Final Week

The last week at camp was a lot of fun. We had a lot of lasts and a lot of treasured memories. We were three interns down and I missed them all dearly. It was a sad and reflective week, but we also had a complete blast because we wanted to make the most of it. Many mixed emotions.

My last night was a ton of fun! We went hot tubing in the pouring down rain, which was awesome!
We then went back to Hawk's Nest (where the interns live) and built a HUGE fort in our lobby and all slept in it cause it was a bunch of people's last night.
We watched a movie, and then at three in the morning we made our way over to the camp office where we decided to leave a little gift for our fantastic bosses. :)
The Guest Service office got about 1,000 plastic spoons put in it. In coat pockets, desk drawers, file cabinets, windowsills, anywhere and everywhere! Even on their porch outside. It was tons of fun and hopefully they will be finding spoons for years to come. That way, they won't forget us :)
Then we decided to "post-it" Chad's office. Chad is the head of Lake Champion and we covered his whole office in 5,200 post-its. It looked awesome!

It was a ton of fun and a great way to end the summer!

The next day we had the whole camp with absolutely no campers, assignment staff, summer staff, or work crew. It was awesome! Back to how things were at the very beginning of the summer. We took the boats out and played. I took Melissa for her first boat ride at Champion, we went tubing and wakeboarding, fished, went on the zip line and just hung out. It was awesome!

We then went out to dinner at Olive Garden and stopped to take pictures on Hawks Nest road on the way. I've wanted to take pictures there all summer. It is gorgeous! Yes, that is a VERY large drop behind us. I was a little nervous. That is also the Delaware River behind us, which we canoed down at the very beginning of the summer!



Love them and miss them so much!

Intern Banquet!

Well, I really wasn't good at keeping up with my blog this summer, but hopefully with school I'll be better. I can't guarantee it, but I'll try.

A week before camp ended we had an intern banquet to close out the summer. It was SO much fun! We all got dressed up and had a really nice dinner. We did worship, wrote each other notes and watched our intern slide show from the summer. It was a great start to our closing of the summer.

I thoroughly missed Krissa because she had already left, but I survived. Our group didn't feel complete, but we still had a lot of fun.

It was an awesome time of reflection and seeing all that the Lord had done in my life and in our group. He is so faithful! During worship I was overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness that God brought me to camp for the summer. It was such an amazing opportunity and I learned and grew so much! (future blogs will go further) The banquet was so awesome though!

Me and Annie (my roommate!)

Me and Lisa. I miss her dearly!

All the girls (minus Krissa) at the lake

Me and Britt

CHOCK!

Way too much trouble for one picture...

Matt ShorTTTT

The whole gang! Krissa is in there in spirit!

Charlie

Kyle and Kathy! Two of my favorites ever!

Changing

Well, all the babies are gone as well as my dear mother. They left a while ago, I just haven't had the time to write. Young Lives always seems to be my favorite week, and I was sad to see them all go. It was a fantastic week. It was a great break on the waterfront, we got to sleep in a little more, and I loved loving on the babies and girls. It was so much fun. I got to hang out with Kia a little bit and have been praying for her. She has my email and phone number, so hopefully we'll stay in touch. It's kind of crazy that God has placed us in each other's lives. She really has a place in my heart.

Me and Kia!

Another really fun thing was that my mom was able to connect with one of the moms in the pod she was in. Douglas was her favorite and she prayed for that little boy and his mother like crazy. His mom didn't stand up for the say so, but she seemed to have a little more of an open heart by the time she left. She seemed to really like my mom, but hey, who can resist. (Mom, did you write her yet?!)

My mom didn't want me to take this picture, but isn't it priceless! This is her with Douglas and his mom.

It was so awesome to see and hang out with my mom! I had so much fun. I got to see her more than I was expecting. While I was working, she would visit at the waterfront, and while she was working, I would go hold babies. So much fun. I love that she got to see the inside of Young Life and see why I'm so addicted to it. I get to be a part of people's lives changing. It's amazing; and it's all because of Jesus.

Me and Douglas! He is so adorable!

Last week and this week we've had Urban Young Life and there was a bit of a transition in our schedule. We're back to the 5:45 mornings with canoe breakfast and wakeboarding and late nights with the pool and hot tub open. Last week was definitely a challenge, but it really made me rely on the Lord for strength. When I have sleep taken away from me, I'm not such a happy camper, but last week I really felt the Lord asking me, "Do you trust me? Do you really trust me enough to meet every need?" I really felt the Lord last week and he got me through, I don't really know how. But that's the Lord for ya. Beyond what we think we know.

Today is day 4 of my last week here. We have a great group of campers here, ones I've been waiting for all summer. There is a group from NY that I remember really well from last year, and they've been a blast to have around. So a great week to end on, but as it comes to an end there is so much to reflect on, and so many good byes. I leave in four days.

Krissa left about a week ago, a little unexpectedly, too soon, but it was where the Lord wanted her. She had a good friend, basically a brother cause he used to live with them, pass away a couple weeks ago. So she went home early to make it to the funeral and being from California, it wasn't worth it to come back. We miss her dearly. The good byes already started.

Me and Krissa! I miss her!

Four days ago Sam and Chocklett both left. Two of my favorite people. They are awesome and it was a blast hanging out with them this summer. It is just so crazy that it is all ending. It FLEW by. Faster than I thought it would. It's been such an amazing journey. I've learned a lot and I think I have a lot to take away from it all. Before Sam and Chocklett left we had our final intern banquet. It was awesome, but I'll save that for another post.

Me and Sam!

Me and Chocklett!

Baby Central

Camp has turned into baby central, and I love it! The past couple days have been really easy and relaxing. The pace of Young Lives is much much slower than normal Young Life. There are a ton less campers, and they all have kids, so things are done in a nonchalant way. And there are babies everywhere! It is awesome!

Tuesday we turned camp around in order to get ready for 100 babies on camp. There are strollers, pack n' plays, diapers, toys, high chairs, bottles and babies everywhere! It took a good chunk of the day to get everything set up and the campers got here yesterday.

My mom is a caretaker this week and when I have free time I get to go to her pod and hold babies. Best week ever.

My friend Kia, from last year, is here! Praise the Lord! It was so great to see her, and I really hope I get a chance to get to know her better this year. Please pray for her. Her daughter didn't come with her because she is too old and she is currently pregnant, so there are a lot of activities she can't do. Please pray that Jesus captures her heart.

Please pray for all the girls. When their lives are changed, their babies lives are immediately changed. We're dealing with generations. The Kingdom is going to be growing this week! Thank you Jesus. Please pray that the girls would be open to the Gospel and recognize their need for him. He is a worthy God.

Full of Family Fun!

The past couple days have been amazing! The Lord continues to bless me in so many ways and makes things work out better than I could have imagine.

Monday was my day off, so the plan was that Sunday night I would go to Uncle Ted's (mom's brother) lake house in New Jersey, hang out on Monday and my mom and I (who was dropped off by my dad) would drive here to camp. My mom is helping out with Young Lives this week as a babysitter. Young Lives is for high school girls who have kids, so they need babysitters for when the moms are in activities. So that was the plan.

Well, Saturday as we were closing we had both of our boats break. They have had trouble starting for a while, and it just came to the point that they wouldn't start anymore. So as Lisa and I are finishing up with the boats and everything we have to do to take them in to the shop, she tells me that I should just leave that night and take Sunday off. I told her it was fine and I didn't need to. That went on for a while. We now had two extra summer staffers because we weren't going to be able to drive tubes the next day and so she would be fine on help. Her and Bob are always telling me that I need to take a day off and that I work too much. I kept saying that it was fine and I didn't need to. I finally told Lisa that I would call my parents and see what they were doing and where they were. The original plan was that they were going to see my Aunt Judy (mom's sister) for a night before they went to the lake house, but as things go in the Leach family, plans always change. So I call my parents and they were on their way to my aunts. I ate dinner and left.

My Aunt's house is only about an hour and a half away, which is nothing here considering it takes 30 minutes to get to the smallest town ever and an hour to get to normal civilization. So I borrowed Lisa's car and Doug's GPS and headed to New Jersey. I got to see my Aunt, my two cousins, my second cousin and my dad, all of which I wasn't expecting to see! It was awesome.

We sat out back and just talked and had dessert and got to spend time with the fam. I loved it. We all stayed the night and then my aunt and cousins were leaving the next morning to go to the beach. So my mom and I packed up and headed to the lake house and my dad headed home to get back so he could go to work the next day.

Kim, Aunt Judy, Madison, Me and Nicole

Me and Madison!

We picked up my grandma and headed to the lake. I love my uncle's lake house! I love being there. My cousin has a lake house two houses away as well (the lake house my mom had growing up) and it is so much fun there! It was pouring down rain, so we were just inside talking and hanging out. I got to see my cousin Teddy who I love, and his three kids who are growing up so fast! I love spending time with family.

The rain stopped at one point and Teddy turned to me and asked if I wanted to go play on the Jet-Skis. A question like that does not need to be asked twice! My uncle has one, Teddy has one, and one of Teddy's friends had one stored at his house. We went out on the lake and it was so much fun!

I even convinced my mom to come! That was a miracle. I told her I would go slow. That didn't last too long. It was so much fun! We just drove around for a while, then Teddy, his friend and I took them out around the whole lake. It was awesome. Being on the water is literally one of my favorite things ever. It was so much fun. I enjoyed every minute of it.

My mom and me!

All of this excitement wouldn't have happened if I didn't get Sunday off. God is so good. Both boats broke on the same day, within 30 minutes of each other, because of something that had been getting better and worse all summer, and because of all of that, I got to spend some really amazing time with my family. I loved playing with my second cousins and hanging out with everyone, it was a fantastic weekend and a great time away from camp.

Then Monday, my mom and I left the lake around noon, which was earlier than I had originally planned because I was able to spend the day before hanging out. We left and stopped off at a little shopping village on the way that my Aunt Lynn had told us about. It was the cutest little shopping place ever and it was so much fun! There were really awesome deals and I got some great things for teaching. My mom and I just got to hang out all day and it was awesome.

And now my mom is here for a week! I am so excited that she gets to see the inside of Young Life and see how things run and what exactly goes on here. Young Lives is my favorite week and I am really looking forward to these amazing girls coming and the camp being filled with babies! There was a girl named Kia that I really connected with last year and I am hoping and praying that she comes again this year. Last year we had both talked about being here this year and I really really hope she comes and I get to see her.


I am trying to be better at all of this, sorry they get so long. I love details and I tell long stories. That's just what you get with me :)

Major Catch-up

(Okay, so I wrote this like 5 days ago and need to get more pictures, which is why I haven't posted it yet, but I'm just going to anyway. I'll edit it and post more pictures shortly, I have to get them from other people, so for now, here it is.)

I can't believe it's only been 10 days since I last wrote. I feel like it's been a month and I'm way behind. So much has happened, and I've wanted to write so many times, but just haven't had the time.

My week without Lisa here went okay. It was busy and hard, but by God's grace I got through it and was able to savor the last couple days with our second session waterfront crew. I was definitely exhausted, but the Lord got me through it, and it definitely made me appreciate Lisa.

A while ago on our day off we went cliff jumping. It was so much fun! I had been wanting to go for a long time, and we finally got around to doing it. It was definitely a thrill and we had some good intern bonding time. That morning we also did the ropes course just for fun and it was awesome. I love the swing at the end! It was a day full of high heights and adrenaline. It was awesome.

Pamper pole. There is no way I could jump that far!

Then that week we went bowling as a whole intern group for Bible Study. We had the whole alley to ourselves and it was the place where you keep your own score. It was so much fun! I was in a lane with Kyle (who I think I've mentioned as one of my favorite people ever, he's on property staff here) so of course my goal for the night was to beat him. He's actually a really good bowler, and my bowling skills have gone down the drain. But I did beat him! Yay! I was really excited, just because I get to rub it in his face. (granted, he got 170 something the first game while I got like 80 something, and then I beat him by a couple points the second game, but hey, a win is a win.) Don't worry, I'm not at all competitive :) But it was a really fun night and we all went out for ice cream afterwards.

Kyle and me!

Some of the guys dressed up. Chocklett looked ridiculous, yet somehow pulled it off.

Matt Shortt and I with our shakes!

Our second session summer staffers have left and our third session has arrived. I have to say, I was so sad to see our July session leave. I really enjoyed getting to know them and working with them. They were a fantastic group of people who have hearts for the Lord. It was amazing to see the changes in them in the month that they were here. They really embraced the experience and stepped up to the plate. We had a great last couple days and they definitely finished strong. I miss them all dearly.

On switch over day I was able to spend time with my best friend Amy! It was amazing! I met Amy here, at Champion, last year during summer staff, and somehow, over the past year, we've managed to stay in really good touch with each other. I hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving, and it was SO awesome to see her again. We were able to catch up, and hang out, and it was really super awesome. She came to visit just for one night, but I loved every minute of it. I love that girl dearly, and as we are oh so different, which makes me laugh, we are real with each other and challenge each other in our walks with the Lord. Through her, God has shown me what fellowship looks like, and I love it. It was so amazing to see her!

While second session is gone, it is great to welcome in nine new waterfront summer staffers. We definitely have a great group and I am looking forward to getting to know them better. It is a lot of work though. I have to build relationships with them, we had to go through and train all over again and just getting to know them takes time. I am excited though. August is such a great session to work since it is our "off" month, meaning we have groups other than the normal suburban high school young life. Right now we have wyld life kids (middle school), next week is young lives (teenage moms) and the next is urban. I'm super stoked. I know the Lord has so much still to teach me.

The summer is nearing it's end and it makes me so sad. It has flown by faster than I could have ever imagined. I knew it would be fast, but I never thought it would be this fast. I have loved it. Ever minute of it. This is the most amazing job anyone could ever have. The Lord has been teaching me a lot as well. So many little things in so many different ways and areas of my life. My heart is on fire though. I want to tell the world about Jesus. I want to share the gospel with every person I meet, even those who have heard it hundreds of times. It gets better and better every time. It makes me realize how in need of his grace I am. This has been an amazing season so far, it's definitely not over quite yet, but I've been loving it.

Sorry this is getting really long, but one other thing I wanted to add in, was the amazing night I had the other night. We had Bible study on a different night than we typically do because of the changes in our schedule due to it being wyld life and not young life. Bible study night all of the interns have off, and we all had off the next day as well. So we had Bible study, which was great, then went over to Cory and Jess' house and had milk shakes, and then we finally went over to canoe breakfast. We've been talking about doing it all summer, and we finally did it. We had every single intern go over to the other side of the lake and we built a fire and sat around and got to know each other better. It was a miracle that we were all together; all seventeen of us. That never happens. We sat around the fire and played hot seat, which essentially is ask someone a bunch of questions and get to know them better. I loved it. It was my favorite night here so far. We were out until like 3 in the morning, which everyone here can tell you, is WAY past my bedtime. But I loved it, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The next day we all slept in, I played frisbee golf with some of the interns, it started raining while we were playing, after that I went for a run in the pouring down rain. I'm not really a running in the rain kind of person, but I absolutely loved it! I just got to pray, and exercise and spend time with the Lord. It was so much fun, I enjoyed it so much! We then all went into town and went to the mall, a couple interns got tattoos and we went and hung out with them. It was really fun. We were all together for the majority of the two days and it was such a sweet time of team building and getting to know one another better. My favorite thing ever. The Lord continues to bless me in so many ways.

A Day of Complete Chaos

Talk about a crazy day! Not only were Lisa and Bob both not here, but there were so many unexpected bumps and turns along the way. I had to do the morning set up on my own, which is harder, but not impossible. I wanted to see how fast I could do it, cause once I finish, I'm done until breakfast. Last time I finished everything with an hour left, I was hoping to have an hour and a half so I could spend some time with the Lord and then take a nap.

Quiet time and a nap both didn't happen. As I was testing chemicals in the hot tub, one of my summer staffers called me over and said that the wakeboarding rope got sucked up in the engine. Unexpected situation number one. So, I called Guest Services on the radio and Scott went to go get the trailer to pull the boat out of the water. I got the other boat and towed the broken one in. We got the boat out, got the rope out and I went to dock the boat. As I was pulling away from the trailer I heard a funny noise. It sounded like change dropped off the boat. I stopped, looked behind me, didn't see anything, and just figured it was the tractor and trailer because Scott was pulling them away. I dock the boat and Scott comes back. He's looking around and says to me that he thinks something bad just happened. His keys and radio were on the back of the boat, and were now in the water. Unexpected situation number two. I had an awesome summer staff girl get her bathing suit on and go look for them. It was a lost cause. We looked for a while, but didn't find them. I hate defeat.

So then, it was about 10 minutes before breakfast, I still hadn't taken the lost and found back, never finished the hot tub chemicals, had to take canoe breakfast stuff back to the kitchen, needed to take the trash to the dumpster and jet boat dock the other boat. Mad chaos. Somehow most things got done, but I was late to breakfast. I ate as fast as I could (which, granted isn't all that fast) and then had to set things up for the morning event. Today was my event, so I have to set it up, help the summer staff and make sure things run smoothly. Due to some miscommunication and exhaustion, it was 11 o'clock, when our event was supposed to start and not even half of the summer staffers were there. About six of them (who are amazingly awesome) helped Derrick and I get everything and set everything up. It was crazy. They're supposed to be there at 10:30, and people rolled in after 11. Unexpected situation number three.

So after the Spartan games (my event) the waterfront was open. Kyle was driving and I was taking care of things on land, when all of a sudden over the radio, I hear "This is a drill, code grey, this is a drill, code grey." Code grey is our "terrorist on camp" code. Taken very seriously. Unexpected situation number four. I got the air horn, blew it five times, which means it's an emergency, and all campers have to report to the club room as quickly as possible. Chaos. We had to get every person in the club room and account for every single person on camp. It's a drill we have to do once a summer, and it is random. No one knows when it will happen at all, not even the property staff. Overall, I heard it went smoothly, so that was good. Lunch then got pushed back and we opened the waterfront up again. Kyle wasn't able to drive anymore, which Mikey (my intern from last year who is here leading) noticed and went to get on the boat, as I was asking Paige to take Waileen's job so she could go drive. The tube rope then snapped and we had to replace it. No big deal, just the craziness of the day. Then we had lunch.

Really. It was crazy. Utter chaos, but then things turned around for the most part. No more unexpected situations, just normal waterfront tasks. It was a shorter day, which is nice, but we do have to work tonight. I'm about to go take a nap so I can survive staying up tonight and doing the morning on my own again.

The awesome thing about all of this though, is that God is so faithful! It was crazy, and stressful, and things didn't go the way they were supposed to at all, but it was okay. I was okay. The Lord showed me so much grace. I didn't freak out, I didn't go crazy, I just took it as it came and tried to deal with it. There is no way I could have done it on my own. It was all God. He gave me so much patience and so much grace. He is quite an awesome God. I am continually blown away. I felt his shalom in the midst of the chaos.