Longwinded Europe Update...
I know it has been a couple weeks since my promised update of my trip to Europe, I apologize for the delay. I've officially been sick for almost 4 weeks, but seem to be doing better; minus my noticeable ear infection...but I am surviving. Although, I am still processing my trip and I will be for some time, it is no longer an excuse for my silence. So...
Wednesday:
We left for the airport at 4:30am.
Thursday:
We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany weary but ready for adventure and little did we know the extent of adventure.
We filed off the plane, went through customs and had some time to shower, which feels beautiful after hours and hours of traveling. Then after being briefed on what was going to take place we piled into two transits (van like vehicles) and traveled another 7-8 hours to Belgium. We were only allowed to sleep for a couple hours of the trip so that we would adjust to the time change, so some of us at one time or another were a bit delirious, which made the ride that much more fun. So, we had plenty time to talk and play fun car games along the way...'I Never' anyone. But driving through 3 countries in one day made it all worth while, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. It was amazing...and so was our first night of sleep in Europe which we were able to get once we got to the resort in Belgium.
Friday:
Our first full day and the start of camp, we woke early to help set things up, where we unloaded vans and sorted food and necessary items for each bungalow (the cabins). Then the kids arrived, all 300 of them.
We each were assigned a bungalow where we were to live and get to know cool kids. I had 4 girls ranging from 6th to 8th grade, along with a volunteer high school staff who definitely knew a lot more than I did (I was super thankful). These girls weren't shy at all, they were welcoming and excited to see new faces. They shared openly about life from the get go...it was neat to see their enthusiasm for life and for people. But even though they were open there were many walls. The theme of the week was 'the Secrets Out', emphasizing God has a secret that he wants us all to know; He loves us. As we talked about secrets some kids shared some of there own, while others were still very hesitant. These kids live in a constant state of change, they move often and people in their life come and go often. So, defenses are up yet their hearts are still very tender. It was neat to see.
Well, among the duties of chillin with kids, our team was in charge of putting on the drama for the week. When Danielle (a teammate) and I thought up the skits, I was thinking that we'd perform the skits and hoped that they would understand the message, but there was a lot more to it than that. We not only were Secret Agents in the skits, we were the team’s mascots, so yes I was a mascot; a master of disguise, sneaky yet goofy, my name, Agent Dee Skies. You'd never know who I was, since I was always in a different disguise...hence my mastery. As a mascot, we cheered on our teams (there were 4 teams, split up by colors, blue , red, orange and green…I was blue) and quickly became icons or so it seemed. Danielle described it as being Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. The kids would cheer loudly for us when ever we came on stage, might I add to our own theme music, and whenever we were off stage and in character we were bombarded with cameras and hugs. It was great.
Saturday:
We spent time at the indoor water park, eating ice cream, teasing me (so what if I tend to twist my sentences and words around, or mix different contexts within one context of a conversation)... we played team competition games (where the teams would earn points) and spent more time with the kids. There were more skits and lots of crazy fun. I was having loads of fun, but jet lag really started to hit. I was so tired by lunch time, but knew I couldn't nap, so I was able to go to sleep early, which was good for us all.
Sunday:
There was more pool time, more teasing Sheri for her lack of word structure, relaxation and more skits and more fun. My girls were either at laser tag, or shopping in Oostend Belgium and I was able to rest a little. I was supposed to nap (orders from Rachel our team leader) but I showered and took pictures instead...I don't think she minded too much :)
But Sunday was my most reflective day...it was Gospel night. The kids were presented with the hope of the gospel and given the opportunity to stay and talk and/or pray with someone or they could leave and go play in the gym. And to my astonishment about 100 kids stayed...the room was filled with clusters of tender hearts. I just sat there in awe of what the Lord was doing. I noticed one girl sitting near me flipping through her Bible, I wasn't sure if I should talk to her or not. But I asked anyway...she didn't want to talk though tears began to fall, but she allowed me to pray for her, what a blessing that was. She then went back to reading her Bible. My heart was broken but blessed in the same instant. That girl along with the hundreds just like her were hurting, their defenses were up protecting themselves from further hurt, but their hearts still so tender to what the Lord had to do. Many kids rededicated their lives, others believed on Christ for the first time...it was rad. 3 our of the 4 girls in my bungalow talked and prayed with Maggie...the high school staff...and they believed on Jesus. They were glowing that night. This night allowed me to see that even kids halfway across the world need Christ and their hearts are tender yet hard.
Monday:
Camp ended, we finished up the skits, they announced the winning team (WE WON!!! We’re definitely the master of disguise) and then said our goodbyes. Half of our team rode back to Germany on the buses with kids and the other half stayed to help clean up and rode back in the transits. It was harder for some of us to leave camp than others, but I think we will always have a sense of what the Lord began. For me it wasn't that hard to see the kids leave...yet it was. Ever since the briefing back in Germany, when Anna explained to us about how these kids view change and how hard their hearts were...I couldn't understand why we were just another statistic in their life of endless change. Here were 7 more people who come and try and love them but then turn around and leave. I didn't want to be just another statistic...but I couldn't change the fact that I was. I didn't really get super close to my girls as some others did, so saying goodbye wasn't that hard. Which as I think back on...I am not sure if why I was there was accomplished? Yes, we did out skits, I hung out with kids, I saw how another camp was run and experienced the heart of the Malachi ministry ... but did I love them enough... or did I put a guard on my heart so that I wouldn't be just another statistic. I don't know...
After clean up...we attempted to drive back down the Germany, but instead of the 6-7 hour drive...it took 11. We were stuck in a stau (sounds like sht-ow)--a traffic jam. I enjoyed it a lot...I even opened the transit door in the middle of the autobahn, it was fun.
Tuesday:
Sickness struck hard...congestion, cough and weariness, not fun!! But I was in Europe, nothing was going to stop me from having fun. We went to Worms, the place Martin Luther was placed on trial. We played the tourist game and took lots of pictures. We also visited an old Jewish cemetery along with few rad churches there in Worms. It was neat to finally get out and experience a bit of Europe. After Worms we went and visited a high school youth group...just to see how they work. It was different, but yet a lot like those here in the states.
Wednesday:
Another day of tourism, we spent the entire day in Heidelberg. We walked downtown and shopped, it was rad. I really like it there. There is something about walking on cobblestone streets and seeing colored architecture with colored doors. Oh, the doors is Europe are my favorite...if only we had them in Montana :o) And I saw 3 Subaru’s in Heidelberg, including one WRX!!! After our day of tourism, we went to Rachel's house. Her family lives in Germany, so they opened their home and fed us German food...bratwurst. It was interesting to say the least, definitely not sometime you get everyday in Montana.
Thursday:
Homeward bound…We certainly didn't want to leave, some of us talked about how we could convince people to kidnap us yet still be able to graduate in May...apparently we never found the solution.
The whole trip was an amazing experience. But after experiencing it, I am more confused than ever. All my life, or at least for the past 10-12 years, all I've wanted to do with my life was work at Big Sky Bible Camp. The place I've made all my major life changing decisions, the place I’ve spent the last 13 summers (7 of those on full time staff). But for the first time in my life I didn't know really if that was what I wanted or what God wanted. I didn't even know if I should spend this summer there...it scared me and I am still scared. I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. And I guess I don't need to and I won't know. I'm supposed to graduate college in 8 weeks, I can't even answer the question, 'What now?' I know I just need to trust in the Lord and I am trying to...but it is still hard. I am having bittersweet feelings about graduating, I am excited yet I'm not, I don't want to. I want to stay and invest in the amazing people that God has brought into my life...but I guess I can do that after graduation...but still it's bittersweet. I don't know what I am doing...but I pray that I will trust.
So, needless to say, I am still processing the trip, so much happened and I know that I will learn from it...
I know this is a super long update...but I hope it gives you a glimpse of what took place.
Ok I think I need to attempt to sleep.
Enjoy!!!
Wednesday:
We left for the airport at 4:30am.
Thursday:
We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany weary but ready for adventure and little did we know the extent of adventure.
We filed off the plane, went through customs and had some time to shower, which feels beautiful after hours and hours of traveling. Then after being briefed on what was going to take place we piled into two transits (van like vehicles) and traveled another 7-8 hours to Belgium. We were only allowed to sleep for a couple hours of the trip so that we would adjust to the time change, so some of us at one time or another were a bit delirious, which made the ride that much more fun. So, we had plenty time to talk and play fun car games along the way...'I Never' anyone. But driving through 3 countries in one day made it all worth while, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. It was amazing...and so was our first night of sleep in Europe which we were able to get once we got to the resort in Belgium.
Friday:
Our first full day and the start of camp, we woke early to help set things up, where we unloaded vans and sorted food and necessary items for each bungalow (the cabins). Then the kids arrived, all 300 of them.
We each were assigned a bungalow where we were to live and get to know cool kids. I had 4 girls ranging from 6th to 8th grade, along with a volunteer high school staff who definitely knew a lot more than I did (I was super thankful). These girls weren't shy at all, they were welcoming and excited to see new faces. They shared openly about life from the get go...it was neat to see their enthusiasm for life and for people. But even though they were open there were many walls. The theme of the week was 'the Secrets Out', emphasizing God has a secret that he wants us all to know; He loves us. As we talked about secrets some kids shared some of there own, while others were still very hesitant. These kids live in a constant state of change, they move often and people in their life come and go often. So, defenses are up yet their hearts are still very tender. It was neat to see.
Well, among the duties of chillin with kids, our team was in charge of putting on the drama for the week. When Danielle (a teammate) and I thought up the skits, I was thinking that we'd perform the skits and hoped that they would understand the message, but there was a lot more to it than that. We not only were Secret Agents in the skits, we were the team’s mascots, so yes I was a mascot; a master of disguise, sneaky yet goofy, my name, Agent Dee Skies. You'd never know who I was, since I was always in a different disguise...hence my mastery. As a mascot, we cheered on our teams (there were 4 teams, split up by colors, blue , red, orange and green…I was blue) and quickly became icons or so it seemed. Danielle described it as being Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. The kids would cheer loudly for us when ever we came on stage, might I add to our own theme music, and whenever we were off stage and in character we were bombarded with cameras and hugs. It was great.
Saturday:
We spent time at the indoor water park, eating ice cream, teasing me (so what if I tend to twist my sentences and words around, or mix different contexts within one context of a conversation)... we played team competition games (where the teams would earn points) and spent more time with the kids. There were more skits and lots of crazy fun. I was having loads of fun, but jet lag really started to hit. I was so tired by lunch time, but knew I couldn't nap, so I was able to go to sleep early, which was good for us all.
Sunday:
There was more pool time, more teasing Sheri for her lack of word structure, relaxation and more skits and more fun. My girls were either at laser tag, or shopping in Oostend Belgium and I was able to rest a little. I was supposed to nap (orders from Rachel our team leader) but I showered and took pictures instead...I don't think she minded too much :)
But Sunday was my most reflective day...it was Gospel night. The kids were presented with the hope of the gospel and given the opportunity to stay and talk and/or pray with someone or they could leave and go play in the gym. And to my astonishment about 100 kids stayed...the room was filled with clusters of tender hearts. I just sat there in awe of what the Lord was doing. I noticed one girl sitting near me flipping through her Bible, I wasn't sure if I should talk to her or not. But I asked anyway...she didn't want to talk though tears began to fall, but she allowed me to pray for her, what a blessing that was. She then went back to reading her Bible. My heart was broken but blessed in the same instant. That girl along with the hundreds just like her were hurting, their defenses were up protecting themselves from further hurt, but their hearts still so tender to what the Lord had to do. Many kids rededicated their lives, others believed on Christ for the first time...it was rad. 3 our of the 4 girls in my bungalow talked and prayed with Maggie...the high school staff...and they believed on Jesus. They were glowing that night. This night allowed me to see that even kids halfway across the world need Christ and their hearts are tender yet hard.
Monday:
Camp ended, we finished up the skits, they announced the winning team (WE WON!!! We’re definitely the master of disguise) and then said our goodbyes. Half of our team rode back to Germany on the buses with kids and the other half stayed to help clean up and rode back in the transits. It was harder for some of us to leave camp than others, but I think we will always have a sense of what the Lord began. For me it wasn't that hard to see the kids leave...yet it was. Ever since the briefing back in Germany, when Anna explained to us about how these kids view change and how hard their hearts were...I couldn't understand why we were just another statistic in their life of endless change. Here were 7 more people who come and try and love them but then turn around and leave. I didn't want to be just another statistic...but I couldn't change the fact that I was. I didn't really get super close to my girls as some others did, so saying goodbye wasn't that hard. Which as I think back on...I am not sure if why I was there was accomplished? Yes, we did out skits, I hung out with kids, I saw how another camp was run and experienced the heart of the Malachi ministry ... but did I love them enough... or did I put a guard on my heart so that I wouldn't be just another statistic. I don't know...
After clean up...we attempted to drive back down the Germany, but instead of the 6-7 hour drive...it took 11. We were stuck in a stau (sounds like sht-ow)--a traffic jam. I enjoyed it a lot...I even opened the transit door in the middle of the autobahn, it was fun.
Tuesday:
Sickness struck hard...congestion, cough and weariness, not fun!! But I was in Europe, nothing was going to stop me from having fun. We went to Worms, the place Martin Luther was placed on trial. We played the tourist game and took lots of pictures. We also visited an old Jewish cemetery along with few rad churches there in Worms. It was neat to finally get out and experience a bit of Europe. After Worms we went and visited a high school youth group...just to see how they work. It was different, but yet a lot like those here in the states.
Wednesday:
Another day of tourism, we spent the entire day in Heidelberg. We walked downtown and shopped, it was rad. I really like it there. There is something about walking on cobblestone streets and seeing colored architecture with colored doors. Oh, the doors is Europe are my favorite...if only we had them in Montana :o) And I saw 3 Subaru’s in Heidelberg, including one WRX!!! After our day of tourism, we went to Rachel's house. Her family lives in Germany, so they opened their home and fed us German food...bratwurst. It was interesting to say the least, definitely not sometime you get everyday in Montana.
Thursday:
Homeward bound…We certainly didn't want to leave, some of us talked about how we could convince people to kidnap us yet still be able to graduate in May...apparently we never found the solution.
The whole trip was an amazing experience. But after experiencing it, I am more confused than ever. All my life, or at least for the past 10-12 years, all I've wanted to do with my life was work at Big Sky Bible Camp. The place I've made all my major life changing decisions, the place I’ve spent the last 13 summers (7 of those on full time staff). But for the first time in my life I didn't know really if that was what I wanted or what God wanted. I didn't even know if I should spend this summer there...it scared me and I am still scared. I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. And I guess I don't need to and I won't know. I'm supposed to graduate college in 8 weeks, I can't even answer the question, 'What now?' I know I just need to trust in the Lord and I am trying to...but it is still hard. I am having bittersweet feelings about graduating, I am excited yet I'm not, I don't want to. I want to stay and invest in the amazing people that God has brought into my life...but I guess I can do that after graduation...but still it's bittersweet. I don't know what I am doing...but I pray that I will trust.
So, needless to say, I am still processing the trip, so much happened and I know that I will learn from it...
I know this is a super long update...but I hope it gives you a glimpse of what took place.
Ok I think I need to attempt to sleep.
Enjoy!!!
Here are some more pics for your enjoyment:
The team!!! (and a random german kid) Yes, that is Martin Luther behind us!
Danielle and I in the Netherlands!!!
The Secret Agents: Anna Alice, Rouge, Codey, and Dee Skies
Agents: Rouge, Anna Alice and Dee Skies
Agent Dee Skies
A Smart Car!!!
'Thank you'
