Volunteer Retreat Day 1

Today begins the volunteer retreat! I am excited yet unsure of what to expect. I am overjoyed that we get to be at camp shawnee for the retreat because something about this place feels like home, like I have been here for ever and that gives me comfort. Today I saw god all around camp, he just lives in everything here. The trees, the cabins, the dining hall, and all other places throughout camp. But the irony of this is that on Saturday we will be doing a devotion on Community. Now, community life has not been what I expected at all and has been much MUCH more difficult that I imagined it would be. I was currently reading through a Devotional (Jesus calling is the name of the devotional book) and a line stood out to me and said "the one thing you need is the one thing you can never lose: My presence with you." Now this, in a big way, speaks to me during this year of service because I am finding it difficult to really, fully, find Jesus' presence in my life. I feel alone at times and even though I'm living in a community with others, I don't feel like I'm in a community. So maybe the reason we got the community was so I could learn to first strengthen my relationship with Jesus and realize he is always around me, always with me and I just need to fully let him into my heart. Well I guess you and I will find out after my saturday blog post!

In other news, camp is doing well! The leaves are slowly starting to change over, so we can see fall is slowly approaching, it was a brisk 65 degrees today, I had to bust out the long sleeve shirt and shorts! But as I am at camp, everyone is slowly starting to get here, I'm seeing them start to file in for the event filled 3 days we are going to have. I am so excited to get closer with my house but also to see all the volunteers on the Cumberland Valley side (I am on the sandy valley side, I will give a better geography lesson of Kentucky soon I promise)! Its always fun to get together, have some good laughs, hear stories of how everyones service is going and get connected on a deeper level! I also like to see how the other valley is dealing with their own difficulties, what their perspective is and how I can utilize that in my situation. I am also beyond excited for everyone to see camp because it is seriously so amazing. Its such a large camp, it encompasses so much and it has so much pure beauty in it. I hope everyone likes camp. Savannah and I have worked very hard to clean all the buildings to make sure they are ready for these three days. I am so excited and I am very open to growing, learning and getting my relationship with Jesus strengthened this weekend!

I would also just like to say I miss and love my family, friends, girlfriend and I hope you all have a blessed day today! Also, enjoy this photo of Kara at the entrance of Camp Shawnee! Love you!

Thanks for trying on my CAP!

Until next time, Peace Love and Blessings!