holy community.

Once upon a time I had a blog that I severely neglected.

A few weeks ago, we had our house trips.  The first week was "Staycation", where we just did fun things around the city.  We painted pottery, saw a movie at an outdoor theater, took a tour of a chocolate factory, went rock climbing, and so many other good things.  It was all-around a really good time.

But the week after Staycation was even better.  By far.
Half of us went to Camp Barnabas, a summer camp for people of all ages with special needs.  We were volunteers in the cabins, paired up with a camper to be with them for the week, to help them with whatever they need, take them where they need to go - to facilitate an awesome experience for people who otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity to go to summer camp.

I wasn't expecting a whole lot when we left for camp, but man, it was so much more than I ever could have expected.

I was assigned to work with a boys cabin, which allowed a much-needed break from this estrogen amoeba known as the Shelterwood Girls House.  There were seven other volunteers, a cabin dad, and two staffers.  But by the end of the week, we were like family.  No exaggeration, it felt like we had all known each other forever.

We were forced to work as a team, to push through all of the hard things that come with working with campers with special needs, to encourage one another, to come alongside those who needed encouragement and support.  Each night we came together and had "family time" after the campers were in bed.  We talked about how we saw God working throughout the day.  We prayed for the campers.  We prayed for the staff.  We prayed for one another.  We prayed over one another.  We shared in a way that glorified God and brought us together.

This time is essential to creating the kind of community necessary to thrive in an environment like this one at Shelterwood.  I left Barnabas with a new vision for what things could be like here.  A vision for what this group of Big Sisters could be, that would allow us to be better Bigs who are closer to the Lord and closer to one another.  It was a beautiful picture.  God did not create us to be alone.

In a week and a half, I get to visit friends in Chicago, and then spend a day at Lake Lundgren, and then a few more days with my family in Green Bay.  I'm excited, to say the least.  I am so in need of a break.  I am need of time.  Time driving.  Time in conversation.  Time in memories.  Time to process.

On a completely unrelated note, feet are weird.  Just look at them.
And that's how I know it's time to go to sleep.