Week 1 Is Done: Nuns and 'ONE more' kid

Stories

During sand volleyball, one kid lost a pin that holds his watch together, making it unable to wrap around his wrist. The problem was that he has frequent seizures and this watch tracks them and gives him warnings and data. He was in tears and panic. Over 10 people scoured the sand volleyball court to find it, the guest services team even brought out a metal detector, all to no avail. We convinced him to join in club and that we would keep looking. That 'we' was Tanya, and after her scruptulous process, sifting sand on every square foot of the court, she found the missing pin for the watch, much to his relief. I always said that Tanya is a good looker. 

This has been the largest group of campers this summer. With that came really tough stories of kids, a need to report things to police, CPS and HR, all in the name of advocating for these kids' safety and well-being. I am tired. Our head leaders are too. The good news was shared with 250+ kids, and 83 kids started a new relationship with God. After they had processed this decision alone in 15 minute quiet times, during cabin times with their peers, and during one-on-ones with their leaders, they were offered a chance to express that decision by writing their name on a sticky note and putting it on the cross. Great visual. 

After all the kids came up, Tanita was closing up the time, and a kid walked across the stage in front of everyone and added their name on the cross too. Everyone clapped, it was a special moment of disregarding social conventions and caring what people think and expressing her newfound faith. After all kids were dismissed and off to lunch and their bus ride home, one more kid came up with their leader and added even ONE more name to the cross. Alyssa. One more! That is what we celebrate. One more. Luke 15 says that there is a celebration in heaven for one more person that turns to God. Will you celebrate ONE more with us?

Did I mention we had 7 nuns as adult guests this week? Yep. It was priceless to have them judge the pool olympics (nuns, judging HS kids in

swimsuits!) one nun won the crowd mixer on night one beating out the kids from Portland, they zip lines with skirts and head covering flapping wildly in the wind, yet they invited us to participate in Mass every morning at 6:30am, and we shared cabin times together than were among the most viscerally deep and powerful prayer times I have ever encountered. I'm nun the better.  

Lastly, Dietrich is doing SO well. He has been to many camps as a family member and often struggles to be here, He has made some friends, he has put on TWO sushi parties for our assignment team, he rides his bike, he dressed up as an inflatable t-rex, as Boris the Russian bowler's pet, he hides clues in all kids cabins on night one, and more. And Janna is doing great on work crew. Tired but great. Tanya has been a life saver, a great advisor, prayer-partner, and support to me as camp director as well as to the rest of the team and families.

Ava Gaffney, so thankful she came!

Lets pray for that ONE more kid. We have Pendleton Oregon, Lake Oswego, Vancouver WA and Shoreline WA coming. 

Thank you!

PS- 'Evie' (Ava) from the previous post put her name on the cross. As did Zack who lost his watch pin.