RFKC:Denver
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Work in progress
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Reflections on RFKC 2010
Last year was alot bigger of a challenge. There were kids that had more recently gone through alot and thus were reacting(strongly!) out of dealing with all the pain. For the most part, our room was not that hard. However, having campers on edge all around you raises the stress level of the whole camp. It is definitely one of those experiences that draws you closer to everyone else you are working with in a very unique way.
So, I went into camp this year sort of braced for the worst. Also, with having had some of the kids before(including one that I had the toughest time with last year), I was fully expecting this year to be tough. We start camp and realize that it will definitely be different.
Our room was definitely a difficult one(probably the most difficult one). As Jarred mentioned below, we definitely had 3 very alpha male boys that started hitting heads from the very start. However, the rest of camp was fairly at peace. Plus, with having alot more extra staff this year it made it alot less stressful.
However, as the week went on it felt like I had emotionally checked out. As far as I can tell there are 4 potential reasons that may have contributed to this.
- With camp being more peaceful, I didn't have to be completely in the moment in order to survive.
- I'd braced myself for the worse which meant that partly for my protection I was holding back from engaging with the kids.
- I knew the pain that was coming on Friday when you remove yourself from your awesome community of co-laborers and from doing something meaningful for a week into the hum-drumness of life.
- My relationship with God wasn't where it should have been, and I didn't make the effort to make it right before camp started.
That next day was a bit stressful having to deal with the results of the previous night. However, it pretty much went as well as can be expected. So, we get to our final event to get on the bus, "Have You Ever" and I get another opportunity to get my walls torn down.
My personality is such that I'm a bit more reserved. That plays out in alot of different ways. However at camp working with kids it can make it a bit more difficult. I don't have one of those personalities where kids are naturally drawn towards me. Also, I tend to be the one trying to keep kids behaving and on task so I'm the one yelling out, "5 minutes until we have to leave". So, that means that the kids usually gravitate towards my co-counselor this year Jarred(same as last year). I think it actually works out quite well for the kids since Jarred and I compliment each other pretty well and I feel like we work well together. However, it can be a bit hard emotionally. Esp. when you have kids insulting. Even though you are told to not take such things personally since the kids are just reacting out of their pain or from being told what to do it still is no fun.
So, back to "Have You Ever". So, after a point in the game where all the kids have left behind all the counselors Bas has the kids run back to their counselors. Jarred and I were separated a bit at this time so 3 of the kids go and run to Jarred. The other kid(the one that had been thinking it was all his fault) ran over to me. He then asked me why didn't anyone else run over to me and then made some sort of affirming statement about how he was glad that I was his counselor. And it just broke me with thankfulness that at least one of the kids appreciated me.
I love doing camp every year. In fact, I'm planning on doing it every year as long as TNL has camp for 3 reasons:
- It is a great opportunity to show God's love to the least of these.
- It is a great opportunity to build community with a group of people that you can rely on and trust and have a common vision.
- It is a great opportunity for God to show you more of Himself and more of yourself.
Matt
Saturday, July 10, 2010
After My Fourth
This was my fourth year at RFKC, three years as a counselor and this year as camp photographer. None of them have been the same. Yet at the end I always experience the same empty feeling. As I have pondered, meditated, and prayed over that feeling; I have come to a realization/revelation.
There is a period of months spent forming, building a team of people; a team with one goal, one passion before them. Then camp comes, the furnace that burns away all of our impurities. I say that because it is a trying experience to love on these kids, and not necessarily because these children are unlovable. Quite the contrary, actually; these kids are so easy to love it hurts. We pour all that we can and more into these kids, but we are all plagued by the same frustration. We want to do more; much more.
At camp as a team we empty ourselves collectively into these kids; we can lean on each other for support, for comfort, for strength. I don’t know exactly what makes it so intense, but my weeks at RFKC are the most intense things I have done. That is why I say that week is like a furnace. You will either get stronger as a person and a piece of the community, or you will get burned out. I am thankful that God has given me the heart to be a part of this wonderful event year after year.
Even so I am still left with feelings of emptiness and loneliness at the end of the week. I know it comes from being so tight with so many, through all that we experience for that length of time; and then coming home, away from that community. Am I sad, absolutely. But I am also truly joyful for what I have helped do this past week. Despite my aching heart, I know that God is smiling and proud of me, of all of us that went.Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Everybody's Birthday
Afterword, the children were led into the chapel that had been decorated especially for their party. Each table was strewn with glitter and each child had a personal crown that had been sewn especially for them. Balloons hung prolifically from the ceiling. As the children entered, there were many oooh's and ahh's and excitement could definitely be felt in the air. "Grandma" and "Grandpa" were seated in the corner with presents for each child to open. To watch the children open these boxes of presents, was to watch the very definition of thankfulness. I was reminded of the resiliency and simplicity of childhood. When your a child, the smallest of gestures brings a smile to your face.
There were many activities at the party, face - painting, three - legged races, football... The children were VERY creative with their faces. We were asked for everything from a sun and moon, to Darth Maul and "Scream". Many of the boys disappeared behind camo paint.
I've become quite close to a few of the children and it amazes me to see God's work throughout both the camp and their lives. I will never forget how unafraid these children are. During worship time, the children don't hesitate to get up and dance, howl, clap, sway and just express their general happiness through their bodies and the music. I'm here to show God's love to these children and just facilitate their having a good time, but I feel like the one who is being taught. - Kristen, general staff
Tuesday Night
The lesson by Patric included a game of human checkers and wrapping people in tinfoil. The band was JayJ Mattot and Dan Garza who inspired howling by the children during the songs and concluded with all of the kids holding hands and swaying to the music. They were delighted to meet the band and get thier autographs on posters.
At the end of the night I stepped outside and watched the sunset for a moment before going off to a leadership meeting. It was a good Tuesday night. I am grateful and humbled to be a part of a community that gives itself for the sake of these children.
Grace and peace to you.
Jared 'Uncle Mac' Mackey
Sweet sweet little girls....
~Jess