Adventures Part Two

I finally got to be with my best friend and we headed to her home in
Washington!! Back in May I dropped her off 
at the airport thinking that I would not be able to see her until move 
in day in August. Since I decided to stay here for break Erika said she 
would come pick me up in Portland and take me to her home. It was only 
about two hours away. I entered her house and finally met the family I 
have been Factimeing all year long. That night we stayed up late and
 caught up on life. The entire time I kept thinking "am I dreaming. I am
with my best friend in her house". Nope this was not a dream it was 
reality.
The next day we woke up and went to the lake. I LOVE and lake and had 
not been in about four years so I was extra excited. We got the boat 
launched and off inter tubing we went. My only restrictions to her dad
was don't kill me. Other wise go as crazy as you want. The first round 
was mellow. I soon found out the Erika and her sister like to go what I 
call medium or easy. Erika's dad said that he would drive crazy for me.
After about 15 minuets he could not throw me off and Erika's sisters
 were amazed at what just took place. I convinced Erika to get on the 
tube with me and her dad drove crazy again. Lets just say about 7ish 
minuets  I did a backflip off the back the tube and continued to skid 
across the water for a little. EPIC is what it was!!! I wanted to go 
again but Erika and the rest of the boat were a little freaked out to 
extreme inter tubing ended for the day. If I had the chance I would 
have gone again! I am such am adrenaline junkie. The rest of the day we 
played in the water, tubed a little more, and hung out in the motor 
home. At the end of the day we went for a sunset cruise and that was
absolutely beautiful! Mount Rainier and all the trees in the background
made everything so different them what I am used to. It was absolutely
amazing and a perfect was to end the day. 


The next day was Erika's turn to show me her hometown. We went to down
town Puyallup and down town Tacoma. I fell in love with the really
cool architecture of Tacoma and the beautiful park square in Puyallup. 
Erika and I got some froyo and "solved world problems" like we always
do when we eat froyo. That night I went to their church play and met
 some of her friends. Then we went for a night swim with some of our
 friends that go to Hope. We stayed up way to late but that's what we do
 best. 

The next day it was time to return to reality, back to Oregon, 
and back to work. That goodbye was not easy. Her family is my family.
 Her home is my home. I felt like I belonged and That is just what I 
needed to push through the last two weeks of the last summer. Thank you Anderson family!!


The adventures of my break were fun and something I will never forget. 
Some could have been a little more adventurous but that's okay. That 
break is just what I needed but I missed work! Time for my last CIY and 
summer camp. 


Please pray for strength for the last two weeks. Also pray for health
because I am getting sick.
 

Katie-Michelle

Adventures part one

It was vacation week and it was something I was look forward to for about a week. I needed a break just need to catch up on sleep. Well, that didn’t really happen because Ashley and I decided why make the big 18 hour drive back home when we have a state we have never been to and a city to explore. We set up home stays and stayed in Oregon! ADVENTURE TIME!!

Our first home stay was a bit interesting but she was so nice! She sent us off with a cute care package. At that homestay Ashley and I just hung out at the house and slept. It was very weird not to have a schedule and just relax. Our second home stay was wonderful! We got connected with our second home stay by we are on tour with their daughter. Nerves were a little high going into peoples homes we have never met but everything turned out wonderful.

The first day in Portland- Exploration and adventure was the name for the day. We took the max in which is their pubic transportation. That was an excellent choice! Reading the bus routes got confusing at times but we never once got on the wrong bus or went in the wrong direction. Our first stop was Voodoo doughnuts and it was so delicious! After we ate our incredibly sugary doughnuts we walked around a while and enjoyed the little shops. We had no plans and explored the city and ended up all over the city and I loved see it all. In the evening we met up with someone we met at camp the week before. He took us to this amazing restaurant and I ate food I would have never have eaten and then we went to Salt and Straw. Salt and Straw is homemade ice cream but there are some crazy flavors. It was so tasty! Once we got back to our “home” I was so tired I just went to bed.

Day two in Portland we kept it a little more low key and just went to Hawthorne street to go to more shops and to go thrift store shopping. I LOVED Hawthorne street so many vintage stores and vintage thrift stores. I even bought a couple things. Once we finished exploring it was more thrift store shopping time! I hate shopping but thrift store shopping here is legit! I love Plato’s closet and if there was one close to me there would be no reason to shop at the mall. After my shopping adventure we returned to the house and it was time for steak dinner. Our host family was wonderful!!! Once I finished dinner it was time for me to say goodbye and leave for Washington. My best friend was there and ready to take me to her home and show me around! I could not be more stoked for this.   

Intense

This past week I spent at Wi-Ne-Wa camp. It was so much fun and completely different from CIY. This camps theme was YOLO, you only live once so make it count. Each day has a different theme under Yolo like Gods way vs. the worlds way, ect. This camp was intense though, most nights ended with campers in tears and in serious moods. I do not know if I can fully put into words what the students experienced but in the end it was awesome to see this students make life changing decisions for Christ.

The first night was fun. Ashley and I literally jumped out of our van and were walked into our cabins. We were cabin moms for the week. I had a co councilor which I am so thankful for because she knew the ropes and she was able to helps me out. My cabin was VERY diverse! I had a mix of girls that ranged from graduated seniors to going to be freshmen in high school and they were not all from the same church. This was very different to me because I grew up going to a camp and you stayed with your church and your grade level. Most of the girls seemed to know each other a little from going to camp pervious summers. By the end of the week we were one bonded cabin who all loved each other.

 After we got all settled in the cabin it was time to learn the rules and go to the evening activity. This activity was CRAZY!!! The entire camp gathered together on the field and had a shaving cream fight.  I was I had a picture of this but I participated in this. It was so much fun! By the end everyone was covered head to toe in shaving cream. Then it was time to wash off. You might wonder how do 300 campers shower in a timely manner and get to session. Jump in the lake to wash off and then go to session. Lets just say the lake was cold but the breeze and chilly weather was the worst part. It was all worth it though!

Each night after the speaker talked (which he brought it EVERY night!) there was an activity for the students to do. It was a way for them to encounter what they just learned about and put it into perpective. Most nights this got intense. The two activities that stick out in my head the most are the court room simulation and Angels vs. demons. In the courtroom the leaders made a case of way the worlds way is better (popularity,self image, dating, ect.) The students had to come up with why Gods way was better. This was a way for them to be able to defend their personal faith and beliefs back at home. It was interesting to see these kids defend what they believe. We would encourage them the own what they say and say it with confidence.
Angels vs. demons sticks out in my head for two reasons. One because the point of this game is to get to heaven but the problem is is that you are blind folded and have to wait for someone to come and save you. When you are being saved you have to asked questions and answer questions to make sure you are being led by an angel. Once you get to heaven you are ask: Why should I let you into heaven? If you did not have a good enough answer or the correct answer then you were turned away. There was also demons who tried to trick you but then took you straight to hell. I was an angel and it was my job to get people into heaven. It was interesting to hear peoples reasons to why they think they should go to heaven or what makes them a christian. The second reason this game stuck out in my mind is because I spent almost half the game talking with a student about who Jesus is and what he did for us. We shared life stories and the game finished. The conversation ended but you could tell she was still thinking. Her youth leader came over and knew exactly what was going on. I don't know id she made any decisions  that week but the gears in her head were turning.  The reality of this game hit many student at their core. The entire weeks activities were intense and did this to the students but I think it is very important for that to happen.

This week I met some awesome people and grew in ways I never thought I would. This camp is absolutely beautiful! One side there is a lake and on the other side there is the ocean. Yes, it was freezing but that just means I got to wear my homemade beanies :)  It was a nice break from CIY but I missed it! I loved being a cabin mom and making connections with students and sharing my life with them. Thank you to this camp I say YOLO a little to much and people look at me a little weird but it is a little memory of the awesome week I got to spend with amazing people.

First Impresssions

I am officially in Oregon and this is the first time I have ever been in this state. New experiences lay before me and I couldn't be more excited. I am here for a month and will be in a new place every week.

The first week Ashley and I were in Cloverdale at camp Wi-Ne-Ma. This camp is on the coast. One side is the beach and the other is a lake. COLD is what the camp was!

My first Impressions of Oregon were:

1. It is freezing how is this California girl going to survive. (My cabin girls picked up on the fact I was not from Oregon very fast.)

2. Green (Oregon Ducks) or Orange (Oregon Beavers)  

3. These people have a lot of different license plates designs  (we have counted 6 so far)

4. They drive so dang slow!!! (They actually follow the speed limit)

I knew I was in for a bit of change and I was ready! I can say I survived the week at camp(another blog topic) but I do not like the cold, windy weather. I chose green and I am adjusting to driving at the exact speed limit.  I am looking forward to my week off and just exploring Portland.

Just A Tease

This week was the first week that the team of four was no more. Ashley and I were on our own. It was time to figure this job and team dynamic out just the two of us.

We were at Biola, which is SO close to home, yet we needed to act like we were in a different state. We knew this was going to be difficult but I had no clue how difficult it was actually going to be. I received phone calls from friends to hang out and the temptation of going home to sleep in my own bed hung over my head but I could not do it. There were a couple things I did need to do at “home” like replace my broken glasses, but that was all the home I could have. The other pair of reps. were on break so it made it even more difficult to know that we had to work and they had time to sleep and relax. It was just a tease being so close to home. At the same time it was something I needed. I needed to be in a semi familiar place because I am going to be in Oregon for the next month.

The other hard thing about this week was I came from Colorado where I spent three weeks with the same CIY staff and college reps. I was going into a situation where I was only going to be with this staff and these reps for one week. This staff is amazing! Very different, but in the short time I got to work with them I really enjoyed it. The other hard part was in Colorado there were 20 college reps and at Biola there were only 9. This just made things a little tricky. Jobs had to be doubled up on and sometimes you were running from one job to the next. Each location and week is unique and that is something I love about CIY but some times it just gets a little hard. God likes to stretch you and this is just one way he does it.

Even though this week was hard it was VERY rewarding. Night two I had the privilege to stand by the bell. This bell represents a decision for Christ, I am not dead but alive in Christ, or I want freedom from the pit that life has brought and I choose life in Christ. Even though I was just standing there to make sure the bell did not roll off the speakers that moment was powerful. There were about 1500 students in attendance this week and 497 students came and rang the bell that night. The expressions before and after on their faces, the hugs their friends gave them after they rang the bell and the tears streaming down their faces touched my heart. I cannot describe it but God was there and it was one of the coolest moments I have ever experienced. It gives me chills every time I talk about it.  Another rewarding time was security. Now this is something we all dread because its late at night, we all want to go to bed, and walking the halls of dorms is the last thing we want to do after a full day. The last hall Ashley and I walked was having a nail party and of course we didn’t want to bust them, so we decided to befriend them. They ended up being a church from Long Beach. They know someone I am friends with from Hope. We created a relationship with them, had lunch with them, and just hung out every night. It made security all worth it! Third rewarding moment of the week was forgiveness tree. At the end of the week the students get to toilet paper a tree and write things to be forgiven for as well as people to forgive. As a symbol of letting go they throw it at the tree. ONE THROW ONLY is the rule but who follows that?! SO that’s where my job comes in rush in and pick up the rolls. The thing is when there are 1500 students they tend to come in masses and well lets just say I have bruises from being pegged from toilet paper but for some reason I love cleaning up the rolls and watching the students throw the rolls. I love watching the bare tree turn white, the support of friends and youth leaders, and people letting go of the past and moving forward in Christ.

This week may have been tough but it was all worth it! God is working and moving in great was. I would not trade any of this for the world!

Please pray for travel as Ashley and I are driving to Oregon. We are traveling to a camp this week and are going to be in charge of cabins. Pray for our campers and that our week with.

Thank you SO much for your prayers. They are felt!!

Katie-Michelle

The final week in Colorado

This was the last week I had in Colorado. Bittersweet is the best way I can describe how I feel. This week was different then the others. The students seem to be more outgoing and want to get to know us college reps. That was awesome because I got to meet some pretty awesome people. One girl is even registered to come to Hope next year. It was awesome to connect with her and ease some anxieties she had.

This week was more of the most draining weeks because of lack of sleep. I only went to Durango Joes 3 times in one day  oops :/  but I only did this once. This week flew by but all the sleep lost was worth every minuet!

The hardest part of the week was being away from home on the 4th of July. This is my favorite holiday! It was odd not to be in Huntington Beach surrounded by family. This year I spent it working in the morning then with the GCU girls in downtown Durango. Then back to work but after work there was fireworks. Nothing compares to Disneyland Fireworks but just being surrounded by friends that I will miss dearly was the best! After the fireworks it was back to work and we worked until 12:30 that night. Working that late only meant one thing, late night food run.  The Fourth was not my traditional 4th celebration but the memories made that night will stand out in my mind. That was my first holiday away from home and it was not easy but I couldn't think of better people to spend it with.

This week God revealed himself in new ways to me and it is so awesome to be growing in Him. One of my favorite quotes that I heard from a session this week was, "Things are not suppose to be perfect. They are suppose to be good."  Life is going to be messy but that is okay. God has not left you. It is all for good. I look back to where I have been and where I am now and see the good when I thought it was bad. God is so awesome and I am so glad that we have a God that works in crazy ways!

I am ready to go to our next camp and for new experiences but sad to say goodbye to the friends I have made. We have all became a happy little family over these three weeks. It's not a goodbye but a see you later because there is Skype, facetime, and long road trips!

Prayer Request:

Our team has officially split up: Safe travels and adjusting to not having a team of 4.

Week Two

Week Two is over. Man that week flew by! It feels like it just started. This week was more tiring then the last. I drank the stuff called coffee. I went to Durango Joes twice in one day a couple of times. If you know me you know that I do not care for coffee. I much rather drink tea. I was desperate. The tiredness was all worth it though!

This week during rec time my team was in charge of getting Swag clips. To capture these clips we bring out our panda costumes. (I felt like I worked at Disneyland.) This means if any high school student has a hidden talent or could do anything ridiculous we wanted to capture it on video. This was very interesting to say the least, but this was an awesome time to meet students and create relationships.

God moved in great ways this week. Many students rang the bell to declare they are not dead but alive in Christ. They toilet papered a tree to represent letting go and forgiving. Even though each week the message is relatively the same I still get some thing new and grow more and more. God is so rad and I am so glad that I serve a God that loves me this much and His plans are so much better then anything I could ever plan out for myself.

The weekend is something that was greatly needed. All that we did was shop downtown, SLEEP, and watch movies. Now that we are recharged it is time to start another week. It is our last week in Colorado, with all the college reps, and CIY team. It's sad but i'm making every moment count.

Prayer requests:

This weeks campers: for God to move in them
Staff: Not let tiredness take over