At 7am, John, Neal and I were awoken by the sound of the Bluffs guys getting around. The room has many echos and the poor guys had to get up really early to go to town for the day. I know that they were not trying to wake us, but it is hard to have a positive attitude when your comforts are taken so far away, and one added thing can push you over the edge. But the other guys remind me in small ways: “No se trada de me” It is NOT about me. Amen. Just take this one day at a time. It is a great joy, but very difficult. Also, I forgot to mention, that last night when I had to move out of the cabin, I totally left my sheet on the little mattress back in the cabin. It was hilarious, because when everyone was shuffling mattresses last night, I saw Luis carrying it and I thought, “is that my sheet?” And then later I realized that it was. Luckily Neal has an extra one that I am borrowing.
We will see how the day goes. (It is our first full day with campers) It is 8am now. I hope my staff is doing OK. I can’t imagine how sleeping in the cabins went over with over 15 people in each.
Breakfast went well. Laura and some staff are already very tired. Muy cansado. Neal played the Leeland song “Sound of Melodies” for our intro into breakfast that we used at the Shores in 2008 for our closing highlight video. I cried as I high five-ed counselors and children. One of the lines is “we who are called to be your people, struggling sinners and thieves”. Good stuff. This was a great reminder of what we are doing here.
We went from breakfast to outside. But before we all left, the Argentine counselors went to go practice their drama. It is a good thing for them to prepare, and it definitely stretches my staff to be with the kids for a few minutes without being able to communicate with them. We gathered in the grass and Agu played the guitar and led the children in songs. She does a great job! The Argentine counselors then came to perform their drama. It was good. IT was of Jesus healing and feeding many. The kids seemed to really like it, especially since their counselors were the actors. Then they went to bible study.
Meanwhile, Bessy, Agu, Laura and I met to discuss the day. Bessy enjoys knowing what is going on. I don’t blame her. We want to plan, but we don’t usually know what they will need from us or what they want for their campers and counselors. We put our heads together and decided on a schedule.
8:30 Desay Uno / Breakfast
9 Alabanza / Praise time and Bible study
10:30 Jeugos / Games
11:30 Merienda / Snack
12 Jeugos / Games
1 Almuerza / Lunch
2 Siesta / FOB
3 Busquedo del Tesoro / Treasure Hunt
5 Merienda / Snack
530 Alabanza / Club, Speaker, Worship
730 Bano / Shower time
9 Cena / Dinner
10 Alabaza / Praise time
1030 Circlo de Amigos / Circle of friends
11 Dormir / Sleep
……
We then gathered everyone together and I led them with Hannah in a song. We winged it. Then we split everyone into groups for games. I thought the games went well. Then we had snack and danced on the field. Muy divertido. It was very fun. I try so hard to speak the language, that my brain is mixed up. I am starting to want to write certain words in spanish and not english. Even we as a staff are starting to speak to each other in spanish.
We then had free time. I had a great conversation with Mariana. Its interesting because about 4-5 of the Argentine girls know english but the boys do not. It is also fun to try to talk with the children. They are so sweet. One boy, Matthew (Mattias) finds me all the time and just stands next to me. No reason. He does it with many of the American staff. He is the sweetest kid I have encountered here by far. (There is a picture of us together above.)
I taught boom snap clap to some of the Argentine counselors. Some picked it up, and others not so much. Ali and Jony picked it up. Then I learned “Pallo, Pallo, Pallo”, I fun song that they like to do. I ran to find many to show them my new skill and they seemed happy and pleased. Then we had lunch, which went very well.
One of the hard things here is that we have to be workcrew. Serving, setting up, and cleaning after are very large tasks for 4-6 of our staff. It is a little hard on my staff, and I have been explaining the need for a work crew/work crew director at these camps. I think they understand. Now time for siesta, but I am writing in my journal, so mine will be about 5 minutes. I want to remember names:
Andres, Marcos, Esteban, Jony, Jose, Emi, Ali, Juli, Mariana, Elisa, Bessy, Jessy, Agustina, Xenia, Danielle and Sandra…
I find it difficult to hold many things in tension while I am here. My relationship with Bessy. My relationship with Agustina and the rest of the Argentine staff. Learning the language. The campers. AND, not forgetting about my own staff to check on the and encourage them. Encouragement is needed for ALL. I feel very good about where we are today. I consider a very big success so far. However, if we were not here, there would be some gaps:
1. More program support for Agustina. (She is owning this, but needs help)
2. Work crew/work crew director is needed.
3. Not allow families and guests to come to camp because it takes up room and interferes with programs.
4. General planning and capacity issues.
But, here is what I see going so well:
1. The HEART here!! They all know the mission and are living “no se trada de mi”.
2. Praise and worship is going so well!
3. Dramas
4. Agustina! She is leading this in such a great way. She in incredible at this. I think she is a gentle Lion and Otter combo.
5. Relationships are all being kept in good tension.
……
This afternoon was great. We did games and then the treasure hunt which was a huge hit. We hid the treasure where each group started, so that when they finally found it, they would learn that the treasure is God and He is/was always right where you started, no matter which direction you go. After, we sat for a few. I reminded my staff that they are doing a great job and then talked with Agustina. I discovered that she like Norah Jones and Coldplay. Her dad is a bee keeper (sweet!) and she has a younger brother and sister. We then had snack, and I sat with Hunter, Marianna and Ali’s cabin. Ali and Mariana know English fairly well. I asked many questions and traded answers. I discovered that many of the boys do not know English because they are too lazy in school to learn it. The girls laughed and called them “burros”. Haha
We has a great worship session this afternoon. Danielle spoke to the kids and about 20-30 children came up to accept Christ. It was hard to tell how sincere it all was, but hey that rocks! We all then got in the middle of the group while Danielle prayed for everyone. Some of my staff were very touched and affected. Afterword, we circled up to have a quick word, and I shared my heart with them. There were many tears. I reminded them to not shrink back, but to keep encouraging our Argentine friends with our presence and attitudes.
We then gathered on the grass and did all the cabin cheers. We then as a Shores staff got up and did some cheers from camp. It was so fun. The kids LOVED it. We did boom snap, man and woman cheers. Then we had relational time until dinner. I drank matte with Neal, Bessy and Agustina. We then sat at the computer and looked at maps of where everyone was from. It was fun to see where many of the Argentine staff where from. It was also eye-opening, as many are from Cordoba, which is about as far from Buenos Aires as Wichita is from Tyler. Crazy.
Dinner was good. Then we sat outside in the dark while Agustina led teh ninos in some quiteing down. Listening to creation, singing softly, ect.
I talked and laughed with some of my staff and then got around for bed. Had a warm shower for the first time thanks to Marcos for helping me with the knob. Not bad at all. I am grateful for this place. I am grateful for the friendships that are forming with my own staff and with this great new family from Argentina.
