Right now I am at GKTW sitting in the Welcome Hut. I get to flick some switches to let the cross bar up and open the gate. I'm in here from 6-9, so I thought I'd bring my computer and catch up on some things. Smart, I know. :)
I'm still doing my regular schedule of volunteering at GKTW, Kids Club, and going to FBC Kissimmee each week. Some new things I've volunteered for is the La Ti Da Spa-Here, children can get airbrush tattoos, fingernails painted, face painted, and their makeup done. It's really fun! Pirates and Princesses-At the pool there is a huge pirate ship which serves as a stage. Here, the children can decide to either be a pirate or a princess. They are given certificates, tiaras, swords, tattoos, and makeup. They are then presented as Princess _____ or Pirate ____ from the stage. Then, of course, there is a big dance party. Cyle and I were lucky enough to get to be characters that night. We were both pirates. It was reallly hot! I have pictures, don't worry. It was quite funny. One morning I was a gift giver. Everyday the families receive a gift delivered to their villa. So I, along with 3 other volunteers, went door to door delivering Pictureka puzzles. Also, if a family checked out that day, we would go in after they left and restock the fridge with cokes, waters, and a cake. We would also leave a big gift bag filled with all kinds of toys. I've gotten to where I enjoy doing the Welcome Hut just to have some time to read, write letters, and just be alone for a little while. Haha!
Other than that, everything has been pretty much the same. For the most part, my team is getting along. We've had some problems, but we're trying to handle it all like adults. Thankfully, I don't really know much about it because I'm at GKTW all day, which I am perfectly fine with!
God is continually revealing Himself to me. Yes, He has brought some hard times/days my way, but I have learned to simply "let go and let God". If something is meant to happen, then it will. If it wasn't meant to happen, then it's for the best. Some days I've had to tell Satan to get behind me. He tries to distract me, steal my joy, and fill me with negative thoughts/attitudes. I know I'm working for the Lord and growing closer to Him when Satan tries harder to bring me down.
So I just ask that you continue to pray for me and my team. We've been here for a month now and we're getting tired. Pray for the fire in our hearts to keep growing and doesn't go out and for strength. Some of my teammates are stuggling with being homesick. I'm sure that's hard for them. Thankfully, I was exposed to being gone a lot growing up. Yes, I miss my family and my house, but I know it'll all be there when I return. Like Moma said, "As long as you can call home, you'll be okay." I'm pretty sure she meant that for herself rather than for me. She misses her baby girl. :)
Love and miss y'all!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
He must become greater, I must become less.
Saturday I got to help with Mayor Clayton's birthday party. I got to cut and serve the cake. There was a big section of games like life-size checkers, Jenga, and Dominoes. There was a face painting table, the cake, and dippin dots ice cream. Everyone hid outside when we got word that Mayor was coming up, then we all jumped out and yelled surprise! Anyone who has a birthday in this month got to go up on stage, tell everyone their name and age, and we sung Happy Birthday to them. Then we had a big dance party in the avenue. It was lots of fun!
Sunday I was at FBC Kissimmee for 3 services helping with the children. For the first 2 services I was with the babies. This morning was my first encounter with a fussy baby boy who drank a little bit of his bottle, then decided to spew it all back up later all over me. Yum... :( Then I went to a 1-3rd grade classroom for the 3rd service. Then I got back to camp and took a looooong nap!
Monday was our day off, so some of us went to a nearby neighboorhood and played tennis (not for long though, it was SO hot!) then went swimming. That night the whole team went out to eat then some of us went to the outlet mall.
Tuesday was Kids Club. My partner, Allie had to work so I was by myself. A youth group was here from West Virgina so I had 2 youth helping me that day. However, I didn't need them because we didn't have any kids that day! It was sad. I got some sun though! :)
Tuesday night is our worship time. Mr. Brian (our supervisor's husband) led us in our devotional that night. It was really good. Then he got up walked outside and said we were going to be doing something different tonight. He came back in with 2 coolers of bottled water, 5 buckets, and a pile of wash cloths. We talked about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Mr. Brian told us that while we are here serving Christ and others, we are also here to serve each other, our teammates. So he let us do whatever we fell led to do. I washed feet and had my feet washed. This experience was absolutely amazing. Even though I truly dislike feet, I would have much rather washed than to be washed. It's such a humbling experience. I enjoyed it thouroughly.
Wednesday Cyle and I tagged along with the CA Team to a senior citizens home for a performance. I was a fill in puppetteer. It went well the first time, then they called me back to do another one...Let me back up and tell you about the stage that they use. It's made out of pvc pipe and black cloth. There are 2 levels so that people can be sitting in front and do puppets and also people can be standing in the back to do puppets without being seen. I was in the front being the paws of a lion puppet. We were almost through with the song when *WHAM*! The pipes holding up the curtain infront of us came apart and fell to the ground. I felt like a deer in headlights! Of course, I was mortified, but everyone else thought it was so funny, including the people on the CA Team. I think that was the beginning and end of my puppet career.
That night we all went to the Southern Baptist Convention. Never thought I'd say that. It wasn't too bad. We weren't there for long. Casting Crowns performed a few songs and we got to be right in front of the stage for that, so that was really cool. However, we did receive some bad news that night. On my team, there are 5 people from Tennessee. There is also a traveling team in Maine of 4 people all from Tennessee. We got word that the Maine team had been in a car accident that night. One member passed away and the rest were okay, but in the hospital. It was really hard on our TN people. This was also a wake up call for me. Life is so precious and the Lord can take us at any time. We need to treasure what we have right now. I remembered that night that when I was choosing my 3 places to serve this summer that Maine traveling team was one of my choices. I could have been there. Then I think about right now and that basically everyday I am driving a huge 12 passenger van, filled with my teammates, driving through crazy Orlando traffic. I am safe when I drive that thing, but it's the other drivers that scare me. Just the other day another large van cut me off, and if I hadn't had slammed on my brakes to let them in, it could have ended badly. Please, continue to pray for us and remember those from Tennessee who were in the wreck. I can only imagine the pain their family and friends are going through right now.
Love and miss you all!
Sunday I was at FBC Kissimmee for 3 services helping with the children. For the first 2 services I was with the babies. This morning was my first encounter with a fussy baby boy who drank a little bit of his bottle, then decided to spew it all back up later all over me. Yum... :( Then I went to a 1-3rd grade classroom for the 3rd service. Then I got back to camp and took a looooong nap!
Monday was our day off, so some of us went to a nearby neighboorhood and played tennis (not for long though, it was SO hot!) then went swimming. That night the whole team went out to eat then some of us went to the outlet mall.
Tuesday was Kids Club. My partner, Allie had to work so I was by myself. A youth group was here from West Virgina so I had 2 youth helping me that day. However, I didn't need them because we didn't have any kids that day! It was sad. I got some sun though! :)
Tuesday night is our worship time. Mr. Brian (our supervisor's husband) led us in our devotional that night. It was really good. Then he got up walked outside and said we were going to be doing something different tonight. He came back in with 2 coolers of bottled water, 5 buckets, and a pile of wash cloths. We talked about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Mr. Brian told us that while we are here serving Christ and others, we are also here to serve each other, our teammates. So he let us do whatever we fell led to do. I washed feet and had my feet washed. This experience was absolutely amazing. Even though I truly dislike feet, I would have much rather washed than to be washed. It's such a humbling experience. I enjoyed it thouroughly.
Wednesday Cyle and I tagged along with the CA Team to a senior citizens home for a performance. I was a fill in puppetteer. It went well the first time, then they called me back to do another one...Let me back up and tell you about the stage that they use. It's made out of pvc pipe and black cloth. There are 2 levels so that people can be sitting in front and do puppets and also people can be standing in the back to do puppets without being seen. I was in the front being the paws of a lion puppet. We were almost through with the song when *WHAM*! The pipes holding up the curtain infront of us came apart and fell to the ground. I felt like a deer in headlights! Of course, I was mortified, but everyone else thought it was so funny, including the people on the CA Team. I think that was the beginning and end of my puppet career.
That night we all went to the Southern Baptist Convention. Never thought I'd say that. It wasn't too bad. We weren't there for long. Casting Crowns performed a few songs and we got to be right in front of the stage for that, so that was really cool. However, we did receive some bad news that night. On my team, there are 5 people from Tennessee. There is also a traveling team in Maine of 4 people all from Tennessee. We got word that the Maine team had been in a car accident that night. One member passed away and the rest were okay, but in the hospital. It was really hard on our TN people. This was also a wake up call for me. Life is so precious and the Lord can take us at any time. We need to treasure what we have right now. I remembered that night that when I was choosing my 3 places to serve this summer that Maine traveling team was one of my choices. I could have been there. Then I think about right now and that basically everyday I am driving a huge 12 passenger van, filled with my teammates, driving through crazy Orlando traffic. I am safe when I drive that thing, but it's the other drivers that scare me. Just the other day another large van cut me off, and if I hadn't had slammed on my brakes to let them in, it could have ended badly. Please, continue to pray for us and remember those from Tennessee who were in the wreck. I can only imagine the pain their family and friends are going through right now.
Love and miss you all!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Updates!
Let's see, what have I been doing since my last update?
Friday Barney came to GKTW. I was a scribe again, helping the photographer as she took pictures of the families.
Saturday I worked in the Spa. Kids can get airbrush tattoos, fingernails painted, and their makeup done. It was really cute.
Sunday I was a scribe again. We went to the Candyland Party. GKTW has the largest Candyland game in the world. So the kids played that, then we had a dance party in the street.
Monday was our day off so we went to the beach. It was glorious. We met a family while there and later the dad and daughter taught some of us how to surf. I can write that on my bucket list and check it off. It took me a few times, but I finally stood all the way up on the board. No, I don't have any pictures, you'll just have to take my word on it. However, the other people that were there can vouche for me. :)
Tuesday was our first Kids Club. Allie and I are partners and we work the Quality Inn Plaza pool. We got there and there was only 1 child in the pool and she was playing with her mom. As time passed, we were getting kind of down. I sent my supervisor, Mrs. Suzette, a text message telling her our predicament. She never wrote me back and a few minutes passed and more kids started showing up. So I wrote her again and told her nevermind. Later, Mrs. Suzette made her rounds to the different pools. She came and saw Allie and I at our pool. She asked me if I sent her 2 messages back to back. I told her I did and what they said. She said she only got the "nevermind" message because she was on the phone earlier with the woman from FBC Kissimmee who adopted me. Her name is Mrs. Betty. Mrs. Suzette was telling Mrs. Betty what all I had going on today and that it was our first Kids Club so to please be in prayer for me. Mrs. Betty asked Mrs. Suzette if we could pray right now for me, so they did. And as soon as Mrs. Suzette got off the phone, she got the "nevermind" message. Wow. Prayer is so powerful. It gave me chills when Mrs. Suzette told me that.
Wednesday I was a scribe for another photographer. That night I did Kids Night Out. I had a little girl, Kaitlyn. She's blind, but oh can she sing! We had a great night together.
Thursday morning we had Kids Club again. We had about 10 kids. Most of them are from England so we love hearing them talk. Then I went to work at GKTW and was in Amberville for a few hours. I got to drive a train around the building for some kids. That was about it, Amberville is not a very demanding job. After that, I got trained in photography. So I got to actually take pictures of the families myself at the Winter Wonderland Parade. I really enjoyed that.
Today, Friday, I worked the Carousel and will go back tonight to work at Katie's Kitchen. At the Carousel, I was talking to one mom. She was saying how much fun they were having and how magical GKTW is. I agreed and told her I was loving being there as well. She thanked me and told me that the volunteers really make this place enjoyable. That was the first time I heard from a family how much they appreciated us. So even though some days all I do is push a button or snap pictures, these families truly appreciate everything I do. That was such an encouragement to me today. I am so excited to see what else God has planned for me.
I am having an amazing time. Continue to pray for us! Miss and love you all!
Friday Barney came to GKTW. I was a scribe again, helping the photographer as she took pictures of the families.
Saturday I worked in the Spa. Kids can get airbrush tattoos, fingernails painted, and their makeup done. It was really cute.
Sunday I was a scribe again. We went to the Candyland Party. GKTW has the largest Candyland game in the world. So the kids played that, then we had a dance party in the street.
Monday was our day off so we went to the beach. It was glorious. We met a family while there and later the dad and daughter taught some of us how to surf. I can write that on my bucket list and check it off. It took me a few times, but I finally stood all the way up on the board. No, I don't have any pictures, you'll just have to take my word on it. However, the other people that were there can vouche for me. :)
Tuesday was our first Kids Club. Allie and I are partners and we work the Quality Inn Plaza pool. We got there and there was only 1 child in the pool and she was playing with her mom. As time passed, we were getting kind of down. I sent my supervisor, Mrs. Suzette, a text message telling her our predicament. She never wrote me back and a few minutes passed and more kids started showing up. So I wrote her again and told her nevermind. Later, Mrs. Suzette made her rounds to the different pools. She came and saw Allie and I at our pool. She asked me if I sent her 2 messages back to back. I told her I did and what they said. She said she only got the "nevermind" message because she was on the phone earlier with the woman from FBC Kissimmee who adopted me. Her name is Mrs. Betty. Mrs. Suzette was telling Mrs. Betty what all I had going on today and that it was our first Kids Club so to please be in prayer for me. Mrs. Betty asked Mrs. Suzette if we could pray right now for me, so they did. And as soon as Mrs. Suzette got off the phone, she got the "nevermind" message. Wow. Prayer is so powerful. It gave me chills when Mrs. Suzette told me that.
Wednesday I was a scribe for another photographer. That night I did Kids Night Out. I had a little girl, Kaitlyn. She's blind, but oh can she sing! We had a great night together.
Thursday morning we had Kids Club again. We had about 10 kids. Most of them are from England so we love hearing them talk. Then I went to work at GKTW and was in Amberville for a few hours. I got to drive a train around the building for some kids. That was about it, Amberville is not a very demanding job. After that, I got trained in photography. So I got to actually take pictures of the families myself at the Winter Wonderland Parade. I really enjoyed that.
Today, Friday, I worked the Carousel and will go back tonight to work at Katie's Kitchen. At the Carousel, I was talking to one mom. She was saying how much fun they were having and how magical GKTW is. I agreed and told her I was loving being there as well. She thanked me and told me that the volunteers really make this place enjoyable. That was the first time I heard from a family how much they appreciated us. So even though some days all I do is push a button or snap pictures, these families truly appreciate everything I do. That was such an encouragement to me today. I am so excited to see what else God has planned for me.
I am having an amazing time. Continue to pray for us! Miss and love you all!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Love it here.
Okay, so Thursdays at GKTW is Christmas. At 2:00 in the afternoon, Cyle and I set out the garland and such for the parade. It was BAD hot. Then around 3:00, the people told us we could leave and beat the rain. So we hopped on our bikes and right about the time we got out of the gates of GKTW, a monsoon came pouring down. We were completely soaked head to toe by the time we got back to camp. Yeah, next time, we're just going to sit our happy tails at GKTW.
That night we went back for Christmas. I was a scribe for the photographer. As the families came into the theater to meet Santa, I wrote down which picture numbers were for the famililes. Oh my goodness, seeing these kids with Santa was amazing. My face hurt by the time I left because I was smiling so much. I absolutely loved it! Santa was great, too. He talked with the kids and played with them. It was just simply amazing.
Today, our shift started at 8:00 a.m. I was a scribe again for Barney this time! He was really fun, too. After that I just stayed in the castle until my shift was over. That place is so much fun. There is a pillow maker. And at orientation, each wish child gets a small silver star. They bring it to the castle and write their name on it with a special pen (Sharpie). Then, they put it in this big treasure chest and the Star Fairy shows up on the screen, dives down in to the chest and gets their star. You can see her flying to the other screens around, then she places the star specifically in the sky. Each day a Gift Fairy comes to each Villa. After the child does their star, the Gift Fairy brings them their Star Passport. They bring their passport to the castle, scan it, and it shows them exactly where the Star Fairy put their star in the castle. (Note: GKTW has helped over 92,000 children.) And sure enough, on the wall or ceiling, their star is there and it will be there forever. So if the family ever comes back, they can go and find their star.
This place is truly magical. I am so blessed I get to see God everyday in these children's faces.
Love and miss you all!
That night we went back for Christmas. I was a scribe for the photographer. As the families came into the theater to meet Santa, I wrote down which picture numbers were for the famililes. Oh my goodness, seeing these kids with Santa was amazing. My face hurt by the time I left because I was smiling so much. I absolutely loved it! Santa was great, too. He talked with the kids and played with them. It was just simply amazing.
Today, our shift started at 8:00 a.m. I was a scribe again for Barney this time! He was really fun, too. After that I just stayed in the castle until my shift was over. That place is so much fun. There is a pillow maker. And at orientation, each wish child gets a small silver star. They bring it to the castle and write their name on it with a special pen (Sharpie). Then, they put it in this big treasure chest and the Star Fairy shows up on the screen, dives down in to the chest and gets their star. You can see her flying to the other screens around, then she places the star specifically in the sky. Each day a Gift Fairy comes to each Villa. After the child does their star, the Gift Fairy brings them their Star Passport. They bring their passport to the castle, scan it, and it shows them exactly where the Star Fairy put their star in the castle. (Note: GKTW has helped over 92,000 children.) And sure enough, on the wall or ceiling, their star is there and it will be there forever. So if the family ever comes back, they can go and find their star.
This place is truly magical. I am so blessed I get to see God everyday in these children's faces.
Love and miss you all!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Sunshine State
So I finally found a corner in my hall that will get one bar of internet service.
I arrived in Florida Wednesday safe and sound. There are 17 other people on my team and we are getting to know each other better as the days go by. I've only been here for 8 days, but it sure does seem like much longer. From Thursday until Sunday I've been doing orientation. It was for the whole state of Florida so all the summer missionaries stationed in Florida were here at the camp. It all went well, just listening to people speak, but I did learn some. :)
Thursday, before all the other missionaries got here, our team went to Downtown Disney. We were split into 2 groups and went on a scavenger hunt. It was lots of fun! My team won, of course. Haha. Our trophy was a toilet seat that had been decorated. Cute huh? We were proud of our seat though!
Me and Cyle Haulcomb are the only 2 from our whole team that will be working at Give Kids the World. Yesterday (Wednesday) was our first day. We were there at 8 a.m. for our first shift. Let me back up. See, our camp where we are staying is right down the road from GKTW. Vehicles are limited here at camp, so we suggested to our supervisor that we could just ride bicycles to work everyday. We went to Wal*Mart and the organization bought bikes for us to use (they are going to be a donation to the camp, can't take them home). So Tuesday Cyle and I were sitting at camp by ourselves because the rest of our team went for their orientation. We were really bored and decided to ride our bikes to Wal*Mart, which is just up the road. We did and it wasn't too bad. However, on the way back to camp, it had gotten reeeeally hot outside. We got back and just collapsed in the living room thinking maybe this whole bicycle thing wasn't a good idea. Yes, you can stop laughing now...Anywho, we rode our bikes to GKTW Wednesday morning stayed there until 11 doing horse rides. We were the people on either side of the horse with our arm over the child's leg, holding on to the sadle. We got to talk to the kids as we walked around. Seeing their faces light up when they got on the horse just melted my heart. They are so incredibley happy to be here. It was hot and I had to dodge a couple of poop piles after a while, but it was so much fun!
We came back to camp after that shift and rested. I went back at 5:30 that night for Kids Night Out. This is just for the kids and the volunteers, the parents get a night off. The volunteers, or angels as GKTW calls us, are partnered up with kids for the night. I had 2 brothers and we went and played putt-putt first. Then we all went to eat supper together. After supper we went to the theater for Village Idol. The kids could get up there and sing, dance, tell jokes, or just stand there; whatever they want to do, they do it. After everyone had a turn, all the contestants got back on stage to find out who the winner was. Of course, we knew that there wasn't going to be just one winner, but when the MC read the envelope and that "this was the first time in Village history that everyone is a winner!" the kids were smiling so big, hands went up in the air, and they were all just so excited that they were the Village Idols! It gave me goosebumps to see how happy they were.
This is going to be such an amazing summer. I am looking forward to all the things I'm going to get to do. I go in today from 2-4 & 6-9. Thursday nights are Christmas, every week. Santa and his elves come and they bring presents. This place is amazing.
This is my team.
This is my partner Cyle. We're the 2 Mississippians here!
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