Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Morning Sun.
So i've developed a routine in the morning. I wake up at about 5;45-5:50 am and yes go to the bathroom (random i know). But i immediately move the blind and look out the window. Straight ahead is an amazing view of the mountains, but what i like to see is the view to the right. There is this spot in the mountains that the sun hits directly, which i love to see. It's the start of another great day, and it reminds me the sun is shining once again and God is near.
46.
well it's saturday, so i'm back again. This week was 5th and 6th graders and by far the most challenging yet. I went into it after a great 1st week of camp somewhat thinking it would be the same, just instead of 4 girls in my cabin i would have 9. I figured they would be a little bit more responsible, and more intrigued into hearing the gospel, but i think i was a little bit wrong. My cabin was awesome, and i loved the girls, but they were alot of work. I don't even know how to summerize this week. It's crazy the backgrounds and lifestyles that these kids come from. The first night we took a hike with all the kids, and i was talking with one of my girls, Haleigh, who went on to tell me how her parents are divorced, her mom is an alcoholic, she wants to live with her dad, she has 2 jobs, and is 12 years old. Then i talked with another girl who has 2 moms, no dad role model, and doesn't go to church. I was blown away at the fact that this was only 2 of the 140 kids at the camp, and they had this crazy of a story. I would say 4 of my girls actually go to church on a regular basis. I think i assumed everyone has heard the gospel, but i realized some just are not interested. This was challenging. I am learning not to put a limit on God. When i looked at these 5 other girls, I selfishly thought that they had no hope, and that they wouldn't pay attention, and that was how the week would end. I became discouraged because I with all my heart wanted all of them to truly be on fire for Jesus. That is so much to expect from a 11 year old who has barely heard of Jesus. My prayers reflected Heb. 4:12, as i was realizing how sharp the Word of the Lord is. He is truly able to pierce their hearts, and that is what i prayed for. At the end of the week, 1 girl told me she "prayed the prayer" and actually meant it (this was Haleigh), but i know the struggle will come when she returns home. Pray for her. My cabin was extremely messy and obnoxious, but i loved the girls. I will miss them. For the whole camp this week, 46 kids admitted to believing in Jesus for the first time. Amazing. Of this one thing i am sure. 1 Cor. 3:5-7 :Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." I am trusting that God worked through me somehow. Thank you for using me Lord.
And of course..pictures :)
backwards day : me and becky!
..
..
...
...
try to find me..i kinda blend in :)
...
this is my buddy johnny..he got a sweet bruise from being kicked by a horse. stud.
And of course..pictures :)
backwards day : me and becky!
..
..
...
...try to find me..i kinda blend in :)
...this is my buddy johnny..he got a sweet bruise from being kicked by a horse. stud.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
hey hey!
So the first camp is officially over. This week was jam packed and fun filled with 3rd and 4th graders, and let me tell you, it was non-stop. I don't really know where to start summerizing. Well to start, the week was awesome. It was a smaller camp, so i only had 4 girls in my cabin. They were so great...Dayna, Grace, Hannah, and Kara. They were so much fun. The second night one girl got sick, but i handled it :) Basically they have chapel in the morning and night, with activities and free time during the day. The chapel speaker was great and all they kids really learned alot! He did illusions and ate fire, and really portrayed the message of the salvation well for them to understand! Two of my girls had given their lives to Christ last year, one had sometime before and one did this week! Now it's hard to understand if they truly understand what they are asking for, and most of them do get it. I am just praying that seeds were planted and the Lord takes that and helps them grow. One thing that was hard was that they try to figure EVERYTHING out. They just can't grasp how God was made, and that He actually wasn't, He always was. It doesn't make sense to them, or maybe to any of us. So it's hard trying to tell them you just have to have faith and believe it. For the whole week, 23 kids confessed to have asked Jesus into their hearts for the first time! Praise God!
There was also a lot of fun things that went on this week. We had backwards day, which was a lot of fun! We also had Superhero day, in which i was Catwoman. We had all the superhero's battle at the end of the day. We had a group of guys that won! It is so nice to have no campers here. The camp is like a ghost town, but it is so nice to just sit, and sleep or read and rest. Today, if the sun stays out, the staff is going hiking and for a dinner picnic. Then we are going to watch planet earth..in which i am super excited for :)
I learned alot this week. I learned to have energy when i didn't feel like it. I learned it wasn't about me. There were time when i just wanted to be alone, but had to remind myself, "You are here right here right now, and have to give all you've got." It is amazing how God works, and can teach you so much, even though your focus can be elsewhere. Even when i was selfish and only thinking of myself, God worked. God is still faithful. He is still powerful, holy, and sovereign. It is so nice to be away from the distractions of the world. I love just being outside and with these same people, and watching them grow and seeing how God is working in them. It has been such an awesome time. Tomorrow 5th and 6th graders come, and i think i am ready for another week. I know the Lord has control, and I am trusting in His power.
I Cor. 9:19-23
"For though I am free from all men, i have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that i might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that i might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that i might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that i might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that i might by all means save some. Now this i do for the gospel's sake, that i may be partaker of it with you."
I miss everyone not here with me. Just a few shoutouts:
Holly- I just wrote you pretty much a book last night of my time here so you may get that soon :)
Hope- Girl i miss you! i hope you are safe and having an awesome time in Ukraine. I am reading the updates! Thank you for your letters!
Jan- Thank you for your's and neily's letters! it is so good to hear what is goin on back home.
Grandma- Thank you for your letters!! i am sorry i haven't had the chance to talk to you. I am loving my time here, and miss you both! i am glad to hear grandpa got to hit golf balls!! I love you so much and will talk to you soon!!
G-Dub- ya smart idea, we don't need umbrellas here, you definitely just walk in the rain :) Miss you bud!
Dad and Beth- you should get a call from me soon (if not before you read this).
and of course i cant come on and not post pictures!
..lining up for lunch (backwards day):
..superhero day!
...my sidekicks :)
...
crazy utensil breakfast (i had to eat a banana and biscuit with a can opener) haha..
well, thats all for now! I miss and love you all! Thank you for your prayers!!
Hillary
So the first camp is officially over. This week was jam packed and fun filled with 3rd and 4th graders, and let me tell you, it was non-stop. I don't really know where to start summerizing. Well to start, the week was awesome. It was a smaller camp, so i only had 4 girls in my cabin. They were so great...Dayna, Grace, Hannah, and Kara. They were so much fun. The second night one girl got sick, but i handled it :) Basically they have chapel in the morning and night, with activities and free time during the day. The chapel speaker was great and all they kids really learned alot! He did illusions and ate fire, and really portrayed the message of the salvation well for them to understand! Two of my girls had given their lives to Christ last year, one had sometime before and one did this week! Now it's hard to understand if they truly understand what they are asking for, and most of them do get it. I am just praying that seeds were planted and the Lord takes that and helps them grow. One thing that was hard was that they try to figure EVERYTHING out. They just can't grasp how God was made, and that He actually wasn't, He always was. It doesn't make sense to them, or maybe to any of us. So it's hard trying to tell them you just have to have faith and believe it. For the whole week, 23 kids confessed to have asked Jesus into their hearts for the first time! Praise God!
There was also a lot of fun things that went on this week. We had backwards day, which was a lot of fun! We also had Superhero day, in which i was Catwoman. We had all the superhero's battle at the end of the day. We had a group of guys that won! It is so nice to have no campers here. The camp is like a ghost town, but it is so nice to just sit, and sleep or read and rest. Today, if the sun stays out, the staff is going hiking and for a dinner picnic. Then we are going to watch planet earth..in which i am super excited for :)
I learned alot this week. I learned to have energy when i didn't feel like it. I learned it wasn't about me. There were time when i just wanted to be alone, but had to remind myself, "You are here right here right now, and have to give all you've got." It is amazing how God works, and can teach you so much, even though your focus can be elsewhere. Even when i was selfish and only thinking of myself, God worked. God is still faithful. He is still powerful, holy, and sovereign. It is so nice to be away from the distractions of the world. I love just being outside and with these same people, and watching them grow and seeing how God is working in them. It has been such an awesome time. Tomorrow 5th and 6th graders come, and i think i am ready for another week. I know the Lord has control, and I am trusting in His power.
I Cor. 9:19-23
"For though I am free from all men, i have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that i might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that i might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that i might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that i might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that i might by all means save some. Now this i do for the gospel's sake, that i may be partaker of it with you."
I miss everyone not here with me. Just a few shoutouts:
Holly- I just wrote you pretty much a book last night of my time here so you may get that soon :)
Hope- Girl i miss you! i hope you are safe and having an awesome time in Ukraine. I am reading the updates! Thank you for your letters!
Jan- Thank you for your's and neily's letters! it is so good to hear what is goin on back home.
Grandma- Thank you for your letters!! i am sorry i haven't had the chance to talk to you. I am loving my time here, and miss you both! i am glad to hear grandpa got to hit golf balls!! I love you so much and will talk to you soon!!
G-Dub- ya smart idea, we don't need umbrellas here, you definitely just walk in the rain :) Miss you bud!
Dad and Beth- you should get a call from me soon (if not before you read this).
and of course i cant come on and not post pictures!
..lining up for lunch (backwards day):
..superhero day!
...my sidekicks :)
...crazy utensil breakfast (i had to eat a banana and biscuit with a can opener) haha..
well, thats all for now! I miss and love you all! Thank you for your prayers!!
Hillary
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Double Time.
So yes, this is my second blog in the same day, but hey, that's ok. Except this time i have pictures. Today some of the counselors went on a hike to Trinity Falls. This may have been my favorite day so far. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think as i notice the great bond between the counselors, outtings with them are even better. The one exciting thing about the hike is that the water is absolutely FREEZING (maybe 34 degrees), and you can't go and not go in! So, at a point in the waterfall, everyone toughens up and jumps in (well maybe were not that brave, cuz we just ssllooowlly walked in :) It was so much fun!! I captured some fun pictures!
This is my friend Kim-she helps in the kitchen.
...
...
...
...
Right when we got back to camp, the weather changed. There is now thunder, lightning, and rain. I hope it clears up by tonight, because we are hoping to have a bonfire.
Another highlight of today was the practice of singing chapel songs! it was so fun just being crazy and having fun with handmotions, but at the same time worshipping our Savior. One song i personally like is "I'm Trading My Sorrows". "I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame, I'm laying them down, for the joy of the Lord". Love it!! I also really like the song "Worthy of Praise". The song names all these names of the Lord, and I think it is so powerful in describing who He is and how amazing He is. "He is Lord of Lords, He is King of Kings, He is Mighty God, Lord of Everything, He is Emmanuel, He is the Great I AM, He's My Prince of Peace, who is the Lamb, He's the Living God, He's my Saving Grace, He will reign forever, He is Ancient of Days, He is the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend, He is my Prince of Peace, and I will live my life for Him." Sooo goood!
That is pretty much it for now. Side note, i have been drinking alot of cinnamon apple tea.
love.
hillary
This is my friend Kim-she helps in the kitchen.
...
...
...
...
Right when we got back to camp, the weather changed. There is now thunder, lightning, and rain. I hope it clears up by tonight, because we are hoping to have a bonfire.
Another highlight of today was the practice of singing chapel songs! it was so fun just being crazy and having fun with handmotions, but at the same time worshipping our Savior. One song i personally like is "I'm Trading My Sorrows". "I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame, I'm laying them down, for the joy of the Lord". Love it!! I also really like the song "Worthy of Praise". The song names all these names of the Lord, and I think it is so powerful in describing who He is and how amazing He is. "He is Lord of Lords, He is King of Kings, He is Mighty God, Lord of Everything, He is Emmanuel, He is the Great I AM, He's My Prince of Peace, who is the Lamb, He's the Living God, He's my Saving Grace, He will reign forever, He is Ancient of Days, He is the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend, He is my Prince of Peace, and I will live my life for Him." Sooo goood!
That is pretty much it for now. Side note, i have been drinking alot of cinnamon apple tea.
love.
hillary
One week later.
So i have been in Montana for a week now. The time has flown by sooo fast. I can not believe it. Today we only had to work half day, so free time til about 10 am tomorrow. It is so nice just to be able to hang out with the other staff and do anything, or nothing at all. I think we are all going on a hike to Trinity Falls, which is a waterfall (obviously), then later tonight we are going to have a bonfire and probably some worship.
I have so blessed by this summer staff. It is so amazing to watch and hear everyone's different stories. Yesterday we all shared what God had been teaching us over the past year. It was so encouraging to hear everyone's struggles, as well as how God has followed through and taught them and proven Himself faithful(though He doesn't have to; no matter what He is). I could really sense the Lord, and the desire in the hearts of this staff to serve Him. We are all in the same place, not really knowing what the summer holds, but we are earnestly begging for God to work, to save many, and for Him to be glorified.
Our verse has been this:
Acts 26:18 "I want You to open their eyes, so they will turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins will be forgiven, and by faith in Me they will become part of God's holy people."
sorry i have no new pictures; many some will come soon!
Please keep us in your prayers and 3rd and 4th graders come this week! I can't wait.
hillary
I have so blessed by this summer staff. It is so amazing to watch and hear everyone's different stories. Yesterday we all shared what God had been teaching us over the past year. It was so encouraging to hear everyone's struggles, as well as how God has followed through and taught them and proven Himself faithful(though He doesn't have to; no matter what He is). I could really sense the Lord, and the desire in the hearts of this staff to serve Him. We are all in the same place, not really knowing what the summer holds, but we are earnestly begging for God to work, to save many, and for Him to be glorified.
Our verse has been this:
Acts 26:18 "I want You to open their eyes, so they will turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins will be forgiven, and by faith in Me they will become part of God's holy people."
sorry i have no new pictures; many some will come soon!
Please keep us in your prayers and 3rd and 4th graders come this week! I can't wait.
hillary
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My prayer.
Father, I want to stand as close to the cross as I possibly can, because it's harder for me to be arrogant when I'm there.
Monday, June 8, 2009
montana. montana. montana.
Hello! Well i have been in Montana for a few days now, and i love it! i am still trying to get settled, but it has been adventurous so far! when i arrived yesterday it was raining and somewhat snowing. 
. Last night, us girl counselors went on a walk, and this is what came of it :) attemp #5: 
. then today we hiked up to some waterfalls and "bear caves". It was still raining, but so much fun. 
as you can see, it has been fun so far. One thing that is important is to drink lots and lots of water. The water is sooo fresh up here, and i LOVE it! here is where it comes from :)
i miss everyone so much!
talk to ya'll soon!
hillary
. Last night, us girl counselors went on a walk, and this is what came of it :) attemp #5: 
. then today we hiked up to some waterfalls and "bear caves". It was still raining, but so much fun. 
as you can see, it has been fun so far. One thing that is important is to drink lots and lots of water. The water is sooo fresh up here, and i LOVE it! here is where it comes from :)
i miss everyone so much!
talk to ya'll soon!
hillary
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
it happens.
So today my purse broke. But it's not just your normal purse. This bag holds everything I need. My purse always seems to weigh more than the average girl's does. But i like to be prepared. 
I then come to the conclusion i shouldn't be surprised that it breaks..I unloaded my purse and it sure was filled, probably with some things I don't really need. Let's see it had my Bible and my journal (both important), 2 packs of gum (hey, you may want a different kind), my wallet, keys, some chapsticks (maybe one too many), sunglasses, a random bracelet. Yes, it needed to be cleaned out. When will i get a new purse? I don't know. Maybe it's a hint to lighten my load. 
Aside from this, I have been reading more lately. (More as in my 2nd book of the summer). The book is called "The Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney. It is an easy read, but really challenging. One thing I found interesting was the difference between justification and sanctification, and how we (we'll I) mix up the two. Justification is objective-it is Christ's work for us. Sanctification is subjective, and it is Christ's work in us. Justification is a finished work. Nothing we do can add to our justification. We're never "more saved" or "more loved" by God. Our works do not add to the finished complete work of Jesus on the cross.
I was really convicted by this. Sometimes I believe the works I do will make God more/less pleased with me, when this isn't true. He will never love me less. His love is shown by His grace and work on the cross.
have a blessed rest of the week!
hillary
I then come to the conclusion i shouldn't be surprised that it breaks..I unloaded my purse and it sure was filled, probably with some things I don't really need. Let's see it had my Bible and my journal (both important), 2 packs of gum (hey, you may want a different kind), my wallet, keys, some chapsticks (maybe one too many), sunglasses, a random bracelet. Yes, it needed to be cleaned out. When will i get a new purse? I don't know. Maybe it's a hint to lighten my load. 
Aside from this, I have been reading more lately. (More as in my 2nd book of the summer). The book is called "The Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney. It is an easy read, but really challenging. One thing I found interesting was the difference between justification and sanctification, and how we (we'll I) mix up the two. Justification is objective-it is Christ's work for us. Sanctification is subjective, and it is Christ's work in us. Justification is a finished work. Nothing we do can add to our justification. We're never "more saved" or "more loved" by God. Our works do not add to the finished complete work of Jesus on the cross.
I was really convicted by this. Sometimes I believe the works I do will make God more/less pleased with me, when this isn't true. He will never love me less. His love is shown by His grace and work on the cross.
have a blessed rest of the week!
hillary
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