T-Minus 3 Days

It's hard to believe that in 3 short days, I'll be leaving for Louisiana. I have such mixed emotions about it. I'm super excited to get to go serve, doing my favorite ministry, camp ministry. And I'm excited that I'm getting to serve the Lord in a new place, and be able to reach new kids. But then again, I'm nervous as heck. I'm going to a new place, where I don't know ANYONE, and no one knows me. I'm the outsider. Heck, I'll probably sound like a northerner to them. Lord knows I don't want them thinking I'm some Yankee. I'm nervous I won't like it, or they won't like me, or I'm going to such at it because it isn't Ba-Yo-Ca, that I'm so comfortable with. I'm nervous that I'll be so far from home that I can't just drive home and back in 2 hours. But through all of this, I know everything will be okay. When I first applied to Camp Ch-Yo-Ca, I thought, hey, this would be funny if I worked at a camp with almost the same name as the one I work at now. I wasn't even going to apply, I just mentioned it jokingly. Then I started thinking more and more about it, and finally decided to go for it. Come to find out, I had 1 week before my application had to be in. So I'm running around getting references, and mailing everything in. And then I waited. I honestly was surprised when I got the call. They sounded like they really liked what they were reading about me. But, from all my camp experience, I sounded good on paper, just hoped I did in person too. And then I played the waiting game again. I was told I'd know within a week. 3 and a half weeks later, I still hadn't heard. Daddy kept telling me to just stop waiting on it because it obviously wasn't going to happen. I let me hopes gets down, and I was starting to agree with him. Then I got the call one night. I was expecting them to tell me they decided they didn't want me. But when I heard. "We would like to have you this summer." I thought my heart was going to burst out of my mouth. I think it's just now starting to really hit me, that I'm going 10 hours away to work at a camp for a month..and then the day I get back, headed up to Ba-Yo-Ca for the rest of the summer. This summer, I even thought about not working at camp much so that I could have some time off...but then it was like God slammed me in the face and said "Hey! it's not all about you! Go do what you do best!" And that is what I'm going to try and do..my best. While I'm gone, I ask a few things of ya'll. Pray for all of us. Pray for Camp Ch-Yo-Ca and all the staff and counselors and camper that will be there this summer. Pray that we reach those kids and leave lasting, godly impression upon them. Pray for our safety and health, as we endure hot Louisiana summertime. Pray that our hearts are in the condition they need to be to be used as fully as possible, and that we all grow this summer. Pray also for Camp Ba-Yo-Ca. They have already begun some summer stuff, and I ask prayer for all of the staff, counselors and campers. It's going to be a jam packed summer for them, and I know how stressful it can get. I pray for them. I also ask prayer for myself. that I can handle everything, I can grow as a Christian and rely on God a lot more. That I do my best at whatever job I'm given. I have no idea what I'll be at Ch-Yo-Ca until I get there. Ba-Yo-Ca I'll be cooking, being a counselor and a staff member. I'm just going to be everywhere. I ask for strength. I will try and update as much as I can this summer. If I can't get on here, I'll send out mass texts. Here's to a summer for the Lord! -Alisha.