day 062. [support]

"Camp is for the Campers" is the motto for when it comes to Kid's Camp, but you know what? After this week, camp can also be for the leaders.

With a week like this week where God was working/moving through the leaders, we needed a support system as well. We're the support system for the campers, as well as each other, but for the leaders we can't go to the kids. So we go to each other and we go to the staff members. Through this support system this past week, friendships were made and there have been tons of remember when's that have come from these friendships that were made.

The reason I bring up support systems though is because of how heavy the message was for the kid's that night at chapel. It was another night of tears and the kids being filled with peace, but what the speaker, Ryan, did that night with the kid's was something I've never done and I'll admit it was once of the hardest things to hear during that night at chapel.

What Ryan did was he had the kid's come to the altar to be in the presence of the Lord. Some cried. Leader's prayed for the kids as they worshiped. What he did next was something that makes my heart break. He told all the kids to go lay down somewhere in the room, but they couldn't be near their friends. The leader's did the same.

As I laid there all I could hear was the weeping from kid's who range from 8-11 years old. It broke my heart that I couldn't get up and pray over these kids who are just as broken compared to me. When I did try and get up anyways God was speaking to me that he needed to put some peace into me before I could even get up and pray for peace into some of these kids. I was for sure fighting God too. When I thought I had enough peace in me I'd try and get up, but I couldn't because of some force keeping me down.

When Ryan told the leaders that they could get up and start laying hands on the kids, it was just powerful what was going on in that room at the moment. Leaders were really being leaders to these kids. God was using us to do his will for these kids. Still though, it broke my heart to see the pain that these kid's were going through.

The whole point of this though was Ryan was getting the kid's, as well as the leaders, to really put their trust and support into God. He is honestly always going to be there. Oh man, a good night for the campers and the leaders.

God wants us to have faith in His Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. this is also what Jesus taught us to do. 1John 3:23

day 037. [america]

As promised, a photo of the fireworks from tonight!

Today's shot is definitely another shot dealing with long exposures. If I were you, click on it to enlarge it :)

Now that that's done, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!! I hope all of you had safe 4th of July's. I know I did, it was a hectic one with last minute planning. If you know me one bit you know very well that last minute planning kind of makes me anxious. Don't know why, but it just does, always has.

I started today, obviously, at church and I must say I miss Living Word. I've got all of my spiritual roots planted into that church that Living Word is the next best thing to my own house. There's definite changes going on, but that's God moving in people and putting them places where they need to be. It's a new season in their lives and we just have to be able to embrace that and be excited for the changes going on at Living Word itself!

When church got over I joined a few friends, seeing as my parents were out of town (again!) for a BBQ. Just like how I have a second home, I've got myself a second family that's always willing to accept me when my parents ditch me ... haha. BBQ was awesome, all of us, for sure, got tired from food. That didn't stop us from going out to eat again at this restaurant called Flyers. Good thing was, there was some separation in time from the BBQ to Flyers.

Now, usually I go to the carnival and walk around, scope out some friends, and occasionally hit the rides. I forgot to add in that I'd visit all the Filipino aunties who had tents set up and food cooking! Free food = the best kind of food! This year was different, no carnival, no walking around, no scoping out some friends, no rides, and definitely no visiting the aunties for free food; not that I'd be able to eat it seeing as I'm all vegetarian now, ha. Instead, I just hung out with friends in a house, a restaurant, and an apartment. It wasn't until close to 10 did we leave for City Beach (aka Windjammer Park) to watch the fireworks. Pretty sweet, kind of the same as many past firework shows, but you know it was good. I definitely got some sweet shots, this is only one of them (obviously). It's late, so I don't plan on putting the other ones up on flickr until tomorrow. Be sure to check that out though!

Again, I hope all of you had some awesome 4th of July's. I'm just kind of glad it's over, bahaha.

GO AMERICA!!!!