Volume 40: Rest in Not Being Eeyore

 

On my last day off, I had dinner with Abby and Josh and they asked me what has been good this summer... and my mind went BLANK... I didn't answer their question... 

I woke up the next morning and realized how RIDICULOUS that was. That I am surrounded by 1,200 kids and 400 college staff in a camp setting where there is laughter and FUN and blobs and soft serve and laser tag and so much more. Yet, I become so self focused that I hesitate on answering a question about what has been good???? 

Therefore, I set out on my WEEK OF JOY! To find the magic moments. So here's the top 10 of the past 6 days! 

After returning from my day off, I set out to drive the lake bus. While I was out at the lake, Aldo sent me a message on Whats App: "Morgan, I am coming to your office now. It is an emergency." When I told him I was at the lake, he mentioned that someone in Daira's family had died. Daira is one of our returners on cleaning crew who is amazing, so I was so sad, expecting to have to help her figure out how to get home to be with her family. 

But instead, all she wanted was to be able to contact home and make sure her Mom and brother were okay. And I later found out, it was her Dad who died and he had committed suicide. Now, I know you're thinking... wow, Morgan, this is quite the start to your "Week of Joy." 

As I sat there and talked with her, tears came into my eyes, as she explained that she wants to be at camp. Because camp is where she feels safe and loved and happy. It gives me chills even just writing about it now! I still haven't been able to really get to any deeper conversations about faith with Daira, but what I have gotten to witness is her laughing at the ropes course watching her friends do the monster pole. And her smiling as she was mixing the tomatoes at the international cooking night. And that she is always with one of her friends, never alone. 

And that is a source of joy - the reminder that Camp Ozark is a place that people feel loved and are free to have fun and can feel Jesus's presence, whether they realize it or not. 

And now, on a lighter note... every session, I make sure to attend the Christmas lifeline when we sing Christmas carols because it always makes me smile to be singing carols in the middle of the summer. There's something about them that just gets people excited and unique in the way that everyone knows them. This year, when we sing Go Tell It On the Mountain, Ben has started a new thing in which he has different groups sing the chorus - the girls then the boys then the caddo then the osage and then everyone back together. And where else on this earth would you have kids SCREAMING...

"Go, tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born"

Go NAT! There I was, talking to Nat because there were not many campers coming to the speed slides, but then these two young girls came up, so excited! Until the excitement quickly turned into fear for one of them. She immediately froze and was so nervous because she had never done the slide before and didn't know if she could swim to the side. 

Rather than taking the easy way out and telling her she could come back and try again later, Nat took the time to talk to her and explain what to expect, from start to finish, and instilled the confidence that the lifeguard was at the bottom and was there to help her. 

After a few tears shed and having someone go before her so she could see it done, she SLID DOWN THE SLIDE!!! Whether she enjoyed it or not, it was a moment of joy to watch Nat, who is a counselors for high schoolers, get down on this young campers level and help her to conquer a fear! 

And there's moments like this every day!

Few things will bring me more joy than finding my long lost fellow red croc-ers. I am thankful to work at a place where this can be my uniform.... and I am not alone in it! Even if the two others wearing red crocs are middle school boys!! 

CDLS may be the death of me one day, but I'll tell you... one BIG perk of CDLS is getting to drive the lake bus. It's the perfect escape as you are able to sit in God's beautiful creation of the lake and the mountains. I find peace and rest at the lake and it definitely fills me with joy. 

In addition to the beauty, I also find joy in getting to see how much Connelly has grown and stepped into his leadership role at the lake. And not just Connelly, it's awesome to get to see all of my peers be stretched and challenged throughout the summer. I am thankful for the way we are all in it together!

If I ever want an immediate dosage of joy, I seek out Megan, who can most often be found at the pool. Megan was my first hire ever and I am PROUD to claim her! She was a junior in college when I interviewed her so I wasn't quite sure how she would be, but let me tell you, very few people love Camp Ozark more than Megan Gerald. All throughout the off season, I received texts and pictures of her wearing her ozark gear, holding up her C, or crying in the store when she got her top staff offer. 

This week, I had some time to sit and listen to Megan's story and I never knew how much she had been through, but what a beautiful testimony of how God weaves together His story. I found joy in the reminder that every person at camp has their own story as to how they got here. And then, for so many, camp becomes a big part of their story - Megan and myself being an example of that! 

Anna Claire's first day of being potty trained!!! And she had been through 3 pairs of shorts and the only clean ones left were way too big... to which they continued to fall down whenever she would walk around... talk about joy! There's a lot of joy in watching kids be themselves, with no insecurities or cares in the world. 

Whether Anna Claire, Emma Kate, Ann Clark, Hayden, Ellie or Jack or any of the other camp kids, they have all been a BIG source of joy this summer. It's impossible to see them and not smile. As if a thousand kids 6-17 years old isn't enough, it's been a gift to have the young kids around too. I am definitely blessed with some amazing families to look up to and learn from! 

ALL of the internationals have FINALLY arrived!! It's a moment when I can't help but give thanks for Jesus's provision - for their willingness to come and serve but also for their safe travels and that they made it to camp from all over the world. Delayed flights and late arrivals may be frustrating in the moment, but at the end of the day, it's always worth it to have them at camp! 

We initiated them into their teams and it brought me a lot of joy to see the way they got SO excited, even though it really doesn't mean anythingggg to them. But they buy in quickly and I love the way they make things fun. 

After initiation, we began our dance party and were going about the night doing some Just Dance videos, until Brenda, who is shy and rarely ever talks to me, walked up and confidently demanded "I want to sing." Well, yes ma'am, Brenda!!! I grabbed her the mic and she went OFF on some karaoke. And then began a night full of singing and dancing and cheering one another on. 

As I stood back observing, since I couldn't quite join in the singing due to my lack of Spanish, I was so grateful to be there. So thankful that I get to experience a little piece of their culture. And that I get to know them and their hearts. But also learned that they are WAY BETTER dancers than any of us. 

Good job, Monty! Making pizzas at 9 AM! But, that is not actually joy #9. I just don't have a picture for it. 

Anyways, this week, I have gotten to witness Mary Clayton, a certified counselor, do what she does best. As I have watched her interactions with a tough camper, I have been blown away at her gentleness and wisdom in how to respond. I sit there and think about how I would respond, and just about every time, she does exact opposite of what I would have done... She's uniquely gifted in validating others' feelings yet also holding firm to the truth and tough love. 

I find joy in watching people use their God given gifts, and let me tell you, Mary Clayton has many gifts! And they are so valuable in the camp setting. If only we had her around longer than two weeks!

In this photo, you see a guy in a blue shirt kneeling down next to the camper and ending his basketball class with a prayer. And that guy is Cam, one of our internationals from New Zealand who arrived at camp on May 2nd... and is still going strong. He never complains and is always looking for opportunities to serve and help others. And not to mention, his new life ambition is already to work for camp!

I didn't take this picture nor did I witness this moment... therefore, this photo reminds me that there are so many moments like this happening all around camp. Sure, I can walk around in my "week of joy" and point out moments that bring me joy, but I'd never be able to capture all of the ways that the Lord is moving here. There's no way to know the small conversations and interactions that the counselors are having with the campers daily. And that brings me joy! 

Now, was my "week of joy" perfect and completely joyful??? 

Not quite, there were still moments that were hard!

But, as I walked around and searched for joy, it was all around me. May I continue to be intentional in opening my eyes to what's around me!

And may I find rest in the fact that even in a hard times, like Daira's Dad passing away or hearing a hard conversation between a camper and her Dad, Jesus still works through darkness. And He is our source of permanent JOY and strength and peace.