Travel Times

I am finished at camp and have received my travel times! The week before last was my last week at camp. It was so nice to relax and not have to worry about chasing 11 girls around all week! Although, I do miss being at camp some of the time. Just learning more about God and being around such wonderful people.

This week was full of running around: to the bank and the mall - getting everything set to go before I leave. I have been planning a going away party too, which is next week. That will be nice, to just hang out with everyone before I leave for the year.

It is a strange feeling, knowing that I my exchange year starts in just under two weeks now. Having prepared for this beginning all year...interveiws, orientations, meetings, etc, etc. It has been a wonderful year of preperation, and I'm almost scared to actually go! But, I know that it will be such an awesome year! I am excited to start it! Most every outbound has already landed in their country of destination. So its down to the last few exchange students.

Anyhow. With all that said; I am most excited and most nervous about the year comming up fast in the next week. Things will be so awesome, I know. But just trying to imagine everything being so differnt, is so very difficult. We will see when we get to the other side, I guess.

Everyone has been so wonderful to me this year. I can not thank everyone enough for their generous help with everything! I owe so much to everyone! May God truely bless everyone around me for the loving help they have given me! I am so indebted to Him for the many blessings He has rained upon me! :) God is so good!

So, I guess my next entry will be when I get to Germany. I will try to blog once a month. So keep in touch, and I will try my best to soak up all of my adventures that await for me! Thank you so much, and I will see you in Germany!

K

Camp

Wow, it is unbelievable to think that a month has past since graduation (actually, more than a month!). I have been at Camp for about three and a half weeks. :) It is great! Really busy during kids camps, but nice and relaxing now that the first week of family camps is here! I have made some new friends, and have been growing a lot personally, and spiritually. God has taught me some wonderful things these past weeks! It is wonderful! I have been learning so much from my campers. It is amazing to see them grow in Christ, and to just be such an influence at such a memorable stage in their lives. Anyhow, as things are reaching the midpoint of summer, my exchange year draws very near. I can almost smell it. I received an email today from my host mother, and just the email reminded me how incredibly close to my exchange it really is! I am so excited!

Being at camp has helped me to prepare for my exchange. I have been home during the weekends, so it isnt too bad, but I have been placed in a new place with new people, and just new surroundings. This summer will definately be good for me - especially for learning to lean on God for everything - even strength and enthusiasm when I am weary (especially with the kids!).

Anyhow, I have to get back to camp stuff. I look forward to my year with anticipation, although I so wish I could bring all the people that I love in my pocket. How wonderful that would be! It is so great to be out of school and even more wonderful to be at camp! I am excited to see how God will further use me!

K

Graduation

Graduation is over! Finally! I have just one more exam to write tomorrow (Math 12, UGH!) and then I'm completely finished high school! It is interesting, knowing that this is what I have been waiting for for so long! Grad was fun, though. We had our prom on the Thursday, and that was fun, then Friday was grad. We had many activities taking place before hand, and we were all pretty tired from the night before. Then the parade, buffet, and ceremonies came. They were nice and short and it all went by quite quickly. Which was nice in a way. I received a few scholarships and was very pleased with the recognition of my accomplishments. It was lovely also to have members of my Rotary club come and be at my grad. It meant so much to me. :)

I have come to the conclusion that I will survive next year. Fundraising and donations as well as other sources of support are coming in quite steadily within the past two weeks. It has been very nice - now I am not so worried about being over there - it will be nice. I have anticipated that I will be alright. And I may also have some money to leave here, so that I don't come back with an empty bank account. Which will be nice. It has been such a blessing to be helped out in so many ways with and from different people. It really does make you feel loved. It is amazing how much one can accomplish with a bit of help and encouragement. I owe a lot of support and encouragement to many people. It is so great! :)

Anyhow. I head off to camp on the 25th - I am very excited, but also very nervous. I know that I haven't been to this camp, and I don't know much about what they do, but I'm sure it will be fine. I am excited to see how God will use me and what I will do with what He has given me. It will be interesting, to say the least. Please pray for me, that I find some support for camp, and just for prayers in general. Thank you!

These last few weeks, mom and I have been running around, trying to get all the documents I need before I leave. It is nice to have everything done now. Especially since I will be gone for the summer. Anyhow, I better get back to studying. I hope that my exam goes well! Wish me luck! (I'm going to need lots of it...)

K