Camp: The place where I'm most myself.

I apologize for the lack of updates for anyone who is actually reading this.


Camp has gotten off to a great start. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better first term. The kids were amazing, and the people I work with are wonderful. As the title says, this place is a place where I feel like I'm most myself. There are many reasons for that. One is that I'm just in my element: A. I'm outside; B. I'm working with kids; and C. I have a camera around my neck at all times.
The support of the leadership team as a whole is great. Many of us have returned from last year, and I feel we've done a great job of welcoming in those who are new to leadership. "Can't tell anyone, don't tell anyone, won't tell anyone, I'm on the black team!" I love my leadership team. Being on leadership doesn't just mean doing your individual job such as taking pictures. There's so much more to it than that, and I love that about leadership. It's hard at times, but I love it. Already this summer I've lifted benches, moved tables, done trash run, answered phones, filed paperwork, planted plants, laid sod, rode a horse, lead a D-group, etc. We're hear to serve, and I hope I've been doing a good job of that. It can be easy to take advantage of the position. I have to remind myself daily why I'm here. First I'm here to glorify God, and second I'm here for the kids, not myself.
Another reason I feel most myself here is because I feel free to be me. I honestly feel that the majority of people here aren't fake, and I don't feel like people here are bad about judging others because we all have our own issues and we know it. Yeah sure sometimes we put on a happy front for the kids, but if you ask another staff member how they are doing, and you really mean it, they will tell you. And along the same line, if someone asks how I'm doing I feel like I don't have to just say "fine." For the most part I feel like people genuinely care here.
I've grown so much in my summers here. I've gained confidence, learned new skills, and stepped out of my comfort zone in many ways. I've learned to try new things, and do things that scare me. CBS is a places that stretches me. I go through a wide range of emotions, but through it all I learn to trust God more. It's so reassuring to know that God is sovereign. My photography skills, phone answering techniques, or ability to set things up, and run camp when I'm duty aren't going to keep a kid here or keep a kid away. It's not in my control at all, and I'm so thankful for that because I know I make my fair share of mistakes.
Anyway, camp is going great and if you want to see any pictures, I've posted a few from first term on facebook so check them out. Oh and please keep in me in your prayers because saturday I'm speaking in front of all of camp, and I'm a bit nervous. Thanks!

Attack of the 3 Year Old

I have many more things I could write about right now seeing as we just finished up our training weeks, but I feel that I must share the hilarious event that happened to me today in the laundromat instead. So as usual our staff invaded the laundromat on our day off today. There were quite a few of us leadership and counselors in there doing laundry and just hanging out. As we're all talking and folding clothes a little 3 year old hispanic girl begins to run around the laundromat screaming. She was really quite cute, and so when she ran by us I waved at her. She looked at me with big eyes then ran around a few more times, finally stopping again at me and releasing her red balloon into the air. Seeing as she couldn't reach the string I decided to be nice and reach up and give it back to her...mistake. She then proceeded to beat me with her balloon, backing me into the row of dryers as I and every other staff member in there are laughing hysterically. After she finished beating me she kept releasing her balloon and getting me to hand it back to her. Then she started saying something which I couldn't quite decipher but eventually figured out she wanted candy from the vending machine. I told her to go ask her mom for candy so she ran off, but she came back and pulled me over to the machine. When I told her I couldn't give her candy she gave me an indian burn and then pinched me and dug her fingers into my arm leaving red marks. Not okay. It was actually quite painful. Who knew such a cute little girl could be so vicious. Why her mom was letting her run up and ask a stranger for candy, I have no idea. I was taught as a child never to take candy from strangers, but I guess she was taught differently. My laundromat experience today was quite the adventure. 

Football MVP...What?

Orientation week is almost over and I'm pretty exhausted...kids aren't even here yet...but it's been fun. I love that I get to experience so many unique things at camp. Here are just a few things I've experienced since I've been here: Sanding (power tools are fun) tables in the crafts shed, driving a bus, helped organize the crafts shed, learned to ride a horse, got to be Lone Star (my team) legend (pictures and further explanation to come in a later post), did some country two-stepping, witnessed some leadership guys shearing llamas, painted rails, helped design sets for theme nights, helped clean out the oasis snack shack, sodded grass and planted plants for the new putt-putt course (yes you read that right...putt-putt course at camp), helped set up and take down sound equipment multiple times, lead some small group times, witnessed some beautiful sunsets and stars, am now first aid and cpr certified, went down the zip, shot some archery, picked plums and ate them straight off a tree, and was considered the mvp of the winning old school team in the rookie vs old school girls' flag football game...yeah camp is pretty awesome, and I'm sure I've left out quite a few things.


Yes you read that last thing on the list correctly, hence the title of this post. I was actually considered the MVP of my flag football team today. I love the rookie vs. old school girl counselor's flag football game. It's so much fun. Apparently I make quite the intense face when I'm playing and then just break out into my smile as soon as the play is over. I laughed when someone told me that because I know they're right. Hey, I get intense in competition. It's fun. I was able to make some pretty good stops on the fastest girl on the other team. Stick me running on defense in flag football and I have fun. Especially today. It was probably the best I've played. Quite fun. Here's a picture of our team acting fierce.

Woah

You'd think by the 3rd summer I'd be used to the craziness that is camp, but it still overwhelms me sometimes. Today has been one of those crazy overwhelming days. We welcomed in all the counselors today and there are so many new faces. Way more new faces than old ones. I'm excited about getting to know new people, but it always overwhelms me at first, and this year I don't have my girls that have been here since my first summer. I'm really going to miss Morgan, Anna, and Amanda this summer. They were my support system. It's weird without them here. And I just feel old. It's harder to connect with people when you're in grad school and they're college freshmen. Weird. Well I'd write more but I also forgot how exhausting camp can be, plus it's time to call one of those girls I'm going to miss having here this summer. Goodnight and more to come later.

Broken

Well, I'm here...at camp that is. I've already cried once. Not a bad cry really, just a release. We girls tend to do that sometimes. For some reason we especially seem to do that at camp. At least I know that's true for most of us on leadership. Something about this place just brings out emotions in me that I didn't even realize were there, and needed releasing. It's a bit hard to explain. We had leadership D-group time last night to prepare us for leading D-groups. 


It seems that most of us are coming here this summer in a place where we're already broken. A lot of times it happens that God breaks us during our time here, but also restores us. It's hard, but so worth it. Well this summer so many of us are in a place where we're already broken and seeking that restoration and peace that only God can give. Pray for us. We need it. It's amazing the trust we already have with each other, and I'm thankful for that. It's one of the reasons I'm back. One of many. I really feel that it's going to be a great summer...not easy, but great nonetheless. 


Prayer Requests:
• Healing for those who are coming to camp hurting.
• My sinuses and the health of everyone working.
• Servant attitudes
• Communication and community
• Consistent quiet times
• Counselors come monday, so all that goes along with that...meeting them, training, adjustments, etc.

Camp

This will be my 3rd and most likely final summer at Camp Balcones Springs. I leave in the morning for leadership training and will be there until Aug. 8th. I'll be working as photographer. I just want to take the time to share a few prayer requests before I hit the road early in the morning.
• Travel (11ish hrs of driving to get there)
• Servant attitude of leadership team (myself included)-it's easy to take advantage of your status as leadership and forget that your role should be there to serve.
• Safety of kids and staff
• That God would use me to reach kids and counselors.
• That I will be a good example of a leader.
• Patience-it can wear thin as the summer goes on.
• That I would stay disciplined in my Bible study.-It can be hard when you're constantly pouring out, but not getting poured into.
• Full Time Staff-that they would continue to take the camp in a direction that honors and gives glory to God.
• Attitudes-along the same line as patience...it gets hard working so closely with a group all summer. Just pray for our group dynamics, and that we won't have too much petty bickering, especially amongst our leadership team.
I'm sure there are others, and I will continue to try to update during the summer. Can't promise how frequent it will be. Oh and feel free to write! I love mail!
Allison Rushing-Leadership
104 Balcones Springs Dr.
Marble Falls, TX 78654

Spiritual Gift or Spiritual Burden?

I'm not sure what my opinion of spiritual gift tests is, or how much stock to put in them, but I recently took one. My gift(s) are mercy and service. I pretty much knew that about myself without taking a test. Sometimes, though, I feel like mercy can be more of a burden than a gift. 
Tonight was one of those times. I'm an empathetic person, especially with people I know well, and with someone I've known since first grade it just drains me. I look back on our lives and wonder when exactly it was that she chose her path and I chose mine...well I know when I chose mine. I chose my path when I was eight and became a Christian, but I just often wonder what made her chose her path and why wasn't I able to stop it. 
I know I don't need to blame myself, and that it's not in my control at all, but it just hurts me to see any of my friends wasting their lives and getting hurt time and time again because they find their value in men and the world. I feel like her heart is hardened to Christianity and I so hope that I'm wrong. I don't know if I've explained well at all what I'm feeling. Maybe someone else understands.