It's now 4:04 in the morning. I'm in the office waiting for the Dores (our summer helpers) to pick me up in our van so that we can go the airport. They are all going home today after three weeks of fun and work. Thank you girls for all of your hard work, your good attitudes and willingness to do whatever was needed. It was fun getting to know you all. If you happen to read this early, please pray for their trip home. (Tamara, or as I like to call her Tanisha!, got sick the day before they left.)
What happens here in Puerto Rico...camp, kids, dead iguanas, hermit crabs, painting and much more.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Logan says really cute things.
Even when he is really sick and doesn't feel good at all. He and Eli, who have both been waiting all year for their camp to start, are sick. They both succesfully attended the first day of camp, but Eli hasn't been back. Logan tried to go today, but went downhill quickly after shooting his arrow during the Bible story of Jonathan and David.
So after a day of lab test to rule out Dengue Fever and sitting in the doctor's office with a roomful of crazy kiddos and puking four times....ahh the memories....I gave him a quick bath to help bring down his fever and got him ready for bed. Then we had this conversation...
Me: how's your head honey?
Logan: It hurts bad. If you were me, you would know how it feels. Do you wish you were a beaver?
Me: A beaver?
Logan: Then you could live in a jam.
It has been a crazy last week of camp here. Things like this keep me sane!
A Dore's Perspective
(I was waiting to post this until I found a picture of Laura. Then I realized that camp would already be over by the time I had time to get a picture. So here it is sans picture...)
Being a Dore at CDC is tough work sometimes. It takes Spiritual and physical strength. You have to do things that you might not want to do, but if you don't, who will? You have to keep the mindset that you're doing this for God. No matter how hard it is. Because sometimes God expects us to do hard things. It helps us grow and that's what we want. And this is the perfect environment for growing closer to God. You're constantly surrounded by God's people and they're constantly encouraging you and helping you when things get rough.
Along with the hard work and pain, there's also life-long relationships being built with your fellow Dores as you laugh and make memories. The singing and dancing makes it all worth the sweat. Even though some of us might be missing our own families, we know we have each other to rely on. We all understand that God brought us together to honor Him with everything we do here, and we thank Him each day for this opportunity. I know we don't have to worry about leaving this place with a feeling of regret, because God has truly blessed our work here and He will continue to do so.
A typical Dore day consists of loads of fun, but a lot of work and minor injuries that we can laugh at. After all, even roses come with thorns. While we work, we're able to watch the campers and listen to them laughing, and it helps to know that we're a part of all this. As a Dore, I can say my life will definitely be changed for the better after this experience and, God-willing, I will be back.
Laura Leddy=)
Being a Dore at CDC is tough work sometimes. It takes Spiritual and physical strength. You have to do things that you might not want to do, but if you don't, who will? You have to keep the mindset that you're doing this for God. No matter how hard it is. Because sometimes God expects us to do hard things. It helps us grow and that's what we want. And this is the perfect environment for growing closer to God. You're constantly surrounded by God's people and they're constantly encouraging you and helping you when things get rough.
Along with the hard work and pain, there's also life-long relationships being built with your fellow Dores as you laugh and make memories. The singing and dancing makes it all worth the sweat. Even though some of us might be missing our own families, we know we have each other to rely on. We all understand that God brought us together to honor Him with everything we do here, and we thank Him each day for this opportunity. I know we don't have to worry about leaving this place with a feeling of regret, because God has truly blessed our work here and He will continue to do so.
A typical Dore day consists of loads of fun, but a lot of work and minor injuries that we can laugh at. After all, even roses come with thorns. While we work, we're able to watch the campers and listen to them laughing, and it helps to know that we're a part of all this. As a Dore, I can say my life will definitely be changed for the better after this experience and, God-willing, I will be back.
Laura Leddy=)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
OFF vs. CUTTER - No Competition
Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Imagine the roar of the ocean and the rustling of the palm trees. In your legs and arms you start to feel a tingle. Suddenly the sensation has taken over your entire body. Happiness? Excitement? Nerves? Worries? It's none of these things; it's mosquitoes. Everyday I wake up hot and sweaty. I climb down my ladder and get ready for the day. After ignoring the afro my hair has turned into I change clothes, walk outside and take a bath. A bath in bug spray that is. And if I ever forget to put it on, I'll be reminded within 5 minutes of being outside. And I don't use the wimpy bug spray from the states, I use the heavy duty hardcore Puerto Rican bug spray. My theory is if the people who live here use it, it must work. And NONE have been using Off, Cutter is where my loyalty lies.
Today is the last full day of the second week of camp. My mind can't wrap around the time that has flown by. This time next week, I'll be avoiding to prepare to pack up and go home. I've learned so much while I've been down here. I've made new friends, new memories, new sweat records. I've accomplished more than I imagined. Coming down here, I was hoping to improve my Spanish, have an awesome summer and an even more incredible tan. Of course, with some God thrown in there. I've learned one Spanish word, my vocabulary might be worse than before because annunciation isn't a big thing down here. My tan is pretty pathetic and you can play "connect-the-dots" with my bites. My summer has been incredible and God has been in every step I've taken. Being here, I've broken down my own barriers and opened up to unsuspecting people. My generalizations about people have been cast to the side and I now can look for the real person, not just the mask they wear. I've also been able to strip away the masks I've been holding up to God. My own masks I've been hiding behind, and the ones that I've hidden Him behind. As C. S. Lewis said, "I do not want my image of God, I want God." And I'm now on the road to finding Him for who He is, not who I make Him to be.
My favorite part of camp is seeing the counselors interact with the campers. All of the counselors have been doing a fantastic job. They get crazy, energetic, hyped up when they're about to fall over from exhaustion. They encourage, inspire, and help their campers. It's been a blessing to get to know the counselors better and to see what they've over come to get where they are and how they choose to spend their summer; teaching kids about our Father.
Being here, as cheesy as it may seem, has been a life-changing summer. I haven't taken a hot shower since I've gotten here, and I haven't wanted to once. I also haven't been able to have my phone. So when I get it back, I don't even know what I'll do with it. I put on anti-itch cream like lotion, and I cut all my shirts into tank tops. I sweat so much; and I don't have any clue what's going on in the world, but I can't imagine being anywhere else. There's no where else in the world I'd rather spend my last few weeks of summer. This is my fourth trip to Puerto Rico, my first camp experience, and I don't want to go home next week.
-Maddie (Madison, Madeline, Madds) Poole!
Today is the last full day of the second week of camp. My mind can't wrap around the time that has flown by. This time next week, I'll be avoiding to prepare to pack up and go home. I've learned so much while I've been down here. I've made new friends, new memories, new sweat records. I've accomplished more than I imagined. Coming down here, I was hoping to improve my Spanish, have an awesome summer and an even more incredible tan. Of course, with some God thrown in there. I've learned one Spanish word, my vocabulary might be worse than before because annunciation isn't a big thing down here. My tan is pretty pathetic and you can play "connect-the-dots" with my bites. My summer has been incredible and God has been in every step I've taken. Being here, I've broken down my own barriers and opened up to unsuspecting people. My generalizations about people have been cast to the side and I now can look for the real person, not just the mask they wear. I've also been able to strip away the masks I've been holding up to God. My own masks I've been hiding behind, and the ones that I've hidden Him behind. As C. S. Lewis said, "I do not want my image of God, I want God." And I'm now on the road to finding Him for who He is, not who I make Him to be.
My favorite part of camp is seeing the counselors interact with the campers. All of the counselors have been doing a fantastic job. They get crazy, energetic, hyped up when they're about to fall over from exhaustion. They encourage, inspire, and help their campers. It's been a blessing to get to know the counselors better and to see what they've over come to get where they are and how they choose to spend their summer; teaching kids about our Father.
Being here, as cheesy as it may seem, has been a life-changing summer. I haven't taken a hot shower since I've gotten here, and I haven't wanted to once. I also haven't been able to have my phone. So when I get it back, I don't even know what I'll do with it. I put on anti-itch cream like lotion, and I cut all my shirts into tank tops. I sweat so much; and I don't have any clue what's going on in the world, but I can't imagine being anywhere else. There's no where else in the world I'd rather spend my last few weeks of summer. This is my fourth trip to Puerto Rico, my first camp experience, and I don't want to go home next week.
-Maddie (Madison, Madeline, Madds) Poole!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Mi papá es un oso.
This is MacKenzie. This year I had the opportunity to spend the summer at Campamento del Caribe and after my first week of summer camp I am amazed at the many ways the Lord had shown his presence.
I came down to Puerto Rico to take pictures and videos of the camp and put together videos for the end of the week. I began by filming some footage of the counselors at 3 am while they were all peacefully sleeping. Theresa and Beth woke up each counselor to ask them each a random question, that became the introduction video for the campers to meet their counselors. I really began to feel like I was apart of something bigger after that. Then the first week of campers arrived and there was a crazy and unbelievable amount of energy around camp. The worship was incredible and I loved the enthusiasm the children sang and danced with. Also, the interaction of the counselors and campers was enjoyable to watch, as friendships were created and campers looked up to counselors as heroes. One night, the camper's activity was a mud relay and included a complete coating of mud on all the children participating. It was so fun to hear all the giggles and screams, as they all enjoyed each other and the mud.
The numerous ways God has been working in my heart and on this camp in the last week are amazing, and I am so thankful to be able to have this opportunity for the summer.
I came down to Puerto Rico to take pictures and videos of the camp and put together videos for the end of the week. I began by filming some footage of the counselors at 3 am while they were all peacefully sleeping. Theresa and Beth woke up each counselor to ask them each a random question, that became the introduction video for the campers to meet their counselors. I really began to feel like I was apart of something bigger after that. Then the first week of campers arrived and there was a crazy and unbelievable amount of energy around camp. The worship was incredible and I loved the enthusiasm the children sang and danced with. Also, the interaction of the counselors and campers was enjoyable to watch, as friendships were created and campers looked up to counselors as heroes. One night, the camper's activity was a mud relay and included a complete coating of mud on all the children participating. It was so fun to hear all the giggles and screams, as they all enjoyed each other and the mud.
The numerous ways God has been working in my heart and on this camp in the last week are amazing, and I am so thankful to be able to have this opportunity for the summer.
Monday, July 5, 2010
You have officially been trained.
Well, counselor training is over. It was a great week full of good classes and fun. This year for the first time we did a series of classes on worldviews. It was really good, and we all learned a lot. Our speaker Nick Rosas, was thought provocative and interesting. We also had a great time during the Staff Hunt (seven of us went disguised to the mall and the counselors were sent to find us). Fun stuff!
The counselors have gone home for a week to wash clothes, finish last minute details and rest up. They come back on Saturday, and Sunday camp officially starts!
July 11-16 Junior Week (9-12 yrs old)
July 18-23 Senior Week (13-17 yrs old)
July 26-30 Chiqui Campa (5-8 yrs old)
Please be praying for this summer....safety, health, unity, campers hearts, Nick (the teacher) and all the other many things that go on at camp.
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