"Heading for the royal family kids camp
headed for a lot of fun
It's great just knowing I'm a part of God's family
and playing under the sun
Swimming and a splashin' and a having good time
Grandma, grandpa, PMA and devotion
It's a great time
FOR THE GOOD NEWS
that God loves you!"
Well if you know the tune to that lovely little ditty…then Hi! We're practically family..
Tomorrow I head to church and head out to Royal Family Kids Camp for a week to be a counselor
[me and my RFKC tub…filled with games, decor, bath stuff, shoes, snacks, clorox wipes and of course..double shots]
This is my third year being a counselor. For those of you who don't know about Royal Family check out their website http://www.rfkc.org
The kiddos that come to this camp are mainly in the foster care system, in group homes, and have essentially had pretty rough lives.
They get the chance to come to camp for a week and have fun, archery, swimming, woodworking and all kinds of other stuff.
We have chapels, concerts, and of course Everybody's Birthday party (some of these kids never get to celebrate their birthday)
I'll have two girls and be with a buddy who will also have two girls.
[this is nicole…my nickle, my sister that God has blessed me with immensely. We're buddies this year at camp!]
We spend essentially 22 hours/ a day with the kids [including sleep] from the Monday morning to Friday morning.
And it can get rough. Now, don't get me wrong. It is AMAZINGLY fun. Running around, being silly, crafting, eating meals together, worshipping Jesus, attempting to catch fish.
But these kids have had tough lives. They've probably gone through more then I can imagine. And they can be a little rough because of that. They can be emotionally scarred, hurt and sometimes they want to talk and sometimes they act out. Sometimes they don't want to leave the room.
And that can make for a physically, emotionally and spiritually draining week.
So I would love some prayers! Prayers for God to strengthen me, to give me patience, to allow me to have a discerning ear.
And mainly?
To be present. With everything going on in my life. With the World Race, fundraising, looking for a job to pay my rent–it can be a lot.
I would love to just have the ability to be present for my girls, for Nicole and for her girls.
And of course, prayers for Friday. I was talking to Steven one of my route-mates [ stevenbuffington.theworldrace.org ] Watching the kids get back into their group home vans. Watching them go into homes that have no family.
It hurts.
I'll never forget my first year at camp. Turning around and looking at the back of the sanctuary while the kids were performing songs for their caregivers and seeing this line of guys, strong, manly, intense guys. And they all had their sunglasses on as tears streamed down their face.
I remember walking outside that year and one of my girls bolted out of her grouphome van and held me tight. Asked me not to leave. To not let her leave. At that moment I lost it. When I finally was able to get her back into the van I turned around and tears silenty flowed down my face as the overwhelming exhaustion crept in.
That is what Friday feels like.
And in the convo with Steven I came to the realization that next year?
I will probably have a lot of those "fridays".
I thank you in advance for your prayers and love.
remain in HIS love
Megs
[not only am I going to camp but my roommate Lisa goes to the camp based out of her church too, we are going the same week this year & this is all of our stuff ready to go!]
