in the night and were told to write down the thing that is stopping us the most from our relationship with Christ. We were invited, one by one, to come outside and nail ours to the cross before separating to each side of the vale. This one didn't affect me as much, until I thought out about it more. I was crying because it was my last club time ever at camp, my last night...but they carried out this cross, heavy with all of the things that hurt us, that keep us away, and they put it in the center of the vale, lighted by flashlights. It was such a reminder and as we thought about it, a hopeful symbol. No matter what that is, God will overcome it. He won't ever leave us. All we have to do is deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him.
I was also fortunate enough to see Brooke Annibale perform for us on Thursday. Brooke, a 20 year old from Pittsburgh, has been performing with Jeremy for quite some time, and she just released her third album, The In Between. She was fantastic. She has such a unique, laid-back, meaningful sound. It was just her on acoustic and Jeremy on bass, which was perfect. I've listened to part of her cd with the full band and it still sounds great. I completely and encouragingly recommend you check her out. It seemed only perfect that her album talked about this "in between" stage in her life...when she was going into college and leaving her home. Just what I'm about to go through. I'm anxious to get her CD and look into the lyrics. It was a great concert.
Bible study this year was absolutely awesome. Every year, bible study isn't that exciting and I usually wish I am taking a nap instead, but this year I really looked forward to it every day. The first day of it was like previous years, but as the week went on, our discussions grew more and more interesting. Interesting to the point where we were late for band (oh DARN.) and wished we could talk much longer. One of our topics of discussion that I have no idea how we got to was about how do you live a life for Christ in the every day activities? Like when you go to work or you're writing a paper, your brain automatically checks into that mode and God is not even a thought until you are finished (that is, unless you are praying to get it over with). You compartmentalize your life and your brain switches for each function and task. We thought of it like going from math class to English...you automatically change gears. It's like going from the work week to Sunday morning. Even if you might have bible study mondays or youth group on another day, what other time do you have for God? It's so difficult to make time for Him when you know you have to get things done right now. Sometimes you get into that mode where you know He can wait. You have to write this paper now, you have to get this practice going. As often as you say you will try to remember Him during your every day life, it is so much easier said than done. And how do you let people know of His love at work or school without having to talk about it or preach down their throats? We believe it's a great deal about your attitude and you do things. I think it's common belief that people realize that a smile can change someone's day, but what else can you do? It was great being able to soak it all in and the best thing was that we didn't always have answers. I find that a lot of times at church or in bible study, questions are asked that we kind of already know the answers too. And then we get stuck in this rut and never move forward because a lot of things are repetition from common knowledge or things we already know or can figure out from the stuff around us. I absolutely love James and Katie, our bible study leaders. They offered us such a great hope at the end because they made it known how available they are to us. To our questions, our curiosity, our friendship. They plan on sending us emails a few times a month to keep tabs on us and hope that we can all stay in touch and ask questions and share things with each other. One of the most touching parts of the week was our last bible study when Katie wanted to pray over me and Alec (who were the only super seniors in our B. study) for our journey into college and everyone had their hand on our shoulders. I don't think I've ever been specifically called out in a prayer like that and it gave me great comfort and excitement knowing I had support. Not just from God, but from this family I have (and not just at home).
The music this year was really meaningful. I hope to get the CD very soon. (Joy in the House by Phil Barfoot)
I know this post is very lengthy and it is really late and I have to get up at 6 AM for work tomorrow, but I really wanted to capture this week. I feel like I could still talk forever. I'm learning so much, but I hate that now I'm home, it feels back to how it was. I don't want that. I want to be changed. But more of that later...
