Pondo pics - Finally

These pictures are from our first week with students.





Angie's Birthday party!

my new "friend"

Hello . . . summer lover
No one will care about this post except my seatbelt girlfriends (sorry Mark I've bored you again)
This is the new addition to my collection - she's beautiful ain't she?
I took a bunch of pictures of camp last week but I've yet to download them to my computer.
Maybe tomorrow (sorry Jasen)
My students are going to be here this week and Tanya will be here too with her Church. I am so excited.

Pondo 3.3 (week 3 day 3)

Yesterday was one of the toughest days of my life - I am being challenged in ways I never thought I would be.
Looking back on it with a days perspective I feel wiser and stronger having been pushed outside my comfort zone.
Setting up for afternoon rec was complete chaos. Trying to figure out the best way to set up the relay and water kickball was a challenge in itself but add to that the pressure of organizing 100 kids and leaders who are screaming at the top of their lungs for their team. (Jasen and Amanda - you are probably laughing at me right now).
It was nuts - but it worked out and today was soooooooo much easier.
I had to work the top of the zipline last night which scared me to death (the fear of letting go of a kid and having them fall off the platform). But it was really fun and I get to work it again tomorrow night.
This week has been so draining emotionally and physically but God is so good and is blessing me so much.
Aaron, Ange and I went to sushi tonight for Ange's birthday (I have wednesday nights off after dinner).
It was so great to eat good food and have great conversation.
Happy Birthday to Ange and Joy!
I will post more pictures tomorrow.

Week 3 day 1

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Kids have started to arrive - and I am offically freaked out!
When I left on Friday this place was far from ready to go but it's coming together just like Dan promised.
He described it like Extreme Makeover home edition - there are weeks you think there is no way they are going to finish and then it's reveal time and they did it.
We still don't have doors on the tent and no idea how long till we do but everything else is ready.
Good news for me - the guy who was going to do lifeguarding with Angie all summer didn't pass the test so he'll be doing the zipline and I get to sit in the craft tent - good times.

Today is Hannah's 10th B-day & Someone stole my granola

My beautiful niece Hannah is turning 10 today - Happy Birthday Sweetie.
I can't believe it was ten years ago I held her in my arms for the first time - wow time flies.
Hannah - You are so pretty and so much fun to be with. I love you and I'll see you Friday.


Dawnielle introduced me to this great place called Karma Juice where Bree works (hi Bree!). They have the best sweet granola ever! So I bought a big bag before I left for Pondo so I would have enough for at least a few weeks.
I left it in the kitchen over night and SOMEONE STOLE IT! or threw it away I'm not sure.
But my yogurt was sad and runny without it.

Week 2

Week 1 - we basically just cleaned stuff, set up camp, and got to know each other.
It was a lot of work - the first day I mowed the entire grass field! (okay - it was a john deere and kind of fun but still wore me out).
Week 2 - this week we are working with our program team and planning games, decorating the tent, and getting ready for our first week with students - next week - crazy!
Tonight Ange and I went to Arrowhead and had dinner it was gooooood and healthy - I'm rotting from all the delicious camp food.
These past two weeks have been such a blessing - it's so refreshing to be in a new place, working with people I don't know and figuring out how to do camp together. The best part has been the conversations with people - getting to know them and how God is working in their lives. I'm learning so much.
I can't wait for next week!
please keep praying for me and my time here!

I gave up that . . . for this!

So as most of you know I left the beach to work at Pondo for the summer.
Kind of a crazy decision that totally makes sense and has been totally blessed by God.
It has been a dream of mine to work at a camp for the summer and well - better late than never.