Breaking the Silence.

Hello Friends. Remember me? I am so sorry I have been such a horrible blogger these past few months. I am back at school now in Auburn. As I look back over the past 3 months and try to draw a general caption or explanation of the summer at KKountry, I get completely overwhelmed. The past few days I have been really searching and diving into His word to see how this experience of Kamp has changed or transformed me. What did I learn? How was I challenged? How did I impact the Kingdom? What did I learn spiritually?  I feel like when you throw these questions out after a 3 month long journey, it is difficult to come up with an answer. It's not even about me. So, I will just give you a gist of what the Lord has been teaching me. 

The most recent challenge the Lord has bestowed upon me comes from Colossians 3:1-3, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET YOUR HEARTS on things ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MINDS on things ABOVE, not on earthly things."  - I feel like most often this verse is used to focus on our minds and what consumes our thoughts. However, the Lord really pushed out the Heart part to me. Set my heart on things above... I am a very passionate person. When I meet people, have an idea, enjoy a sport, or experience something new, I am extremely passionate about whatever I am doing. Therefore, when something doesn't go right or change occurs, I am frequently left 'heart broken.' Seriously, the hardest part of coming back from Kamp was sincerely missing my friends. It wasn't just a mind thing, but my heart literally ached to not see these people every day. I have plenty of other examples of my heart achings, but I'll spare you. What I am trying to say is I never have thought about how I can set my heart on Christ. I must be 100 times more passionate about Him and knowing Him than about people or experiences. My heart must beat consistently with a love and desire to be in His presence. I realized that what I missed most in all these friends from Kamp was who Jesus is in them. I fell in love with Jesus living and breathing in my group of friends at kamp. The beautiful part about it is, if my heart is set on Him, then I am not actually heart broken when I get home because He never leaves me. I take Him back with me and suffer no loss. Of course, I'll still miss these people but the essential quality that I am drawn to is still living and breathing within me at this moment. That is how He establishes and desires community. He uses Himself to draw others together. My friend Hannah read me a quote that I really liked. It's not exactly the quote but it said something like this," It is a privilege to experience His glorious presence and herald that reality to others." What a beautiful picture of Jesus living and breathing in our lives and in the lives of those around us. 

As for Kamp, I have gone through my journal I kept during my time there. The main prayer that stuck out was the desire to know Jesus more. I didn't have a spiritual high or a huge lesson learned while I was at Kamp. I don't have many impacting stories that would wow you. I don't have any miracles or wonders to tell. I feel like this summer was a time where I "continued to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in me to will and to act according to his good purpose." -Philippians 2:12-13  I feel like the Lord taught me alot about just being a servant and walking in His will for my life. At the end of the summer, I can truly say I am more intimate in my relationship with Jesus. I pray that He used me to love and minister to others. I pray that at the end of the day, HIS NAME was lifted high and glorified. I pray that He is working in and through the lives that were impacted at Kamp. 

More fun and interesting stories from Kamp coming soon. Stay tuned. 

Whirlwind.

Emotions are high as second term of second session is high in gear. Yesterday, I had to say goodbye to my very first group of campers EVER and say hello to a new crew. It was very difficult considering the intimacy established by the last day with my old girls. My first group, the Real Deal was so special. I formed great relationships with all of them and had a hard time grasping the fact that it was over. We had ski trips, real deal trip, late night camp outs, and many more memories. We had one girl come to know the Lord and the other 11 see Jesus in a whole new way. Comments made like, "This is the best year of Kamp I have ever had," or "My counselors are the greatest" and "I don't want to leave" made the term so worth it. We had 5 girls come down with the flu which was a total bummer but in those moments the Lord revealed a new and precious side of them that I wouldn't have gotten to see any other way. Each girl is so unique and fun which is a motivation to invest and hear her heart. The Lord taught me alot about loving them and dying to myself constantly when I have to keep going even though it's hard and I'm tired. I didn't know it was possible to fall in love with 12 eleven year olds and at the same time impact their lives for the Kingdom. When I think about the fact that my Boss is God Himself and that I am working for Him in His harvest, I get so overwhelmed. I am so unworthy to do such a thing, yet the fact that He loves me enough to allow me a place in His HUGE and MIGHTY plan is humbling and encouraging. Some of the hardships that I am dealing with is bonding with the new staff and missing the old. It is so difficult to go from having people who have invested and truly love you so much to new people who are just getting to know you. I miss having people who knew my heart and my passions and having the same. It's not just missing the fun memories and great people, but it's also missing the deep spiritual connection. I trust the Lord is forming those new relationships but just really have a hard time being patient and waiting on His timing. My new girls are great but I am waiting to get to know them. They seem a bit wilder than my last girls but I love the energy and high intensity. I will blog more tomorrow and add pictures but felt the desire to give you a peek into life here and what it's like being a counselor. Please write me if you can, that seems to be the BIGGEST encouragement.
967 Lakeshore Dr.
Branson, MO 65616
Also, please be praying that the Lord would bless me with patience and confidence to serve Him in radical ways. Pray that I will remember to find time with Him and dig my energy from Him alone. I really miss the last term people but I'm still looking forward to growth and time with the friends here now. Love you guys!

Real Deal.

Welcome to the very first blog about my Barn. Yes, I am officially the proud counselor of Barn 12, the Real Deal. For those of you who don't know, Barn 12 is the oldest group of girls who have attended K Kountry the most years in a row. It's an honor and a privilege to be in this barn and obviously is a huge deal. This barn is full of the oldest and most mature girls at kamp. This will be their last year at our kamp so they also get special privileges and trips. I am so honored to be their counselor. My Co is named Elizabeth Davis and is from Samford University. It's such a blessing to have one of the best counselors of the term living and working with me. She is so great and fun! She's a huge asset to making me a better counselor. I am once again reminded of the Lord's sovereignty and faithfulness. I was pretty nervous about all this and He shines through once again to remind me that He is in control and loves me so much that He would orchestrate all this greatness into my life. It's such a blessing to have a leadership team who prays consistently over the staff and hears and follows what the Lord would have them do to make Him more known about this Kamp. My girls are so incredible!! I never knew that 12 eleven year old would be so cool. I feel like a loser compared to them!! They are so fun to be around and love being here. It's an amazing encouragement to me, especially in a difficult time because all my old staff buddies left the same day my girls arrived. The girls have amazing attitudes and I am just like a proud Mom to call them mine. We have already had dress up, ski trip, scavenger hunts, and great conversations. I'm not just saying this, but I really do feel like I have the BEST group of girls at Kamp. Each one has already began to reveal their personality and I can't wait to see what else they have to offer. I am so thankful for this opportunity and hope that you will join me in praying over this group of ladies. My challenge for myself is to leave this place deeper in love with Jesus and impact at least one life for the sake of His kingdom. Join with me as we run to the Cross in hopes that one day we will meet our Savior who gave it all for us. I can't help but be about Him. I'm super lucky to have this group of girls. Get Excited for More, because I am positive I'll have great stories and awesome pictures!! Term 4- Let the Games Begin! 

Start of July.

Hello to All!!
Well the term is winding down. All of next term counselors arrive tomorrow by 6. Some of them have already trickled in while others are on their way. I'm so excited to see my friends and new faces. On July 7, it has been confirmed that I will be a counselor. I don't know my co or my ages of kids yet but I'll let you know. I will be a counselor for the first 4 weeks and then an office girl the last 2 weeks. I feel like the Lord really blessed this decision and has been so faithful to me and blessed me with a great opportunity to pour love and passion into these kids so that they too may come to know the Lord the way I have. The Lord has blessed Kkountry and healed up a lot of the sicknesses that had been accumulating here. I pray that He continues to protect and watch over our camp. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to all my friends here as they go home when their term is over on the 7th, but I have faith that these relationships are in Him and will continue to produce fruit and glorify the King. I am super happy to report good health on my older sister's behalf. Please read her blog and dive in to her heart for the Lord. She's so talented in poetry and the way the Lord has ministered and made Himself known to her in her last month of ministry is beautiful and contagious. (www.blairbrendle.theworldrace.org) I am hoping to post some pics up of the past few days at Kamp tonight on my last time off. Know everything here is good and I can't wait to see what He has in store. :) Love!!