I have just begun my first week of being on "Summer Ministries".  The first week i will be in raleigh working at a church called Northside Community Church.  They're having vbs for the week and we're helping them out.  Then on friday at 3:45 i fly out to California OMG.  I'm pumped.  Anyway...i'm on the team with three other people, Nathaniel, Matthew, and Leslie.  We got a little bored during our down time and the boys found some fun toys.  Here's proof.

The church

throwing axes for fun

still bored

scary man.  stay away from this one.

Thats all for now folks

oh wow oh wow oh wow

Two weeks of Camp Dixie Down...two to go.  Then its off to Raleigh for a week (make that popping sound in your cheek and go WOOOO).  haha.  Then its California for three weeks.  These past two weeks at camp have been great.  The first week was with beginner campers (ages 6-9).  That was so testing.  They listen to you well and stuff but they need you for everything.  They need you to tell them to to eat or they'll forget.  They need you to tell them to put on diapers (seriously) before they go to bed or they'll pee everywhere.  They need you for everything. 

Then this past week was Junior week (ages 9-11).  They were a little older obviously and didn't need the counselors quite as much to tell them to do certain things.  This varied with each kid.  But they we ran into attitudes everywhere.  Girls realizing that they can talk back and get away with it.  And we also ran into boy crazy girls.  I can remember liking boys when i was 11, so it was nothing out of the norm i guess.  So this week i did some of the music.  We did a total of about 5 songs a night.  The first two or three were usually done by a woman named Ms. Stacy.  She did some kiddie songs where you could dance little moves to them.  Then the worship team would get up there and do  a few more songs. We kinda mixed it up b/c some kids were still at the point that they needed the younger songs...and some were maturing and needed a little more.

I'm really excited about the week coming up.  We get to do songs i've been wanting to do but couldn't b/c the kids wouldn't understand them.  This next week is ages 12-14.  That sounds young, but these kids aren't stupid. 

So the week went well. ..... and then... I got home around 5 and decided to take a bath.  My family had left a few hours prior to go camping.  They didn't take my grandpa so he stayed home with Ellen, the woman that cares for him during the day time.  When i walked in the door at 5, they (Ellen and Grandpa) were eating pizza together and then just before i went to take a bath they were sitting down to watch a movie.  About 40 minutes later, i come out of the bathroom and Ellen is bent over grandpa saying "wake up pop".  So i come over to see why he isn't waking up.  He's breathing normally, but he's a little cold and isn't waking up at all.  Now....my grandpa is really deaf and has alzheimers...so i didn't know if it was a combination making him not wake up.  So i sit there for about three minutes calling his name and trying to lift his head etc.  Nothing is working.  Finally he opens his eyes but they barely open.  And he's trying to talk to us but its all coming out in a mumble.  Slurred speech.  I can't understand what he's saying.  I know that something isn't right, so i call dad.  I tell him whats up and he tells me to call 911.  I call, they come, they're idiots.  They tell my dad over the phone that they don't think anything is wrong with him even though he has slurred speech and can't stand on his own.  Fucking idiots.  Benson....uggh.  So i tell dad to ignore they're advice, he needs to go to the hospital...and not a hospital around here...one in raleigh.  So the people huff and puff a little but get him in the ambulance. 

My parents were still at the lake but were packing as quickly as they coudl, the lake is about 1 1/2 hours from raleigh.  So i follow the ambulance to wake med and they take me back and explain what's going on.  It was crazy.  They tell me they're treating it as a stroke and are doing a cat scan and chest x-rays etc.  When they wheel him into his little "section" he looks so helpless.  No shirt, wires everywhere, blank face, eyes closed.  It was rough.  When he starts to wake up, he still can't talk clearly...luckily his mind was fine besides the norm, he was still cracking jokes...just not speaking them clearly. 

My parents showed up around 9:30, then i drive my brothers home and my parents stay the night.  That's all i know thus far.

So...wow.

Life happens.

hmmm....would you be amused if aliens ripped the skies apart.

what's up yaaa'll

this summer begins tomorrow.

I go to camp dixie.  Beginner camp starts.  I'm a counselor.  Then its three more weeks at camp dixie.  After that it's one week at a camp in raleigh and then 3 weeks in california.  I just can't explain how Great God is.  "How Great Thou Art" is in my head.  Yeah.   A while back i felt God call me to stop doing music for a while and just trust that He would bring it back to me His way.  Just a month later, someone got up with me about doing the worship stuff for Camp Dixie and the camps following.  He is faithful.

So....after summer camps......

Hold your breath.....

I met this ministry team that is based out of South Africa who tours the US for a full year.  I was curious so i started talking to the man in charge and asking questions about what they do and all that jazz.  As i was talking to him he told me that they were short a female vocalist.....Side note: basically this team is a ministry team that uses the arts to minister to kids at schools and churches all over the US.  They also have a team in South Africa that does the same thing.  They do lots and lots of dancing...mostly hip hop, and then the incorporate drama.  While they dance and do their performance, they have a band that backs them up. 

k.   So...they don't have a female vocalist and need one.  So after much thought and prayer, i've decided to join.  Yes.  Like...this all happened pretty fast, but i'm feeling secure in the decision.  All of the loose ends in me are sort of summed up in this ministry.  Another side note: they usually take weeks to tell people if they are accepted (because you have to try out before you can join).  When i tried out...they sent me outside for about 10 minutes, and then brought me back in to say that they felt that i would be good for the team and that it would be good for me.  The parents weren't too thrilled at first, but they're warming up to the idea.  Right now i'm sending out letters and trying to raise funds for it.

I leave on August 29th...or right around there.  I'll be flown out along with 40 other participants to South Africa where we'll all train for 3 months for the ministry that will take place in the US for the rest of the year.  I'll be gone pretty much for a full year aside from the breaks here and there.  Please be in prayer.  This decision isn't the most comfortable decision, but sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zones and simply says "follow me".

I love you all.  Seriously.  Each and every one of you. 

I love you.

Currently Listening The Ringing Bell By Derek Webb see related

Sunday is the first day of camp.  YES.  I'm super excited.  The camp dixie crowd will be joined by a group of kids from florida, boone, and south africa.  Quite the mix.  I'm pretty anxious about the music.  The normal drummer, ross, won't be there, soooo it will be interesting.  May end up being straight acoustic with me, lafevers, and nathaniel.  I think that would be a cool change of pace....but i'm bias.  I'm excited for all my friends this summer.  Everyone is kinda doing their own thing, going different ways.  It's cool.  Nolan is in minnesota, melissa in is indiana, etc.  After camp weeks are over, i'll be heading to California for three weeks to do summer ministries.  Basically i'll just be a camp counselor in california and get paid to do it.  Heck yeah!  I need to get a tan.

Tonight, i'm going camping.  Kerr lake.  Oh yeah.  Me, brothers, grandpa, mom, dad, brothers friends, uncle, cousin, and tyler.  yay.  btw, tyler is going to be working at camp!  NO i didn't make him.  He asked me about it and then he applied and it all worked out from there.  This is exciting b/c i was sad about having to leave. 

I have no idea what will happen after summer.  I'm all set up to go to school.  I don't know.

I'm glad that i'll have the oppurtunity to be away from everything for 3 weeks in california...you know...away from parents telling you what to do with your future, away from friends...i know that sounds bad, but i think i need to be alone for a few weeks. 

You graduate high school and the first thing people say is "pick a school".  No one says, do you want to go to school?  Are you interested in school?  Just....pick a school...nothing further.  I think this is a mistake.  I don't think everyone is meant for school.  School isn't meant for everyone.  I understand it may make job hunting a bit easier in the long run... but this is all part of the big "American dream".  Get an education so you can get a good job and have a big house bla bla bla.  I'm not sure that that is for me. 

It's hard to know what you like doing, know what you're good at, know what you want to do for the rest of your life, and not be able to do it now b/c a few people think it would be safe to go to school first.  Four years isn't that much in the grand scheme of things....but it is a long time to spend doing something that isn't for you.  If i go to school, it will be because my parents want me to.  It won't be because i want to go and get a degree.  I just feel like if i'm going to go and spend their money, i should want to go.  I don't want them to spend money and me not even want to be there. 

Saying all this makes me think, you have the oppurtunity to go school, not everyone has that chance, you should take advantage of it.  But at the same time, i know what i want to do.  The sooner i don't have to think about school, the sooner i can get to it (the future that i desire).  School.  ugh.

If i decide not to go...i will def be kicked out, or atleast told to move out, get a job, and make it on my own.  Which is cool with me.

I would first like to say that i am currently sipping a wonderful cup of coffee.  One that makes me sink deeper into my chair....one that makes me happy.

Its a little weird that coffee just made me get passionate.  Maybe i should quit....coffee....not passion.  k

Second, i would like for everyone to go to the previous post and laugh with me and the random comments i got.  One about a high school trip, a random yeah, guitar?, and something about pickles and peanut butter.  Thanks guys.

Tomorrow i'm leaving to go to nashville.  Random, i know.  I'll be going with Mr. Tyler Hayes himself. lol.  I've never been to Nashville soooo i'm excited.  We're leaving wednesday morning staying all day thursday and then coming home friday night.  Tylers manager works there and soooo he's keeping up with his contacts by meeting up with them again.  I'm just along for the ride.  I'm really excited.  Hopefully i won't get sick or recieve two speeding tickets or somthing stupid like that. HA.