Saturday, June 30, 2012

Camp Hope....the Pride of all the States

So today, I got to go to the happiest place on Earth. And no, I'm actually not talking about Disney World. I'm talking about Camp Hope. Now, I'm sure that many of you probably don't even know what Camp Hope is. But it is the coolest, best, most wonderful and loving place in this entire world, and I am convinced of that. Camp Hope is a place located on Lake Hartwell in Clemson, SC at the Clemson University Outdoor Lab. It is a Camp that is for people with Cognitive Disabilities any where from age 8 until (I believe the oldest camper who comes is somewhere around age 70.) I have worked at this camp for the past two summers, and I have absolutely loved it. It is also a great way for me to get work in my major as well, as I get to work with people with disabilities. There are many activities at Camp, such as swimming in the lake or pool, as well as the water slide, arts and crafts, drama, archery, canoeing, and all kinds of different fun things to do.

I got to visit there today because my brother, Brian, is a camper there, and has been going there for somewhere around 10 summers. So I volunteered (because I really, really wanted to) to go pick up my brother from Camp today. I pulled in, next to his cabin, and literally, my car was surrounded by people, that's how much love exists in this place. Not only did I get to see so many of my favorite campers, but as well as some of my greatest friends that are counselors at Camp Hope. I was greeted with many hugs, handshakes, and high fives. It was great. I had a smiled glued on my face that was a mile wide. I absolutely love this place! And as great as it was to see everybody, it also made me quite sad. I really miss working there a lot. But I also love my job at Bethel this summer, and I know that's where God wants me to be this summer. But I am hoping that I do get to return for at least one more summer at Camp Hope next summer.

There is really only one good word to describe Camp Hope, and that word is LOVE, which I have already mentioned many times throughout this blog post. And, it just so happens that the theme for this summer is LOVE IS LOUDER! It fits Camp Hope so perfectly, and it reminded me of this passage of scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:4-13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs .Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But when there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


Camp Hope is the most beautiful place on Earth. And I don't just mean physically beautiful, but beautiful because of the people who work there. All of the Campers, Counselors, and full-time Staff are all so great. I really miss working at Camp Hope a lot, but it will always have a solid place in my heart.





 Here is my all time favorite picture I have ever taken at Camp Hope. This is the sunset on the lake on the last night of my first summer there!

Monday, June 25, 2012

The Life of a Youth Intern

So if I had to choose only one word that fits the job description for what I do, it would be the word BUSY! Wow, I thought I had a crazy life it school, balancing school work, social life, extracurricular activities, and everything else I do. But I am just as busy, if not more busy this summer. But its ok, because its a different kind of busy, a good kind of busy. I am absolutely loving what I am doing right now. So you might ask, well what exactly is that you have been doing?

Well, last week we had Vacation Bible School, round 2! But this time it wasnt my church that was putting it on, it was jut the youth group doing it for the daycare program at our church. It is known as our practice run in an effort to continue to prepare for our Mission Trip to Florida coming up in late July. But it is not only a practice run, but also just as much as a ministry opportunity as our mission trip itself. I always loved doing this when i was a member of the youth myself, but this year was a little bit different for me. This time, I just got to kind of roam around and see everything that was going on. It was really great to just be able to sit back and watch the amazing work that the youth were doing. It was truly a blessing to see how they impacted these children's lives. And I got to do some sing and play just like back in my day. Which just absolutely made my experience amazing.

I was also able to meet a young little boy who was just full of joy.  There was this 3 year old boy who has down syndrome. He was such an amazing little child who I got to interact with a lot during the week. And it was amazing because it was a way for me to tie in my major while working at my current job, which I love.  It was so much fun, and it made my week so much more fun!

Outside of my work, I went to a wedding this past weekend to celebrate the marriage of two pretty awesome people. It was not only a beautiful ceremony, but it was also great because I got to see a lot of my friends from Erskine which is always a pleasure.

On some really random notes, I was really upset the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship. I really dont like the Miami Heat.  And I have also really enjoyed watching the South Carolina Gamecocks go for their 3rd straight National Championship in baseball! Go Gamecocks!

So my song quote tonight really has nothing to do with anything, other than it was a bible school song and it was really a lot of fun to lead all week at VBS.

"A rig of bamboo, now what is that? Its something made, by the Princess Pat. Its red and Gold, and purple too! So you should take, a rig of bamboo."

Not only did I love leading this song at VBS, but Chad Deetz (there is your shout out buddy) really loved this song! And, I initially learned this song at Camp Hope (one of the greatest places on Earth) and anytime I have a chance to think about Camp Hope, then I am going to be in a good mood.


Everyone having a good time in Sing and Play!


A group of people enjoying time in Snacks!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Whitewater Rafting Trip

So this past week I got to go on my first BUMS trip as the summer intern! We headed up to Ocoee, TN to raft the Ocoee River, and it was an AMAZING week! We got up there Sunday night, enjoyed a delicious dinner at Fazoli's, and had our nightly devotion. Then we hit things right away by rafting for the first time on Monday morning. It was awesome, and our boat had a great guide named Jon who was super chill, but also a really fun guide and gave us a great ride.
   On Tuesday we ate lunch at an awesome BBQ place in Chattanooga, TN, which I had the "Feast for 2" which is so much food that you split between two people, and it was so delicious. Then the kids did a photo scavenger hunt in the mall, in which some of the pictures provided some amazing laughs. On Tuesday night, we went to the Riverbend festival which is in downtown Chattanooga. It was a great time just hanging out, plus, we got to see Chris Tomlin in concert there, who is always a good concert.
   On Wednesday we went to Pin Strike where we enjoyed bowling, as well as Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, and Balladium. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it. And on Wednesday night, during our devotion, we had a very special time. It was a time that consisted of a lot of sharing, and something that enjoyed a lot. It was definitely one of those "God Moments" where everything in the world seemed perfect, even if it was just for a couple of hours.
   On Thursday, we hit the river again, and we had the same guide with the same people in our boat. Once again, it was a great time down the river. Whitewater Rafting is a lot of fun. On Thursday night, we went to a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Show in Chattanooga, which was hilarious! It has become a staple of the BUMS Whitewater rafting trip. The kids really loved it! Then today we traveled home.
   Overall, it was a great a trip. I really felt that I got to know all the kids on the trip a lot better and bonded a lot with them. There are a lot of great kids in the group, and I look forward to the next 8 weeks I still have working with them. Even though I am absolutely exhausted right now, I wouldn't trade this past week for anything. It was so amazing and God did some pretty awesome things this past week. Now, no break for me, because we dive right into doing our Vacation Bible School for the daycare at our church at 8:30 Monday morning. So its going to be another long week, but its going to be another good one! I can't wait!

1 Corinthians 12:27- Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part in it. 

It was so great to be part of such an awesome body of Christ this past week. I really enjoyed getting to spend a lot of time with some pretty amazing people!

Here are a couple of pics from the trip!





Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Summer is just getting started!

So yea, I know, its been a while since i have written my latest blog post, but thats cause since the last blog post, I have been so busy! But its been awesome, and I have really enjoyed this summer so far. So here is what I have been up to!

We had graduate weekend for our seniors in the youth group, which was a really fun way to celebrate their time they have spent over the years in the youth group. It was a little surreal for me, cause its been 3 years since i have graduated. Hard for me to believe that. After graduation weekend, I have just been doing a lot of work in the office, mainly planning the whitewater rafting trip which we have coming up! We leave on Sunday, and I am so excited! So lots of planning on that.

We have also had our BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch) bible study, which we have throughout the summer. It was a great first one, because we talked about the differences in denominations. It was really a neat topic for me, since I have had a lot more influence from other denominations since being away at college. It was a very neat discussion!

I also got to play the role of Principal Jones in the Youth's musical. The person who originally had the role couldn't be there this past Sunday, and we performed the musical during the worship service, because it was youth Sunday, and the BUMS took over the entire service. It was a lot of fun, even though I only got my part a couple of days before the musical. But it was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed, and it actually went very well!

Finally, i made it to this week, and this week has been so busy! We have Vacation Bible School (VBS) going on at our church this weekend. I am helping out by acting in the skits as "Ranger Recruit Todd" as well as being a crew leader for the 5th and 6th graders. It has been so much fun! I have really enjoyed it, and we have our last night tomorrow! Then, as I mentioned earlier, we leave for our Whitewater Rafting trip on Sunday, which I cannot wait for! It will really be a great opportunity for me to really begin to fully connect with the kids!

This verse has really been on my mind lately:

Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and please to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. 


I am really learning what it means to truly give up my life as a sacrifice! I have worked some crazy hours for this job lately, some 10+ hour days! It has been tough and exhausting at times, but it has also been totally worth it. I have loved my summer so far, and I have barely even technically started (tomorrow, it will only be officially 1 week of work.) So I still have 9 more weeks to go, and I know they are gonna be some of the best 9 weeks of my life! Its going to be a great summer!