Devan and I before a competition with the 10th grade girls!
Serious fireworks on our last night!
Beautiful pre-sunset :)
Practicing for a skit our 6th graders came up with all on their own!
Cute 6th grade girls (and Julia!) before we had a pool competition! There were tons of games all week that the kids loved! These girls were so precious.
Oh wait this isn't from camp. Just Karen moon-bouncin.
Overall, camp was awesome. I am definitely exhausted, but it was also refreshing. I will say though, it brought my soul so much joy to worship again with our college group Sunday. I know that's where I'm supposed to be :)
Today was a fun day off! And even though I need sleep, I will quickly tell you about it. Linds, Jen, Devan and I explored Tyson's 1 for the majority of the day. Oooooh, I loved it. I'm so nostalgic in Northern VA because it's where my grandparents lived and where my mom grew up. Specifically at Tyson's, I remember eating dinner at a restaurant that still exists there when I was probably about 12 with my aunt and uncle. Another time, my great aunt Kathy took me shopping there a few years before she died. So sweet to remember those good times.
Anyway...we had fun:
Surfin in Pacsun!
Blurry, but the face of pure joy in the Disney Store. Dev had never been before :)
We also had Linds' and Caleb's birthday party tonight at the Burkes! Caleb wanted me to make something Reeses related, so I decided to concoct some chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with peanut butter frosting :)
Because of time I used a Devil's Food box mix as base, but swapped about 1/3 cup of the recipe's water for brewed espresso and added a few spoonfuls of PB to the batter. The frosting: Smitten Kitchen!
Linds on left, Caleb on right, yummy cupcakes in middle!
Swimming and hangin the pool for the evening was so much fun. I just love these friends. The birthday celebration was definitely a hit! Happy Birthday Caleb and Linds!
I'll update Thursday from our concert adventure--Brandi Carlisle & The Lumineers! I'm off to hit the pillow before work in the AM. Buenas noches! (I miss Guatemala!)
And, we're back from college conference :) It was an awesome time away in the farms/woods (who knew Maryland had those...) to be refreshed and get to know each other. I am SO glad to finally have had some concentrated time with the girls that could make it on the trip. Including guys, we had about 35 total. We stayed in cabins with smoky fireplaces and had a chapel to ourselves for the talks and hang outs. Dave, one of 4th's pastors and an awesome man of God, was our speaker for the weekend but we also had lots of free time. I got to go on a walk along the country roads with some ladies then bask near a brook beneath an old forest.
Overall, it was a great way to kick off the summer of being with the college students!
These past few days I also got to lead my first complete Bible study with the girls, lay out at my friend Alexa's pool for a bit (I'm craving the Vitamin-D!), throw a surprise birthday party with Jen for my housemate's supercool boyfriend, and hang out with some summer staff. (We played ping pong and watched Braveheart today on our day off!)
Jen, Collin (middle school director), Alexa (sweet new friend!), Caleb, Lindsay, and I
Poor quality and sorry about the lens glare...but decorating for Andy's party!
This post will be short because it's super late and I've been packing for....summer camp tomorrow!!! I'm going for the week with the youth group to assist in working with the 10th grade girls. The summer staff for middle school & high school have worked so hard for all of the logistics, schedules, games, activities, etc. Since I'm on college staff, I haven't had to labor so much in preparation but will reap the benefits of getting to know the high school girls. I am so so grateful. It's going to be nonstop crazyyyyy. And to think I did this 11 weeks straight two summers in a row. Praise the Lord for His endless supply. Pray for the students this week at camp and for the associate pastor of our church who is speaking! Pray for Jesus to launch lifetimes of walking by faith!
Okay, okay, I accept any rebuke for not posting since last Monday! Here's an overview of my latest thoughts:
I'm so appreciative of 4th Church! Summer Staff is really loved and served here. Through training, we have met several adults and families who have shared knowledge with us, guided us in some way, or shown us hospitality. For example, last Tuesday night, Linds, Wesley, Caleb, and I [college staff fam, for future reference] were invited over for dinner by the Pastor of Missions and his family. Tonight we were over for dinner at an elder's house with his family. The gospel and love of God can be seen in everything!
Just cheezin on our way back from dinner! Love em.
Also last week, an elder in the church who is also a partner in a DC P.R. firm came to speak to us about leadership and responsibility. He was extremely passionate about his job and how the Lord is using him in a secular field. To be honest, I never saw myself in a P.R. firm, but his excitement has encouraged me to open my eyes and heart a little more to those opportunities. I don't know what's in store, but I am so blessed to have Fourth as a church to build connections with this summer! Please pray for me! That God would give me confidence in Him to seek out any future job opportunity he may lay at my feet.
I love the summer staffers! It's an interesting mix, that's for sure, but I'm learning a lot through each one of them. Since six of them are in my Bible study that I lead, I especially hope that I can be a leader, friend, and servant to them this summer. As far as job detail goes, we're still flexing through the college ministry agenda and schedule. One of our chief roles is to develop relationships with the college students that encourage them in pursuing the Lord, but it isn't done in the same way as middle school and high school staff. They use more structure and programs, while college staff uses most of their day to hang with people in smaller settings. I'm hoping to start getting to know and hanging out with the girls more consistently, especially after the conference this weekend! Please pray for relationships to develop with these girls! Pray for transformation in my Bible study through Ephesians on Wednesday nights and Sunday morning teachings! And for College Conference coming up this weekend!
Last night's agenda included chicken stir fry with Jen, my housemate!
Jen is pretty!
We've been able to do so much more than just coexist--shared several meals together at home, made cookies last night just because, and adventured in random Giant runs where Jen never fails to bring the eco-friendly bag when I forget! (Note: in MD there is a bag tax in stores unless you bring your own reusable ones!) She and my two other housemates are such blessings to me and such gracious women to live with. I am especially encouraged by their discipline, responsibility, and intentionality.
Okay, that was a lot of summary but I hope y'all are encouraged. Thanks for keeping up! A special shoutout to my beautiful mother and sister-in-law who are probably reading this together. Can't wait to visit Oklahoma toooo! More updates to come!
Leading Bible study tomorrow on this verse-- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Ephesians 1:3-4
Today was our first official day off! Lindsay, Devan, & I went to Georgetown. Carpe diem :) I had never been before but always wanted to go. I think I recall Lindsay saying in her cute British accent, "Chelsea, this place will be like, good for your soul." Confirmed.
Think of a popular boutique or upscale store. Guaranteed, it's in Georgetown. Needless to say, we enjoyed looking, not purchasing. Except I got a new shirt from the sale section at Urban Outfitters! Whilst drooling in anthropologie, Alexa joined us and remained for the rest of the day.
We also found this little garden haven behind a historic Georgetown house and decided we'd lay down to stay awhile :)
I am still so elated I got to go to Georgetown Cupcake! The line wasn't long at all considering it usually stretches down the street. I got a perfectly portioned white chocolate raspberry cupcake!
This was probably (not being dramatic here) the best cupcake I've ever had. If you don't know, the bakery has a show on TLC called "DC Cupcakes." The sisters that own it are full of entertaining drama, especially because they call their Greek mother "Mommy" every other word. See below.
After that sweet treat, we meandered our way to the Georgetown campus. B-e-a-utiful! I love D.C.'s greenery, and this campus makes me want to be a freshman again! (In theory, of course.) Smart people everywhere. Here's the view from our bench:
For dinner, Alexa drove us to Falls Church for *Indian!* at Haandi. In addition to the non-negotiable naan and basmati rice, I ordered a curry dish with eggplant, green peppers, onions, and a 5-spice sauce. Oh. yes. We had an adorable waiter who reminded me of a younger version of my Grandpa. Not only was his accent precious, but he probably topped off our waters once every three to five minutes. Linds loved him.
At last, we ran in L.L Bean in Tysons and bought my new Camelbak! I was advised to give it a name and personality so that I would be less likely to lose it. (I have lost five really nice ones in the past few years...) Delilah, it is!
So in conclusion, we walked, gawked, dreamt, and laughed a lot today. I am so thankful for such sweet new friends. In the past few days God has answered so many prayers and helped me feel more like myself in this new environment. I am both comfortable and challenged here. Most of all, I am thankful!
Besides the torrential downpour, today was lovely. Slept in, had the monster bowl of all oatmeals, went for a peaceful morning run along a trail (still working on that endurance...), went to church for lunch and work, then a wonderful afternoon and homemade dinner with Lindsay :) God is doing much confirmation and affirmation lately.
Here are some photos with captions during my last few days. More to come!
On the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the way to Retreat!
Coffee with Kristen & Lindsay at Le Pain Quotidien! Wooden table, fruit salad, individual coffee pots, and handheld mugs :)
Out with Jen (my housemate) to Downtown Bethesda on our Thursday night off! With Sweet Green--plain tart yogurt with strawberries, chocolate chips, and coconut!
Crab Feast at the Bay! (I did not partake)
Stopped for Caribou Coffee after girls' lunch out in Bethesda. Here is Lindsay's smile!
Tomorrow's agenda: 7am trail run/hike along the Billy Goat Trail with Kristen & Lindsay, and 12-5pm church picnic. I'm preparing to give a short testimony to the college Sunday School class on the concept of hope and what it has meant in my life. God is hope, which is what I can't wait to unpack.
A little preview--"In hope he [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." Romans 4:18
God is faithful and worthy of our hope. More to share later! Thanks for your encouragements!
