Dear Friends,
I am (always, but now especially) in need of your prayers. Essentially, I reviewed my OU Financial Aid yesterday, and am getting no federal aid for this school year. Because I have moved off campus, my financial need has significantly decreased, resulting in the government's decision that I no longer will be needing their assistance to pay for school. This means no Work Study money is available to me, which means that suddenly and all at once, I am in need of a job. Both of the jobs I was planning to work this year and have worked in the past require Work Study. This is stressful. It is also stressful because I do not have a car, and am not optimistic that I will have one by the time I head to school. And now I have rent and bills due every month. Which means getting a job is non-negotiable, and transportation to an off-campus job is nearly impossible. Basically, I am coveting your prayers that the Lord will somehow open a door for this all to work out. I know that it is in His hands and this is all working together for His good, but I'm moving in 2 weeks and thought that my job was secure. Prayer also that I can truly leave this to the Lord and trust in His timing and His plan.
Closer and closer.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Smiles
One talent I have mastered is the ability to speak in a smiling voice without actually smiling. You wouldn't think this would be a very useful or necessary talent, but you would be wrong. And when you are tired and not very crazy about your job, which just so happens to require a nearly overexaggerated amount of enthusiasm (hence, excessive smiling and friendliness regardless of your mood), it can be an absolute lifesaver. Ask me to do it sometime, and you will be amazed.
I turned in my 2 weeks notice at work for the summer. Freedom time is coming, friends. Every morning brings us closer.
I turned in my 2 weeks notice at work for the summer. Freedom time is coming, friends. Every morning brings us closer.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
MCP Live
Sunday night the Sr. campers here at the ranch go crazy for about an hour at Morning Camp Party Live. They dance, sing silly camp songs, and play crazy/gross games. Counselors jump off the stage. Everyone goes to the skit explosion and dons ridiculous attire. Parts of MCP Live remind me of a rave. The lights flash. The music blares. It's euphoric. This week's MCP Live was exceptionally energetic. Probably the best MCP Live I've seen.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Camp Wabanna in 3s
This whole post
will be in
threes.
-I'm tired and I hear someone speaking into a megaphone at the pool telling children to get out.
-I went to New York this weekend. I went to Phantom of the Opera and the Little Mermaid in one day and under $70. Yes.
-This is commercial week. In Day Camp we have been having Rave parties to Techno music for the whole summer. I think our commercial will involve a Rave.
There is a long tradition involving a loving hate between Residential Camp and Day Camp. We were asked to do something at the Gong Talent Show, so Mr Curt decided to write a rap that completely dissed Res Camp. We get boo'd off stage. It was awesome.
From the Fourth of July in DC.
I have a video of the Wabanna Slip n Slide that occurs every other Wednesday, but I want you guys to see the Day Camp Commercial from two years ago. This is what we'll be doing this week. Something similar. The host, Nigel Cliffhanger, is Ben, who is over the Challenge Course.
It is Week 5! We shall be reunited soon.
Pray for Meredith's (my friend from high school and my roommate here) sister, Allison. She had a dirt bike accident and hit her head. It has begun to bleed and she might need to have brain surgery to let the blood drain. Pray that she doesn't have to have surgery because God is a Great Physician.
will be in
threes.
-I'm tired and I hear someone speaking into a megaphone at the pool telling children to get out.
-I went to New York this weekend. I went to Phantom of the Opera and the Little Mermaid in one day and under $70. Yes.
-This is commercial week. In Day Camp we have been having Rave parties to Techno music for the whole summer. I think our commercial will involve a Rave.
There is a long tradition involving a loving hate between Residential Camp and Day Camp. We were asked to do something at the Gong Talent Show, so Mr Curt decided to write a rap that completely dissed Res Camp. We get boo'd off stage. It was awesome.
From the Fourth of July in DC.
I have a video of the Wabanna Slip n Slide that occurs every other Wednesday, but I want you guys to see the Day Camp Commercial from two years ago. This is what we'll be doing this week. Something similar. The host, Nigel Cliffhanger, is Ben, who is over the Challenge Course.
It is Week 5! We shall be reunited soon.
Pray for Meredith's (my friend from high school and my roommate here) sister, Allison. She had a dirt bike accident and hit her head. It has begun to bleed and she might need to have brain surgery to let the blood drain. Pray that she doesn't have to have surgery because God is a Great Physician.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I wish with all my heart that I were not writing this and that I did not have the news I now bring to you. Although to you this news is of little personal consequence.
I do not recall a time in my life where my walk with Jesus has been as faithful and as filling as now, but it seems whenever we find ourselves in that position, God, who ordains all things, brings trials into our lives to show us our sinfulness and His mercy, thereby sanctifying us. The trial I am facing - that my family is facing - seems overwhelming. My older sister, Erica, who I deeply love, is turning her back on Jesus and the Gospel of salvation, which she knows to be true, and choosing to pursue her sin. It breaks my heart.
I know in all things that God is sovereign and that He is good to his children and will not let them fall out of His hands. That brings me comfort. What disturbs me is that I do not know if Erica is a child of God or not. She is either a believer who is so steeped in sin that she sees no way out or an unbeliever who has been playing the part. I hope for the former, but am afraid the latter is true. I do not want her to be a vessel of wrath to destruction, but a vessel of God's mercy.
Erica needs to see that sin has consequences. She left Tulsa today without the financial safety net of our parents. My parents have decided, after seeking counsel, to quit supporting her financially as long as she is unrepentant. I support them in their decision. My only fear is that Erica become bitter and turn to Adam, the guy she looks to for fulfilment, for her needs financially as well as emotionally, etc. That would be bad. She needs Jesus and only Jesus.
Erica is angry. Saturday night we talked with her as a family. We presented the gospel to her over and over again. She was unresponsive. It is the Lord who changes hearts. She says that she has no desire for the things of God. She does not think she will ever go to church again. She does not want us to talk to her about anything God related. Erica's heart is hard.
Pray that she see the seriousness of her sin and the mercy of Christ.
Pray that the Lord would soften her heart to the gospel.
Pray that my family and I would love her with the same love that Christ has for us.
Pray for my parents that they would not struggle with feeling like they failed at parenting.
Pray for me that the Holy Spirit would give me words to say to her. I don't know what to do except pray.
Pray that she repent.
"But for the Grace of God, there go I."
X,
Daniel
I do not recall a time in my life where my walk with Jesus has been as faithful and as filling as now, but it seems whenever we find ourselves in that position, God, who ordains all things, brings trials into our lives to show us our sinfulness and His mercy, thereby sanctifying us. The trial I am facing - that my family is facing - seems overwhelming. My older sister, Erica, who I deeply love, is turning her back on Jesus and the Gospel of salvation, which she knows to be true, and choosing to pursue her sin. It breaks my heart.
I know in all things that God is sovereign and that He is good to his children and will not let them fall out of His hands. That brings me comfort. What disturbs me is that I do not know if Erica is a child of God or not. She is either a believer who is so steeped in sin that she sees no way out or an unbeliever who has been playing the part. I hope for the former, but am afraid the latter is true. I do not want her to be a vessel of wrath to destruction, but a vessel of God's mercy.
Erica needs to see that sin has consequences. She left Tulsa today without the financial safety net of our parents. My parents have decided, after seeking counsel, to quit supporting her financially as long as she is unrepentant. I support them in their decision. My only fear is that Erica become bitter and turn to Adam, the guy she looks to for fulfilment, for her needs financially as well as emotionally, etc. That would be bad. She needs Jesus and only Jesus.
Erica is angry. Saturday night we talked with her as a family. We presented the gospel to her over and over again. She was unresponsive. It is the Lord who changes hearts. She says that she has no desire for the things of God. She does not think she will ever go to church again. She does not want us to talk to her about anything God related. Erica's heart is hard.
Pray that she see the seriousness of her sin and the mercy of Christ.
Pray that the Lord would soften her heart to the gospel.
Pray that my family and I would love her with the same love that Christ has for us.
Pray for my parents that they would not struggle with feeling like they failed at parenting.
Pray for me that the Holy Spirit would give me words to say to her. I don't know what to do except pray.
Pray that she repent.
"But for the Grace of God, there go I."
X,
Daniel
Sunday, July 5, 2009
It's My Turn to Travel
Hello Dear Friends,
Happy Independence Day (or as my British friend Jo insists on calling it, "Good Riddance Day")! I hope those of you in the US enjoyed the day and those outside remembered that the day was special. By the way, anyone else in Tulsa catch the fireworks "show" over the River? Pretty lame, after this happened. But the explosion was kind of cool.
Basically, I work. And I miss you. I said the word "fancy" the other day in an actual context and almost started wailing on the spot out of nostalgic associations with that fancy word. Meaning you, friends.
Something interesting is happening, and I'm becoming really good friends with the Assistant General Manager a ChickFilA, whose name is Christine. We get along well and she's really taken to me and confides a lot in me. I enjoy her so much. Her life has been hard, and continues to be hard, and my heart breaks for her daily. She has been broken by a lot of unloving people in her life, and the Lord has given me an incredible opportunity to show His love to her. Please be praying for Christine, her four children, and for me. Pray that she sees the love the Father has for her, and that somehow the Lord can show her favor and help her get her life turned back around. She is such a doll, and the more I learn her story, the more desperately I want to help to heal her wounds, and to point her into the arms of Jehovah Rafah.
In the morning I am departing with about 25 high school students from Redeemer and 5 other adult chaperones (the youth pastor, Mitch, and his wife, as well as Jacob Zoller and two others you do not know) to go to "Summer Conference, Jr.," as I like to affectionately refer to it. We're going down to Laguna Beach with Reformed Youth Ministries for their high school summer conference for the week. Pray for the youth (around 1500 students from around the country!), that their hearts will be opened and changed. Pray for us as leaders--we'll be leading small groups and meeting with students one-on-one throughout the week. I'm just very excited for our group to grow together and to see the Lord working in the lives of these students. Pray for my sister, Anna, who is trying hard to fit in with the semi-exclusive girls clique and has not felt welcomed by them yet. I hope this week will help her be able to strengthen her relationships with the other students. Pray for me. I have no idea what I am doing.
I will try to take some videos and post them soon.
Immeasurable Love,
Katie
This is Ichabod. In the sand. At the Beach.
This is my parent's house, where I am spending my summer. I would like you all to come here sometime, please.
This is my cat, Lucy, on the back porch at the house. She's the best cat ever.
Happy Independence Day (or as my British friend Jo insists on calling it, "Good Riddance Day")! I hope those of you in the US enjoyed the day and those outside remembered that the day was special. By the way, anyone else in Tulsa catch the fireworks "show" over the River? Pretty lame, after this happened. But the explosion was kind of cool.
Basically, I work. And I miss you. I said the word "fancy" the other day in an actual context and almost started wailing on the spot out of nostalgic associations with that fancy word. Meaning you, friends.
Something interesting is happening, and I'm becoming really good friends with the Assistant General Manager a ChickFilA, whose name is Christine. We get along well and she's really taken to me and confides a lot in me. I enjoy her so much. Her life has been hard, and continues to be hard, and my heart breaks for her daily. She has been broken by a lot of unloving people in her life, and the Lord has given me an incredible opportunity to show His love to her. Please be praying for Christine, her four children, and for me. Pray that she sees the love the Father has for her, and that somehow the Lord can show her favor and help her get her life turned back around. She is such a doll, and the more I learn her story, the more desperately I want to help to heal her wounds, and to point her into the arms of Jehovah Rafah.
In the morning I am departing with about 25 high school students from Redeemer and 5 other adult chaperones (the youth pastor, Mitch, and his wife, as well as Jacob Zoller and two others you do not know) to go to "Summer Conference, Jr.," as I like to affectionately refer to it. We're going down to Laguna Beach with Reformed Youth Ministries for their high school summer conference for the week. Pray for the youth (around 1500 students from around the country!), that their hearts will be opened and changed. Pray for us as leaders--we'll be leading small groups and meeting with students one-on-one throughout the week. I'm just very excited for our group to grow together and to see the Lord working in the lives of these students. Pray for my sister, Anna, who is trying hard to fit in with the semi-exclusive girls clique and has not felt welcomed by them yet. I hope this week will help her be able to strengthen her relationships with the other students. Pray for me. I have no idea what I am doing.
I will try to take some videos and post them soon.
Immeasurable Love,
Katie
This is Ichabod. In the sand. At the Beach.
This is my parent's house, where I am spending my summer. I would like you all to come here sometime, please.
This is my cat, Lucy, on the back porch at the house. She's the best cat ever.
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