The End of Our First Camp

I guess come of you probably want to know more about our Sports Camp in Hertford. Well, see, the thing is, I was assigned to be a 7/8-year-old group leader. Which I absolutely loved. Those kids stole my heart. It was so hard to leave at the end of camp. Anyway, because I was a group leader, I kind-of stopped taking pictures...  I know, I know. It wouldn't have been that hard to take pictures and make sure that the kids were behaving. But I got carried away. Luckily on the first day I got someone to record this gem of a video:

Tell me those kids aren't adorable. Can you see how I got caught up in hanging out and loving on them? So, I'm sorry there aren't any more pictures of camp, but we have two more camps, so I guess you'll just have to wait.

Other than camp, our week was filled with more service projects. We mulched around the church at Up River. We put together homeless kits. One of our other projects fell through because of bad weather, but the week was full of fun and service.

This group of participants was so full of love for each other, for the communities that we were impacting, and most importantly, for God, it was amazing. I sincerely believe that hearts were touched that week. I hope that the changes that took place were permanent, and that people see how much of an impact they can have, if they just get out there.

**I'm not in this picture either Mom, sorry. This one happened before we were really set up for pictures.

Sports Camp Begins! .. and potato adventures

Last Monday was our first day of Sports Camp. Since it was held at the Perquimans County Rec Center and not Up River Friends, we had to get up pretty early in order to eat breakfast, have morning devotion, and make it to the Rec Center with time to set up. Set up includes getting the registration table up and running as well as putting up the tent in the middle of the field, and filling coolers. On a hot day we probably go through about 6 coolers of water and/or Gatorade.

Then the kids arrive! As the children arrive for sports camp, we play with them on the playground, and we get to know everyone's names and help them get to know each other.

Camp starts with a silly song and some stretches. Then group leaders are lead out and groups are called based on age. Camp is offered up through high school age, but typically the kids are elementary and middle school age. The highschoolers that come usually have a lot of fun, even though they may not want to admit it.

As I said before, Monday was football day, so each station had different drills relating to the sport. One was agility; there was a defense station, and an offense station. A devotion with the kids is also a station. That way we get to spend time with them and talk about Jesus, not just rush it at the end. Camp lasts until about 12, then parents begin coming back to pick up the kids. Sometimes on the first day the kids are ready to go, but usually they want to stay and hang out and play games with everyone some more.

After camp, and after everything had been cleaned up, the staff and the volunteers (who we call participants) leave to go eat lunch at Up River.

Most afternoons we, as a group, do at least one service project. Monday afternoon all of us loaded up into vans and headed out to pick up potatoes at a local farm. This Potato Ministry is something that was started in the area not long ago. Local farmers have decided that either they will grow potatoes especially for the cause or they will let volunteers comb their fields after they have harvested their potatoes. Either way, volunteers go out into the fields and glean potatoes, which are then donated to local charities and other ministries.

At the end of the hour we had in the fields, our participants, and the staff, had gathered 601 pounds of potatoes. How awesome is that?!

Later that night we had our second worship session with Zack as our speakers. The title of his message was "1st Ministry and 2nd Ministry." First ministry is loving God. Second ministry is loving people. What he was talking about is something that is extremely important on SOUL, and the staff had been trying to make sure that we are fullay able to take care of ourselves (with Time Alone with God and a bible study every night) so that we can pour into others. In order to successfully complete second ministry, or outreach, the relationship that we have with our Father must be constant, it must be stable. It is nearly impossible for someone to share the love of Jesus if they don't know him or if their relationship is weak. In order to love others effectively, the love of Christ must be so full in us that it flows out of us onto others.

Something that I have written in my notes that night which I think is thought provoking, "If I don't choose to act and to walk in faith, then God will do nothing. It is my job to act on faith." When I say that I am not saying that God cannot act without us. He is the creator, the destroyer, the beginning and the end. He does not need us to do anything. However, because he loves us, God has given us the chance to follow him, he won't force us to do so.

I'm going to leave you with that.

Have a wonderful day.

Morgan

Meet Our Speaker - Belvidere Edition

So, I want to preface this by saying that Zack speaking this past week was definitely a God thing. Until about two weeks before we headed out, we had no idea who was going to be speaking for us. Then on a visit to Up River for planning we heard about this guy named Zack Lane from the pastor. We did some texting, then that Sunday he came down to Up River from Virginia to meet us and check out what we were doing. As soon as we met I knew he was going to be a great speaker.

Now, after that build up, here he is. Ladies and gentlemen, Zachary Lane. . . Yes, that is a mohawk.

Zack is going to be a sophomore at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida, majoring in Biblical Studies. He plays guitar, and doesn't think he can sing (but he's fooling himself). In short, this guy is fully focused on trying to follow the path that the Lord has for him. All of the participants, and the kids from sports camp, even the staff, everyone learned something from him this week. He'll be the first one to tell you that he's had troubles and struggles in the past, and that all he wants to do is share the amazing love of Christ with as many people as possible.

The Fourth of July

Hello again everyone!

I wasn't planning on waking up until 7:40 this morning, but for some reason I woke up at 6. So I figured that maybe it was God giving me time to update everyone on what we've been up to. The coming week is going to be kind of crazy, so I'm hoping I can pull off posting about three times with lots of pictures.

Let me start where I left you. One the morning of the 4th the staff got up and started working. We got through all of the sports camp drills, and finished some painting. In order for the participants/volunteers who come to help with camp to be able to teach the kids the drills, we have to be able to teach them. So we went through a rotation working on drills.

Megan and Samie, working on wiffleball.

Elliot demonstrating how to throw a soccer ball.

Every year we head up to Somerton Friends for their Fourth of July cookout. In order to be there in a reasonable time, we left Up River about 3:30. At Somerton we played some corn-hole  hung out with the kids, and after dinner there was a cake walk fundraiser.

After the cookout, we went into Suffolk looking for a firework celebration. We ended up at a park that I cannot remember the name of, but it was the same place we ended up last year. Except that this year we got seat that were much farther in. I don't know how long their celebration went, but it was going strong when we got there about 8 o'clock. There was a live band, concession booths all over, and plenty of kids running around with bubble guns.

That's all the time I have for now. But, just an update, our participants came in last night, and we all played some get to know you games and such. Our devotion last night was about having your heart in the right place for service. I ask that you please pray for our group as we continue through this week. It is going to be busy and it's going to be fun, but without the Lord none of it would be possible.

I hope that you have a wonderful day.

Those first couple of days

Whew!

Now that I have a moment to catch a breath, let me tell you about what has been happening for the past couple of days.

I guess I'll start at the beginning. Monday morning Heather and I got up and went for a jog on the longest dead end road either of us has ever experienced in our lives. Although it was absurdly long, we also went on Tuesday morning. While we were out I managed to get this shot.

The rest of Monday and Tuesday we spent the majority of our time working on things for next week.

I'm not going to tell you too much about decorations and devotions and things yet, just in case anyone reading this is planning to come to SOUL, I don't want to ruin any surprises. But later this summer, when we're in Goldsboro, I will be able to reveal everything to you guys. For now, just know that we are working very hard to make sure that everything will run smoothly.

Tuesday afternoon we took a break and headed out to Chesapeake, VA to go to Walmart and see a movie. While we were at Walmart we picked up a lot of items that will be needed next week as well as some food. On the way there, *surprise*, we got lost. That means, that we went to a movie that was later than we had planned, which also means that our dinner plans changed. Originally we has planned to make a family style dinner at Up River (which is what we did Monday:

                           

                           

Since we were late getting out of the movie, we decided that it would be better to stop and pick up some food, so we all decided on Chic-fil-A. Now, remember that we are driving around in the Yearly Meeting van. Which says Quaker on the side, so we get a lot of weird looks as we are driving around. When we all climbed out of the van and had gotten in line, a man came up and started asking me what we were doing, and if we had a "fake van". - He was joking. So I told him about SOUL, and the camp and service projects that we are doing, and that we have worship every night. Then out of no where, as our last staff member has ordered, this man (no, I don't know his name) jumps in front of Heather and pays for all of our food. It was amazing. It's times like that when you can really see God working around you. Not only were we shocked, he completely blew the minds of the cashier and a couple other employees working at the front. As it turns out, the man was a Quaker himself, from a meeting in Virginia.

This morning I was working on worship decorations for a good couple of hours. I won't tell you what we are doing yet. but I will tell you that it is really cool. For dinner this afternoon, we visited with Piney Woods Friends as they held their weekly Bible study and carry-in meal.

We are going to be pushing hard throughout this week and praying that we have the energy  and the patience to keep up with all that is asked of us.

The Beginning

And so it begins.

This morning the NC SOUL 2013 team left from the Yearly Meeting Annex at about 5 am. Yes, you read that right, 5. In. The. Morning. All so we could make it to Belvidere in time to attend the worship services in the area.

We made it!

I spent this morning with Heather, Megan, Tanna, and Charles at Piney Woods.

I haven't talked about Tanna or Charles yet, but they are assistant staff for us while we are staying at Up River. Tanna has been a participant for a couple years, and Charles goes to the church that Heather and Megan attend. He's going to be leading music for us this week.

Joe Kirby is the new pastor at Piney Woods, and his message this morning was about the differences between a contract and a covenant. One of the main differences that came up was that in a contract, if the terms are violated then it becomes void. However, in a covenant, it does not matter what happens. In a covenant those involved have become parts of one another, and there is no reason that this agreement should be broken. In a covenant one is not able to be selfish, instead they must look out for the best interests of their partner. That sounds intense right? Well, that's because it is. And that is the kind of relationship that God wants with us. He isn't going to abide by rules that we can set for him. A simple contract is not going to work. I'm going to leave this train of thought up to you. I hope that you take some time to think about what the difference is for yourself.



Going on through the day: we got to go out and have a wonderful lunch with some church members. Then grocery shopping happened. Getting through the line at Food Lion with food for 9 people for a week can be a task.

After getting back and unloading all of the groceries and luggage out of the trailer, we took some time to get settled and relax. That meant getting out air mattresses, it also meant that several people napped, but Paige went for her run. (so inspiring)

At 6 we came back together and started to work on lining up the things that we will need to accomplish this week before the participants arrive on Saturday. Megan and I were focusing on worship things, while other groups worked on sports camp.

The devo that the staff had tonight was about recognizing what we are actually worshipping in our lives. Is it God? Or is it something else that we have given a God-like status? This is not something that is always easily answered, but is always convicting.

In order to keep you all up to date with everything that we are doing, these posts will probably be shorter and slightly less comprehensive than some of my previous ones. The work that we are doing is fast paced, and honestly I don't need to spend too much time working on this blog when I could be sleeping or otherwise recuperating. However, it is important to me that SOUL become less of a mystery to so many, so my plan is to post something new every night.  If you have questions, comments, or anything of the sort, please feel free to leave a comment.

Good night everyone! See you tomorrow morning bright and early.