Life.
Never simple, never perfect, never crystal-clear. We never have everything we want, we never have all the people we love within hugging distance, we never have all the money we think we need.
And yet, through it all, there's God. God. My miraculous, loving, omnipresent Father, never leaves me, never deserts me, never walks away.
My God offers me tough times, times to fully rely on Him, times where I have no other choice but to lift my hands up to the stars and say "God, this has to be You, because there's no physical way I'll be able to do it on my own."
"Blessed to be a blessing." What a great theme for a school year! Here at Concordia, the focus, at least for the first three days, has been that quote. We've heard some wonderful speakers, one on her own mission trips this summer, one on how "genius" simply means helper, and that we can all be geniuses. But they all tie in: How blessed we are to be blessings.
That turned my thoughts to Russia immediately during the first two days of chapel. How blessed I was to be a blessing to the children and the patients who I reached out to! But tonight, I was reminded of my own belief in witnessing where you are, where God has put you.
So many people who I know and love have come to trust me with their issues, their ups and downs in life. How blessed I am, to be approached and trusted by friends who are struggling. As I prayed with a friend tonight, we finished up and did what any two confused and wandering girls would do: held each other and cried. Not necessarily totally out of sorrow, but maybe because when all the emotions in the world get mixed together, tears are the result.
When we had finished, she said "I'm sure that God has sent you tonight to help me." What a powerful, wonderful, and totally moving statement. That's when I remembered, "blessed to be a blessing." I am blown away by the number of times God uses me, as I said earlier in my Russia journals, to reach out, to be the hand at the end of His arm. All the glory to God! I praise Him and thank Him for the wonderful friends I have, not only to reach out to and to pray with, but who I know, in a heartbeat, would do the exact same things for me, when I need them.
God the Father has truly blessed me, continues to bless me, on a daily basis. I can not express, in words, how amazed I am at His constant love, His never-ending mercy, His compassion that extends further than I can ever understand. I look forward to the day when I can sing about His grace and love and wondrous might forever in heaven.
Blessings on all that you do!
(And may you be "blessed to be a blessing.")
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
So Much Junk
Every time that I pack, be it for a short vacation with my family, a week with my dad, a summer at camp, or a year at college, I always have to look at the things that I've piled together and say to myself, "Holy guacamole, I've got a lot of junk!"
For some reason, I always pack more than I need. Freshman year was a sad example of that... I moved into my first dorm ever and realized that I had brought childhood dolls, clothes for the wrong seasons, enough pairs of shoes to cover the British army's feet, and enough pillows to make another bed out of. I recanted my dolls and let my mom take them home to be stored away, but everything else I kept, mostly because "I just don't know when I'll need it!"
I have to look at this as some form of insecurity. Why is it that people, (mostly girls, for some reason,) can't seem to let go of worldly possessions? Girls like to shop as a past-time. (Guys, if you're out there and like to shop to kill time, I'm not judging. Just stereotyping.) We end up socializing with each other and coming home with way more than we can afford, let alone than we need. And yet, at least for me, I keep going back, keep shopping on the internet (which has really become too easy of a way to spend money, in my opinion,) and the "junk" that keeps getting boxed up every school year continues to grow.
This summer, God opened my eyes to so much need, in the eyes of Russian orphans, Santa Fe homeless people, RFKC children. These people have all been given a life, a chance. And either life's been more cruel to them than the average person, or they've thrown it away. No matter what the case may be, they're still needing, still worse of than I am.
Those faces all crossed my mind as I was packing up my things, as I was looking in dumb-struck awe at the number of boxes I had piled up, things that I was going to need to fit, with the help of a miracle, into my side of a dorm room. I tried to pick out things that I didn't need, didn't use, and that, let's be honest, would never probably leave their hangers again, at least while in my possession. Even after I cleaned out all these unnecessary things, here I am on pack-the-car day, and my mother's cross-over is packed with the "big things", and I'm in the process of filling my tiny Dodge Neon with what's left, praying it will all fit.
I'm not trying to look down on people who have materialistic things, because I know that many of us (including my own self!) not only have them, but treasure many of the things we have bought or been given. I simply mean to reflect on how much importance we place on things that, in reality, will mean nothing, absolutely nothing, once we are able to gaze upon the loving face of our Savior in heaven. Glory be to God, who gives us Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice so that we have something, something so incredibly precious, to look forward to other than boxes of clothes and Disney movies. ;)
Blessings on all that you do!
For some reason, I always pack more than I need. Freshman year was a sad example of that... I moved into my first dorm ever and realized that I had brought childhood dolls, clothes for the wrong seasons, enough pairs of shoes to cover the British army's feet, and enough pillows to make another bed out of. I recanted my dolls and let my mom take them home to be stored away, but everything else I kept, mostly because "I just don't know when I'll need it!"
I have to look at this as some form of insecurity. Why is it that people, (mostly girls, for some reason,) can't seem to let go of worldly possessions? Girls like to shop as a past-time. (Guys, if you're out there and like to shop to kill time, I'm not judging. Just stereotyping.) We end up socializing with each other and coming home with way more than we can afford, let alone than we need. And yet, at least for me, I keep going back, keep shopping on the internet (which has really become too easy of a way to spend money, in my opinion,) and the "junk" that keeps getting boxed up every school year continues to grow.
This summer, God opened my eyes to so much need, in the eyes of Russian orphans, Santa Fe homeless people, RFKC children. These people have all been given a life, a chance. And either life's been more cruel to them than the average person, or they've thrown it away. No matter what the case may be, they're still needing, still worse of than I am.
Those faces all crossed my mind as I was packing up my things, as I was looking in dumb-struck awe at the number of boxes I had piled up, things that I was going to need to fit, with the help of a miracle, into my side of a dorm room. I tried to pick out things that I didn't need, didn't use, and that, let's be honest, would never probably leave their hangers again, at least while in my possession. Even after I cleaned out all these unnecessary things, here I am on pack-the-car day, and my mother's cross-over is packed with the "big things", and I'm in the process of filling my tiny Dodge Neon with what's left, praying it will all fit.
I'm not trying to look down on people who have materialistic things, because I know that many of us (including my own self!) not only have them, but treasure many of the things we have bought or been given. I simply mean to reflect on how much importance we place on things that, in reality, will mean nothing, absolutely nothing, once we are able to gaze upon the loving face of our Savior in heaven. Glory be to God, who gives us Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice so that we have something, something so incredibly precious, to look forward to other than boxes of clothes and Disney movies. ;)
Blessings on all that you do!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Talking To My Shadows
Today has been an awesome reminder of how blessed I am, how much God has given me! Today, I was reminded of the awesome support group that I have at home. Not only do I have friends and family who are with me to comfort me through every trial, to laugh with me through every high point, and to just sit and talk during the "normal" moments, but I've got a great church family, a collection of teachers still looking out for me, and a community that prays for me and checks up on me.
This morning, I had the extreme pleasure of hearing my interview with My Bridge Radio aired! I had taken off work for a presentation (more on that in a minute,) so I was able to be home for it! I'm going to be honest, I like hearing myself talk. Honestly, I think we all do, to a degree. It's probably a great downfall of mine... None the less, though, I really enjoyed hearing my radio conversation from everyone else's perspective, not just my own. Stan and Gordon, the morning radio hosts, were so much fun to talk to, and they really made me think about why I went on the trip, why I'm going again, and what impact these trips are serving for both me and the people who I meet! My mom was listening with me, and commented on how my 2012 trip quite possibly will never stop impacting people. She said "What if someone knows Pastor Reehl, and never thought they could go on the trip until they heard your interview??" All the glory to God, should someone be able to go on the trip after being inspired by my interview! It is my Father in heaven who gives me the words I speak, the experiences I share, the stories I write and tell.
(By the way, here's the link to the interview, if you'd like to listen:
Steph's Interview with My Bridge Radio)
Following the radio show, I began to prepare myself for possibly my most challenging presentation thus far: going back to my own K-8 Lutheran school to share my experiences with the students in chapel. It's one thing to talk to adults about where I've been and what I've done, how much the special-needs orphanages impacted me, how angry the Russian government made me when I walked into Hospital 8. However, it's a completely different "game", if you will, to talk to kids as young as 5 and as old as 13 or 14. I was really nervous about the whole thing, the new presentation, talking to kids who I've watched grow up (tell you what, if you ever need to feel old, just watch the babies you rocked to sleep file into the chapel with their kindergarten class...)
However, when I got there, the Holy Spirit did His thing, as always. I was able to share with the kids a few pictures from the orphanages that really impacted me, some of the Russian orphans who left their handprints on my heart, and some of the moments that will never leave me. My audience was very respectful, and I believe that God helped me get my message across!
The coolest thing, though, about getting to talk to the kids was knowing the whole reason behind my being invited there. They are planning on giving their first-semester chapel offerings to help a program that buys Sunday School materials for kids in Russia! Isn't that amazing?? God blows my mind, pretty much on a daily basis, but today's just been kind of full of explosions... First, My Bridge Radio picks THIS summer to do a theme on "Reaching Out to the Ends of the Earth", and I'm able to contact them and share with them about my mission trip! Then, my old school chooses to send their offerings over to Russia, and I'm able to share my experiences with kids who are the age that I was when I first decided I wanted to go to Russia on my first missions trip!
God reaches out, in so many ways, ways that I think often go unnoticed by us mere human beings. But the times when we do notice, I think those are the gifts that are meant to be kept, treasured. Watching the kids react at the pictures of Hospital 8, or seeing the curiosity grow as I shared about the lives of Russian kids, just makes me wonder, if somewhere in my audience today, was there a little girl, say maybe 9 or 10, who thought to herself "...Gee, I wonder if I could go to Russia some day..."
Blessings on all that you do. :)
This morning, I had the extreme pleasure of hearing my interview with My Bridge Radio aired! I had taken off work for a presentation (more on that in a minute,) so I was able to be home for it! I'm going to be honest, I like hearing myself talk. Honestly, I think we all do, to a degree. It's probably a great downfall of mine... None the less, though, I really enjoyed hearing my radio conversation from everyone else's perspective, not just my own. Stan and Gordon, the morning radio hosts, were so much fun to talk to, and they really made me think about why I went on the trip, why I'm going again, and what impact these trips are serving for both me and the people who I meet! My mom was listening with me, and commented on how my 2012 trip quite possibly will never stop impacting people. She said "What if someone knows Pastor Reehl, and never thought they could go on the trip until they heard your interview??" All the glory to God, should someone be able to go on the trip after being inspired by my interview! It is my Father in heaven who gives me the words I speak, the experiences I share, the stories I write and tell.
(By the way, here's the link to the interview, if you'd like to listen:
Steph's Interview with My Bridge Radio)
Following the radio show, I began to prepare myself for possibly my most challenging presentation thus far: going back to my own K-8 Lutheran school to share my experiences with the students in chapel. It's one thing to talk to adults about where I've been and what I've done, how much the special-needs orphanages impacted me, how angry the Russian government made me when I walked into Hospital 8. However, it's a completely different "game", if you will, to talk to kids as young as 5 and as old as 13 or 14. I was really nervous about the whole thing, the new presentation, talking to kids who I've watched grow up (tell you what, if you ever need to feel old, just watch the babies you rocked to sleep file into the chapel with their kindergarten class...)
However, when I got there, the Holy Spirit did His thing, as always. I was able to share with the kids a few pictures from the orphanages that really impacted me, some of the Russian orphans who left their handprints on my heart, and some of the moments that will never leave me. My audience was very respectful, and I believe that God helped me get my message across!
The coolest thing, though, about getting to talk to the kids was knowing the whole reason behind my being invited there. They are planning on giving their first-semester chapel offerings to help a program that buys Sunday School materials for kids in Russia! Isn't that amazing?? God blows my mind, pretty much on a daily basis, but today's just been kind of full of explosions... First, My Bridge Radio picks THIS summer to do a theme on "Reaching Out to the Ends of the Earth", and I'm able to contact them and share with them about my mission trip! Then, my old school chooses to send their offerings over to Russia, and I'm able to share my experiences with kids who are the age that I was when I first decided I wanted to go to Russia on my first missions trip!
God reaches out, in so many ways, ways that I think often go unnoticed by us mere human beings. But the times when we do notice, I think those are the gifts that are meant to be kept, treasured. Watching the kids react at the pictures of Hospital 8, or seeing the curiosity grow as I shared about the lives of Russian kids, just makes me wonder, if somewhere in my audience today, was there a little girl, say maybe 9 or 10, who thought to herself "...Gee, I wonder if I could go to Russia some day..."
Blessings on all that you do. :)
Friday, August 3, 2012
My Surreal Summer, Overflowing With Gifts
It's August 3rd, already! The next 23 days are going to fly by, and before I know it, I'll be starting my sophomore year in college. (Maybe that doesn't terrify anyone else like it terrifies me...) On the way home from the Grand Canyon the past 19 hours, I had a lot of time to think, mostly about my summer, my first summer coming home from college, getting a job, and almost living on my own. I've had so many "God moments", so many times where I have just taken a step back and said "Holy cow, this is ME!! I am the one living this life!"
First off, my summer in general is just a huge blessing. The fact that I'm able to come home and see my family and get a job because I'm that close to school is a gift from God. I was able to meet my two cousins' new babies, only weeks after they were born! That was a huge privilege, and a great way to spend my time at home before I left for Russia.
Russia. If you've been reading my entries, then you know what an amazing experience I had, what an awesome, long-awaited gift from God that trip was! Even now, almost three months later, I still can't believe that I have actually been to Russia. That trip had so many eye-opening moments, so many "God-is-so-totally-in-control-that-it-blows-my-mind" moments, and I still can't quite grasp that I was able to experience them. Moments like giving Valerie his Bible, or meeting a family of kids who are still together in an orphanage, or stepping into the Baltic Sea, or looking at my passport and knowing that I've visited four new countries. Moments like that don't come very often, at least in my life, and now I've experienced them!
Coming home from that, I was able to work, all summer. In today's economy, it was a huge gift to have a full-time job, coming straight out of a first year of college, and that job will help me get back to Russia next summer! (AAAAAAAH!!! RUSSIA AGAIN!!!!!)
There are little moments in my summer that simply can't all be recorded. Time with my family, teaching moments from God, catching up with high school friends, getting to see friends from out of town. Little things like that, that I take for granted! God has given me so much, and I have so much more than many people... I often forget that, often find little things to complain about. And it was my trip to the Grand Canyon that kind of hit home for me, how much I really have to be thankful for.
We drove through (let me count...) four states, two of which were new to me. Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. In the final two, we saw a lot of need, need that doesn't often come to our minds when we think of America and how well-off we all are. I saw homeless people in Santa Fe, we drove through many, many desolate Indian reservations, and saw several people in need of something more. It kind of hit me, then, just how much I have. I have a car to travel through four states with. I have a family to go on vacation with. I have the means to stay in a hotel and go inside the Grand Canyon National Park. I have a healthy body to hike into the Grand Canyon. I have medicine to help cure the stupid head cold I got. :)
It just kind of hits, when you're standing over the biggest "hole" in the United States, how awesome God is, how powerful He is, how in-control He is. One of my biggest struggles is entrusting all my problems, my worries, my concerns to our Heavenly Father. But after this road trip, after my little moments with His precious children, after my two-week, long-awaited mission trip, it becomes easier for me to see: We serve an awesome God, one who is worthy of our praise, our trust, our worship, our everything. To God be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessings on all that you do!
First off, my summer in general is just a huge blessing. The fact that I'm able to come home and see my family and get a job because I'm that close to school is a gift from God. I was able to meet my two cousins' new babies, only weeks after they were born! That was a huge privilege, and a great way to spend my time at home before I left for Russia.
Russia. If you've been reading my entries, then you know what an amazing experience I had, what an awesome, long-awaited gift from God that trip was! Even now, almost three months later, I still can't believe that I have actually been to Russia. That trip had so many eye-opening moments, so many "God-is-so-totally-in-control-that-it-blows-my-mind" moments, and I still can't quite grasp that I was able to experience them. Moments like giving Valerie his Bible, or meeting a family of kids who are still together in an orphanage, or stepping into the Baltic Sea, or looking at my passport and knowing that I've visited four new countries. Moments like that don't come very often, at least in my life, and now I've experienced them!
Coming home from that, I was able to work, all summer. In today's economy, it was a huge gift to have a full-time job, coming straight out of a first year of college, and that job will help me get back to Russia next summer! (AAAAAAAH!!! RUSSIA AGAIN!!!!!)
There are little moments in my summer that simply can't all be recorded. Time with my family, teaching moments from God, catching up with high school friends, getting to see friends from out of town. Little things like that, that I take for granted! God has given me so much, and I have so much more than many people... I often forget that, often find little things to complain about. And it was my trip to the Grand Canyon that kind of hit home for me, how much I really have to be thankful for.
We drove through (let me count...) four states, two of which were new to me. Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. In the final two, we saw a lot of need, need that doesn't often come to our minds when we think of America and how well-off we all are. I saw homeless people in Santa Fe, we drove through many, many desolate Indian reservations, and saw several people in need of something more. It kind of hit me, then, just how much I have. I have a car to travel through four states with. I have a family to go on vacation with. I have the means to stay in a hotel and go inside the Grand Canyon National Park. I have a healthy body to hike into the Grand Canyon. I have medicine to help cure the stupid head cold I got. :)
It just kind of hits, when you're standing over the biggest "hole" in the United States, how awesome God is, how powerful He is, how in-control He is. One of my biggest struggles is entrusting all my problems, my worries, my concerns to our Heavenly Father. But after this road trip, after my little moments with His precious children, after my two-week, long-awaited mission trip, it becomes easier for me to see: We serve an awesome God, one who is worthy of our praise, our trust, our worship, our everything. To God be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessings on all that you do!
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| Colorado River |
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| Overlooking the Grand Canyon |
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| Grand Canyon |
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| Small, Beautiful Part of the Grand Canyon |
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Welcome Home, and Goodbye
Friday. Friday always hits me hard, because I'm just drained. Emotionally, physically... It's a hard day to get through, but it always has its ups to go with its downs.
The schedule didn't change until after lunch, when we packed up and the kids wrote their "Dear God" letters and their "Why I Like Camp" letters. Sometimes, reading those can really send it home, why we do camp, why we reach out to these kids.
Afterwards, the kids got to look at pictures and listen to camp music while we waited for the bus to get there. We also had our "graduation" ceremony, where we give our 11-year-olds their final departing gift, because they're officially too old to rejoin us at RFKC. This year, Miguel graduated. This was his first and last year at RFKC, but we know, and I'll share more a bit further down, that God did some amazing things in his life while he was at camp. April also graduated. This little girl has been to camp each of the 5 years that Columbus has been hosting it. Leaving was hard for her, which is completely understandable. She's really come to love it, even she'd never come out and say it. April's a sweet, loving little girl, and she'll definitely be missed next year.
By this point on Friday, I've normally broken down at some point, had a moment that just drives home why RFKC is in existence. I hadn't had it yet, and I thought I was going to actually leave camp in one piece. And I almost made it! Well, the moment actually came when we left camp.
Often, the kids start breaking out of their shells, and they start talking on Wednesday or Thursday. Often times, as happy as we are that the kids have reached a comfort spot with us, it's the stories they share that break us to pieces. A counselor friend of mine shared a story with me about one of her little girls, a little, tiny angel who had been hurt, and she was so scared to tell her mom about the injury, that by the time her mom knew to take her to the hospital, the injury was already healed over, and her vocal chords were affected by it. The little girl had been 4.
FOUR.
And she went back to that same home. That's when I broke, and I remembered where my kids were going, where they had come from. I can normally hold back my emotions until after the kids leave. I couldn't do it this year. I was crying before they even got off the bus. I think a lot of kids were confused, as most the counselors were emotional. The kids who were going back to great homes were even more confused. They couldn't understand what was going on, and for that, I'm grateful. But it was the kiddos who clung to the counselors instead of the parents or guardians. It was the kids who cried as they walked away, and all we could do was sit there, and hope that they were going to a good place.
And it's at that point, that point where all I can do is sob, and give one last hug, and tell these kids that I love them, that I have to release them into God's hands. Not that He doesn't already hold them. But there's literally nothing more I can do. We have a just and loving Father, whose Son said "Let the little children come to me." He invites the smallest, most fragile child into His loving arms, and praise God! He wants to hold on to them, and take care of them like no other parent, good or bad, could even imagine.
After the kids left, we shared our favorite memories of them, moments that moved us, moments that we know will stick with us and the kids forever. We also read the letters from the kids, and Miguel's was the most powerful. He thanked God for Jesus, for the cross, for raising Him again. He thanked God for camp. And he thanked God for being taught how to talk to Him. Miguel had never even heard of Jesus' name before camp.
That's why we do this. That's why we keep reaching out to sometimes-frustrating kids. God is always moving, and we can only pray that He would keep those tiny seeds alive in the hearts of our 24 kids. We pray that He will make those seeds burst and grow with such ferocity, that the kids know that it could be nothing else by His amazing power and love. I keep these kids in my prayers, hoping that this one week a year makes a difference in their lives. I can only pray that the other 51 weeks out of the year don't make my sweet little angels bitter, angry, or upset with the world. And someone, I know that God's everlasting love will shine through, and that these kids will start to see him in every aspect of their lives.
Blessings on all that you do!
The schedule didn't change until after lunch, when we packed up and the kids wrote their "Dear God" letters and their "Why I Like Camp" letters. Sometimes, reading those can really send it home, why we do camp, why we reach out to these kids.
Afterwards, the kids got to look at pictures and listen to camp music while we waited for the bus to get there. We also had our "graduation" ceremony, where we give our 11-year-olds their final departing gift, because they're officially too old to rejoin us at RFKC. This year, Miguel graduated. This was his first and last year at RFKC, but we know, and I'll share more a bit further down, that God did some amazing things in his life while he was at camp. April also graduated. This little girl has been to camp each of the 5 years that Columbus has been hosting it. Leaving was hard for her, which is completely understandable. She's really come to love it, even she'd never come out and say it. April's a sweet, loving little girl, and she'll definitely be missed next year.
By this point on Friday, I've normally broken down at some point, had a moment that just drives home why RFKC is in existence. I hadn't had it yet, and I thought I was going to actually leave camp in one piece. And I almost made it! Well, the moment actually came when we left camp.
Often, the kids start breaking out of their shells, and they start talking on Wednesday or Thursday. Often times, as happy as we are that the kids have reached a comfort spot with us, it's the stories they share that break us to pieces. A counselor friend of mine shared a story with me about one of her little girls, a little, tiny angel who had been hurt, and she was so scared to tell her mom about the injury, that by the time her mom knew to take her to the hospital, the injury was already healed over, and her vocal chords were affected by it. The little girl had been 4.
FOUR.
And she went back to that same home. That's when I broke, and I remembered where my kids were going, where they had come from. I can normally hold back my emotions until after the kids leave. I couldn't do it this year. I was crying before they even got off the bus. I think a lot of kids were confused, as most the counselors were emotional. The kids who were going back to great homes were even more confused. They couldn't understand what was going on, and for that, I'm grateful. But it was the kiddos who clung to the counselors instead of the parents or guardians. It was the kids who cried as they walked away, and all we could do was sit there, and hope that they were going to a good place.
And it's at that point, that point where all I can do is sob, and give one last hug, and tell these kids that I love them, that I have to release them into God's hands. Not that He doesn't already hold them. But there's literally nothing more I can do. We have a just and loving Father, whose Son said "Let the little children come to me." He invites the smallest, most fragile child into His loving arms, and praise God! He wants to hold on to them, and take care of them like no other parent, good or bad, could even imagine.
After the kids left, we shared our favorite memories of them, moments that moved us, moments that we know will stick with us and the kids forever. We also read the letters from the kids, and Miguel's was the most powerful. He thanked God for Jesus, for the cross, for raising Him again. He thanked God for camp. And he thanked God for being taught how to talk to Him. Miguel had never even heard of Jesus' name before camp.
That's why we do this. That's why we keep reaching out to sometimes-frustrating kids. God is always moving, and we can only pray that He would keep those tiny seeds alive in the hearts of our 24 kids. We pray that He will make those seeds burst and grow with such ferocity, that the kids know that it could be nothing else by His amazing power and love. I keep these kids in my prayers, hoping that this one week a year makes a difference in their lives. I can only pray that the other 51 weeks out of the year don't make my sweet little angels bitter, angry, or upset with the world. And someone, I know that God's everlasting love will shine through, and that these kids will start to see him in every aspect of their lives.
Blessings on all that you do!
Thursday - Prom Dresses, Suit Coats, and Rain
Thursday at RFKC was our birthday party day, and this, by far is always my favorite day out of the entire week!! :)
We started off doing our normal, every day activities, and the kids who had been at camp before were trying so hard not to tell the new kids what was going to happen that night!
When the girls left to go swimming, the staff started to clear out our main building and we put up tables, hung dresses, set up nail and hair stations, and then waited for the princesses to arrive! (All while the boys got to practice their hand at BB guns!)
When the girls came in, and saw the prom dresses galore, saw us waiting for them at the hair and makeup stations, and saw the sparkling tiaras, their faces lit up with a surprise and joy that just never gets old for me. Before they could even begin to express all the excitement that they were holding, dresses started flying, hairspray started going, and their were smiles and "Ooos" and "Aaahs" all over the place. Music was playing in the background, glitter flew through the air, and the beautiful, shining daughters of God began to discover their true beauty.
This year, my sister and I donated old dresses to RFKC. Among them were our bridesmaid dresses from my dad's wedding, my two high school prom dresses, and a random dress that we had picked up at Good Will but only ever used for dress-ups.
As the girls started sorting through the dresses, one little girl named Edna seemed a bit at a loss for which dress to try on. I brought out my senior prom dress, and showed it to her, told her that it was mine, the one I had gotten prom queen in. Her face lit up, and she looked at me and said "Can I really wear it??" Oh, it broke my heart, but in a good way. I helped her lace it up, and for the next half hour, she was showing everyone her "prom queen dress". Now, how much better is that moment than that dress hanging in a closet for the next 30 years??
All but one dress was used by the girls, and they all looked absolutely stunning, in all the different dresses. I loved watching the more shy collection of girls begin to breakout and bloom under the praise of staff members and fellow princesses.
Once everyone had their hair done up, their nails painted, and their makeup on, we announced that the "carriage" (or haywagon,) would be coming around shortly, so naturally, we must practice our princess wave! My dear friend Camille, who has always been and always will be a princess at heart, demonstrated just exactly how a princess waves! (Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, touch the pearls, blow a kiss!) Our tiny little girls were waving and waving, with all the grace in the world. Camille ended her moment by reminding them that, even without the dresses and the hair, they're always princesses, because they're daughters of the King. I cried. :)
We took some pictures, and then we were helped onto our carriage! We waved at the trees and the cabins as we drove by them, and the girls got more and more antsy as we approached the waiting boys. (This was my favorite part!!) When the wagon came, all the boys, campers and staff, began to clap and cheer, and then, as the girls got off, they all bowed to us, and said "Good evening ladies!" and our 12 little princesses all practiced their curtsies as they went through the doors, where the full-time summer staff was dressed and cheering for the entering royalty.
At dinner, the girls were all so patient as they waited for their drinks and their meals. As we sat there, talking about all the perks of being princesses, one of the littler girls, Amelia, pointed out the window and said "God sent us a birthday present!!" Outside were the few precious drops of rain that our little kiddos had been praying for all week. The whole camp cheered, and the girls sitting at my table quickly bowed their heads and thanked God for the "best birthday present ever!" These little girls, who have been dressed in froof and sparkles and bright colors, the majority of whom know that we're about to go and open toys and other fine presents, are thanking God for the gift of rain drops. It really just was one of the moments that you never forget.
After dinner, the kids all performed in a talent show before they opened their gifts. Opening gifts is the best part of all, in my opinion. So many exclamations, so much thankfulness, and for the simplest things! One little girl received a pencil case, pens, and a notepad, and was so happy because "Now I can save my mom money when I go to school!" These simple things, that together, probably cost less than $5.
It's moments like that when I get snapped back into reality, and I have to remember that these kids are at camp for a reason. They aren't just "normal camp kids". They're kids who have dealt with a lifetime of worry and trouble in less than 12 years. And often times, the realization just hits me, when I look at these kids who I fall in love with, and wonder what they're going home to.
We started off doing our normal, every day activities, and the kids who had been at camp before were trying so hard not to tell the new kids what was going to happen that night!
When the girls left to go swimming, the staff started to clear out our main building and we put up tables, hung dresses, set up nail and hair stations, and then waited for the princesses to arrive! (All while the boys got to practice their hand at BB guns!)
When the girls came in, and saw the prom dresses galore, saw us waiting for them at the hair and makeup stations, and saw the sparkling tiaras, their faces lit up with a surprise and joy that just never gets old for me. Before they could even begin to express all the excitement that they were holding, dresses started flying, hairspray started going, and their were smiles and "Ooos" and "Aaahs" all over the place. Music was playing in the background, glitter flew through the air, and the beautiful, shining daughters of God began to discover their true beauty.
This year, my sister and I donated old dresses to RFKC. Among them were our bridesmaid dresses from my dad's wedding, my two high school prom dresses, and a random dress that we had picked up at Good Will but only ever used for dress-ups.
As the girls started sorting through the dresses, one little girl named Edna seemed a bit at a loss for which dress to try on. I brought out my senior prom dress, and showed it to her, told her that it was mine, the one I had gotten prom queen in. Her face lit up, and she looked at me and said "Can I really wear it??" Oh, it broke my heart, but in a good way. I helped her lace it up, and for the next half hour, she was showing everyone her "prom queen dress". Now, how much better is that moment than that dress hanging in a closet for the next 30 years??
All but one dress was used by the girls, and they all looked absolutely stunning, in all the different dresses. I loved watching the more shy collection of girls begin to breakout and bloom under the praise of staff members and fellow princesses.
Once everyone had their hair done up, their nails painted, and their makeup on, we announced that the "carriage" (or haywagon,) would be coming around shortly, so naturally, we must practice our princess wave! My dear friend Camille, who has always been and always will be a princess at heart, demonstrated just exactly how a princess waves! (Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, touch the pearls, blow a kiss!) Our tiny little girls were waving and waving, with all the grace in the world. Camille ended her moment by reminding them that, even without the dresses and the hair, they're always princesses, because they're daughters of the King. I cried. :)
We took some pictures, and then we were helped onto our carriage! We waved at the trees and the cabins as we drove by them, and the girls got more and more antsy as we approached the waiting boys. (This was my favorite part!!) When the wagon came, all the boys, campers and staff, began to clap and cheer, and then, as the girls got off, they all bowed to us, and said "Good evening ladies!" and our 12 little princesses all practiced their curtsies as they went through the doors, where the full-time summer staff was dressed and cheering for the entering royalty.
At dinner, the girls were all so patient as they waited for their drinks and their meals. As we sat there, talking about all the perks of being princesses, one of the littler girls, Amelia, pointed out the window and said "God sent us a birthday present!!" Outside were the few precious drops of rain that our little kiddos had been praying for all week. The whole camp cheered, and the girls sitting at my table quickly bowed their heads and thanked God for the "best birthday present ever!" These little girls, who have been dressed in froof and sparkles and bright colors, the majority of whom know that we're about to go and open toys and other fine presents, are thanking God for the gift of rain drops. It really just was one of the moments that you never forget.
After dinner, the kids all performed in a talent show before they opened their gifts. Opening gifts is the best part of all, in my opinion. So many exclamations, so much thankfulness, and for the simplest things! One little girl received a pencil case, pens, and a notepad, and was so happy because "Now I can save my mom money when I go to school!" These simple things, that together, probably cost less than $5.
It's moments like that when I get snapped back into reality, and I have to remember that these kids are at camp for a reason. They aren't just "normal camp kids". They're kids who have dealt with a lifetime of worry and trouble in less than 12 years. And often times, the realization just hits me, when I look at these kids who I fall in love with, and wonder what they're going home to.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
My Heroes Don't Wear Capes... Most Days.
Today was absolutely amazing. Just kind of blows my mind when I think all the way back to 6:30 AM this morning, and look at today, now. Seems like two days packed into one!!
Our friend Katie recovered nicely, but not enough to be able to return back to her kiddos today. That being the case, Penelope and Patricia still needed a counselor for the day. I jumped in right after staff meeting, and so fulfilled my first official day as an RFKC counselor!
Pause. To all of you who have EVER been an RFKC counselor, you guys have officially become my heroes. I don't understand how it is that you do what you guys do. My co-counselor, Kristen, is such a sweet, loving, smiley girl, and she never loses patience, she never says anything sharp to the girls, and she commands their full attention effortlessly, it seems!
I don't want to make it sound like today was horrible, because it wasn't. It was an awesome experience to be a "foster counselor", as Miss Penelope dubbed me. (Isn't that like the best title ever??) I was able to get to know them a little better, hold their hands all day long, swim with them at the beach, make baby dolls out of clay with them, hang out with them during their rest time (where I was able to explain how to reference Biblical texts to one of Kristen's girls,) and overall, we just had a really amazing day, getting to learn about each other!
The girls definitely missed Katie, though, and it was such a God-send that by dinner, she was able to resume her counselor position! It was about that time that I felt myself slowly losing patience, and Katie was sent back at the most opportune time!
Over and over today, I kept thinking of when God says "My grace is made sufficient in your weaknesses." And how true that was today! My weakness was my low patience level today, and God's grace shown through like a precious jewel. He showed me, through my two little girls, how much He continues to love us, even when we fail at our daily tasks, or when we fail to love others unconditionally. Not only does He forgive us and give us His steadfast love, but He also gives His abundance of love where we fall short. Not that we should start loving people less, but isn't it comforting to know that, even on days when we aren't showing the kind of love we ought to be, that we have an awesome and amazing God filling in the spots, to a point where can't even comprehend how much love is given?? YAY, GOD!!
Today was a success, in my mind. New relationships were built, new boundaries were challenged and overcome, and God was shown as a powerful Father in all things. Praise God for the wonderful things He does on a daily basis! On that note, praise God for sleep!! ;) Goodnight, prayer warriors!!
Blessings on all that you do!
Our friend Katie recovered nicely, but not enough to be able to return back to her kiddos today. That being the case, Penelope and Patricia still needed a counselor for the day. I jumped in right after staff meeting, and so fulfilled my first official day as an RFKC counselor!
Pause. To all of you who have EVER been an RFKC counselor, you guys have officially become my heroes. I don't understand how it is that you do what you guys do. My co-counselor, Kristen, is such a sweet, loving, smiley girl, and she never loses patience, she never says anything sharp to the girls, and she commands their full attention effortlessly, it seems!
I don't want to make it sound like today was horrible, because it wasn't. It was an awesome experience to be a "foster counselor", as Miss Penelope dubbed me. (Isn't that like the best title ever??) I was able to get to know them a little better, hold their hands all day long, swim with them at the beach, make baby dolls out of clay with them, hang out with them during their rest time (where I was able to explain how to reference Biblical texts to one of Kristen's girls,) and overall, we just had a really amazing day, getting to learn about each other!
The girls definitely missed Katie, though, and it was such a God-send that by dinner, she was able to resume her counselor position! It was about that time that I felt myself slowly losing patience, and Katie was sent back at the most opportune time!
Over and over today, I kept thinking of when God says "My grace is made sufficient in your weaknesses." And how true that was today! My weakness was my low patience level today, and God's grace shown through like a precious jewel. He showed me, through my two little girls, how much He continues to love us, even when we fail at our daily tasks, or when we fail to love others unconditionally. Not only does He forgive us and give us His steadfast love, but He also gives His abundance of love where we fall short. Not that we should start loving people less, but isn't it comforting to know that, even on days when we aren't showing the kind of love we ought to be, that we have an awesome and amazing God filling in the spots, to a point where can't even comprehend how much love is given?? YAY, GOD!!
Today was a success, in my mind. New relationships were built, new boundaries were challenged and overcome, and God was shown as a powerful Father in all things. Praise God for the wonderful things He does on a daily basis! On that note, praise God for sleep!! ;) Goodnight, prayer warriors!!
Blessings on all that you do!
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