It's weird for me to write the last update on my summer in North Carolina while I'm currently sitting in my own bed... in Wisconsin... I'M HOME!!!! My plane took off on Friday, August 4th. Exactly one week ago from today. I feel a mix of emotions being back home... but at the same time, I'm excited to see what the Lord has planned for me this upcoming school year!
The last week of camp was starter camp. It was challenging, tiring, and exhausting... especially because at that point we were all so ready to be back home. But nevertheless, I know the Lord used me to speak to the girls in my cabin! It was so fun having ten girls who all had never experienced camp before. They asked questions upon questions upon questions (which may have tested my patience at times), and they were all just so excited about everything!!!
My favorite memory of starter camp is a funny one. So, I believe it was either the first or second night (sometime earlier in the week). Some of the staff decided that it'd be fun to throw a surprise dance party under the pavilion at 9:30 pm for the girls instead of just going to bed like we normally do. I was SO down! If you know me, I love surprises. I also love to prank people. Surprises + Pranks = One epic adventure. ;) Ahh. So, Jenny (my co-counselor) and I talked about how we were going to prank our girls, and we decided that it would be absolutely hilarious if we pretended that there was a snake in the cabin and made them all run outside and then said, "SURPRISE, THERE'S NO SNAKE!! WE'RE HAVING A DANCE PARTAYYYY!" Creative, right? The story goes on.
While Jenny was finishing up nightly devotions, I went to the bathroom and then burst out of the door and said, "THERE'S A SNAKE IN THE CABIN!! EVERYBODY GET OUT!!" Immediately, all of my girls started screaming and running for the door. They were all trampling over each other - it was the funniest thing ever. Once every one of my girls was out of the cabin, I told them what was really going on... The dance party!! To my surprise, more than anything they were mad at me for pranking them. I mean, as mad as an 11-year-old can get at an awesome camp counselor. ;)
So, for the rest of the week... my girls decided it would be fun to pull various pranks on ME. Yes, their counselor. If I had known what I was getting myself into, maybe I wouldn't have pretended there was a snake in the cabin. But, the girls had fun the rest of the week getting back at me and it was the last week of camp... so naturally, I just went with it.
Honestly, I was a little scared about what the girls were planning that whole week. I felt like I had to watch my back every second! But, here are the three absolutely harmless things they ended up doing:
- During paint wars, my girls poured a five-gallon bucket of paint mixed with water over my head when I wasn't looking.
- One night, they pulled out the hair from all of their brushes, made a big hairball, and put it on my pillow. Gross.
- I woke up during the last night to something wooden touching my foot in my sleeping bag. Ahh yes, the girls had painted wooden snakes in crafts that day.
It was a great last week, pranks and all. I know the girls had fun, for sure. Being dropped off at the airport by Jenny was so hard. Reality finally hit me... I was going HOME! I got teary eyed a bit, but at the same time, I knew that we would see each other again. Someday. I mean, she lives in Miami so there's my excuse to go the beach over spring break or something. I'm not worried. :) My other best friend from camp, Kendra, had a flight that was leaving a few hours after mine. So we chilled at the airport together and then said goodbye once my plane was boarding. It felt so weird to just get up and leave the place I had literally poured my whole entire being into for the past three-ish months.
When I finally landed at the Green Bay airport, my family and my best friend Lindsay were there to greet me and give me the biggest hugs I've ever received. It felt so good to see them all again! I had missed them all so much.
What a summer it was. It truly was an adventure - hopping on a plane by yourself that will take you to a place you've never been with people you've never met? Yep, that's what I call an adventure. I'm so thankful that I was able to have this opportunity. I know that it's exactly where God wanted me. I can't believe it's over!
Camp Crestridge, you now have a special place in my heart. Hopefully, I'll see you again one day. If I'm ever driving through the mountains of North Carolina I'll know where to stop. Thanks for making this summer one full of God's glory and one that I'll always remember.
Kenzie
