Let the fundraising begin...

Talk about the good life.

So here I sit in the corner of a Starbucks, struggling to accept that my first summer at Camp of the Hills has come to an end. Wow, was camp incredible. I don't know if I've ever been so transformed in my time there than anywhere else. How could just one month do that to me?

I knew God wanted me at Camp of the Hills for some reason, but I still came into second half worried out of my mind. I feared that I wouldn't be good with the campers given I lacked experience with kids. I was worried all the counselors had already grouped up and I'd make zero friends. I was so concerned that I wouldn't be able to share my faith and say the right things at the right time. My worries consumed me and consequently, I came in convinced I'd have a less than average time at camp. God proved me so wrong.

I met so many amazing kids. Whether it was between elementary to high school week, every camper carried a story that changed my perspective on life. And to be honest, I thought I wasn't the type to immediately empathize with people but I found myself wanting to get to know the campers. Their personalities and upbringings were so diverse! I found it awesome that we could all come from different walks of life and be at camp spending fun time together. I had a camper last week who vowed to smash her face into any cake dessert we had for dinner. She had me on the ground crying she was so funny. My campers have given me so many funny memories.

But as there is a time to laugh, there is a time to cry. I also shared moments of pain with my campers, and I could feel how heavy their loads were. I saw how some buried their burdens deeper than others, but I felt personally convicted to remain at their side and at their disposal. Now, this part of being a counselor was a little bizarre for me because I'm normally not the most compassionate person. But I think God planted something in me, and I began to realize how imperative it is to value any person who comes to you in confidence. So even though all the fun times were awesome, God revealed so much more to me in times of sadness.

Looking back, I am so thankful I came to Camp of the Hills! Not only did I get to meet hundreds of extraordinary campers but my fellow counselors changed my life as well. I met so many inspiring people who were a blessing to work alongside. During the times I was physically exhausted, they were there. During the times I was mentally exhausted, they were there encouraging me every step of the way. I cannot fully express how grateful I am to have met such uplifting, awesome, energetic, sidesplittingly hilarious people! And if you're a counselor reading this, you rock!

So to wrap this novel up, I just want to say it's been a great summer at Camp of the Hills. For a lot of reasons. And y'all best believe I'm coming back for 2013.

Hooray for mementos! Not mentos... although mentos are delicious.

GREETINGS MY GOOD SIRS AND MADAMS! I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday and are not overwhelmed by my caps lock. I just got back from spending the weekend with my friend and future co-counselor, Emily! Emily and I first met at a CotH retreat last month and sweet, radiant sparks haven't stopped flying between us since. Haha. Just kidding... but no really. Emily is pretty darn awesome, and I'm super excited to be spending a month working with this lovely gal!

One of the many things Emily and I have been prepping for this summer is how we can creatively remember each session week of kids we had at camp. She came up with this awesome keepsake idea where each week, her cabin of girls can sign and decorate her blank pillow case! I thought this was such a cool memento and when she told me I was inspired to do something too. I've been trying to come up with something creative for the longest time but I haven't figured out what I wanted to do until my awesome roommate Victoria suggested it today!

So this summer at Camp of the Hills, I'm going to bring a nearly blank canvas with a bare tree painted on it. And as my campers come and go, they can dip their thumb in ink and fingerprint leaves onto the branches of my tree! How cute is that?! This idea was originally meant for wedding guest books but WHO CARES! IT'S AWESOME. So yeah, here's an example so y'all know what I'm talking about.

The campers can sign their name around their leaf as well!

I'm so excited about this! I'm also brainstorming about cute souvenirs my girls can take home as well. So if y'all have any ideas, I'd love to hear your suggestions. :) Have a blessed week!

- Jess ♥

"Psalms 13" by Nate Hale

Hey guys. I just wanted to share this song I've been listening to lately. I first heard this song at church camp last summer and it has been one of my favorite praise songs ever since. I like Psalms 13 a lot because with where I am with God right now, I can strongly relate to David's desperate cries. What I really like though is that even though the first half of the chapter is somber and hopeless, the ending verses still acknowledge how we need to trust in our faithful God. I just found this song really encouraging to me, and I hope you all enjoy it as well. :)

¹ How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 ³ Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me. 

Psalms 13 ♥

DONATION UPDATE!

Just wanna let y'all know I received 2 more donations in the mail today along with these kind words from both of my awesome donors! You guys are the best. I had just come home from a bad day at work and opening my mail to see this made me feel so much better. I am dead serious when I say that a person's words of encouragement is more fulfilling for me than any dollar amount.

I ♥ my donors! :)

Also, my development director Michael Thames is sending me e-mail updates about who is sending support online or mailing donations to the camp location. I would also like to say thank you to my online donors! And today I got an email from Mr. Thames saying that I've received money from an unknown donor? I don't know if that was supposed to be anonymous or the person forgot to write their name but nevertheless, THANK YOU KIND, KIND STRANGER! And if you're my anonymous donor reading this update and just forgot to write your name, please please please e-mail me so I can thank you properly.

That's all I've got for today. My Monday was feeling pretty lousy until this so thank you all again. Until next time!

- Jessica ♥

Good Friday.

Hey everybody! I hope you all are having a great Good Friday. I came back home yesterday for Easter weekend and guess what me and my family will be doing today through Sunday? Going on a lake camping trip with our church!

I find it amusing that while people back home are sitting in church wearing floral-print dresses and pastel pink ties, I'll be spending Easter morning around a campfire flipping sausage patties. But I was actually pleased to hear my mom tell me that we were going camping. School and work have been consuming my life, and these past couple weeks I've felt like a rope in a nasty tug-o-war match. I'm glad I get to unplug for a few days and focus on sunsets and night skies instead. And not only that, but I think my time will be better spent in nature than in a pew this year for Easter.

Sometimes I think people (including myself) get so lost in the chaos of Easter. I can't speak for everyone, but when I think of Easter my mind immediately goes to: egg hunting, bunnies, chocolate, nice clothes, money, and THEN Jesus' death and resurrection. That's awful.. I just didn't realize how much unnecessary stuff we pile on top of Easter until I was told I won't be doing any of that this weekend. Now I see that even if we take away all the things that society has made Easter to be, the true meaning of Easter will always remain because it doesn't require anything in order to be celebrated. I haven't even left for camp yet and it's already taught me that. 

But yeah.. I just thought I'd share what's been going on in my mind today. Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :) Take care.

- Jessica

To my dearest readers,

Welcome to my shiny, new blog! I bet hundreds of you saw my post on Facebook and thought to yourself, "Jessica created a fundraising blog? ZOO-WEE-MAMA!" and then clicked the link immediately. Right? Am I right, guys? Right?

Totally kidding. Nobody probably said that. HOWEVER, for those of you who are in fact reading this very text.. you're awesome. High five.

Tiny Fey knows what I'm talkin' bout.

But with all joking aside, I just wanted to share with you guys this new blog I made. Most of you are familiar by now about the amazing opportunity I've received to work at Camp of the Hills and am now in the process of raising funds. Some of you lovely people have already helped me out with my funds, and I am extremely grateful for your support and encouragement!

 In fact, my donors are the very reason I created this blog. I didn't like the idea of taking someone's money and only sending them a thank you letter and picture a few weeks later. I want to go beyond that. I want them to see their investment working in my life and the lives of others. I think keeping up with a blog is a great way to involve anyone who wants to be a part of this chapter in my life.

So what should you expect to see on my blog in the future? Expect to see things such as pictures, donation updates, and any thoughts I have as I prepare for my month of summer camp. I am both excited and nervous for what God has in store for me, but it is with your prayer and support that keeps me going.

So thank you all for taking the time to read this. I appreciate you guys, and I hope this blog can serve as a small thank you for all your encouragement. :)

- Jessica ♥