Expectedly Unexpected!

Camp life is always exciting.

     You really never know what is going to happen. I think that is what I love most about it. As a counselor, it manifested itself through the spur of the moment talks with campers that led to a personal spiritual decision. Possible a camper who has an attitude and causes you to miss the funniest game of the week. Or that camper that suddenly tells you she is not feeling good and you instinctively grab the trash can just in time to catch her vomit, that would have gone everywhere seeing as how she chose a top bunk. Then sitting out on the porch as you force her to drink sprite. Seriously, what kid doesn't like drinking soda? Apparently, there are a few. Yep, you just never know what is going to happen.
     Strangely enough, I have found that you find this phenomenon even more in the registrar position. Probably because you deal with a lot of people and people are unpredictable. Ya, I have heard some crazy things talking on the phone with parents.

"My child wanted coffee, can you give them these coffee and donuts?" 

"What is the code to see pictures?" (It is on the back of the paper we gave you ma'am, on the website, on emails, and on my voicemail. But, I understand that it is difficult to find.) 

"My child is terrified of sleeping on the top bunk. Can we reserve a bed?"

"My child has to have ice cream to take her morning medicine with."

"My child wants to request a cabin. Not a cabin-mate. No, she really wants a particular cabin, the one she had last year. Can you do that for us?" 

     Yep, some you love, some you never want to call again, and then some you hang up the phone asking, "what just happened?" I was pretty prepared for just about everything the night of registration, except for what really happened.
     Registration had gone well, it had some kinks but it went well. Jamie and I packed everything up brought to the office and began our Sunday evening ritual of inputting transactions, account reconciliation, report running and putting away every thing until next week. I knew it was going to be late night in the office but I had no idea how late! Naturally we began by making a pot of Coffee. A few minute into our venture we were greeted by a smiling face. A Camper Parent had wandered into the office and began to chat with us while waiting on her daughter. What happened next is hard do tell. It could be due to simple fact that it was past my bed time and I couldn't concentrate. It could be that the coffee hadn't kicked in, whatever it was, I am not sure. All I know is that by the end of the evening I was thinking, "What just happened?"

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today."-Mark Twain 

      From the moment she walked in, she had a smile on her face and perky voice. We smiled back and found out she was here to ask her daughter a question. We waited with her, making small talk until her daughter and her counselor walked into the room. For a few moments the mother talked to her daughter, then bragged on her and it was obvious that she really cared for her. The five of us sat in the office for about 5 minutes, chatting. Before long the camper and counselor had to leave to get back to the cabin. To be honest it was a neat experience for me, since the camper had been in my cabin last year. It was neat to see her again and see how she was doing.
      I can't remember exactly what happened next but I know I offered the mother some coffee, which she gratefully took as soon as she grabbed her coffee cup from the car. I feel like it was one of those moments in the movie, you know where the main characters are trying to hide something or do something important in secret and a unexpected visitor shows up but won't leave. The main characters smile, nod and join in the conversation while standing in front of whatever they are trying to hide. They engage the visitor so as not to bring on suspicion, yet they don't encourage more conversation. Every time they think the visitor is going to leave and starts walking towards the door, the visitor remembers something else they want to say. The main characters start relax every time the guest walks towards the door, but are jerked back into a state of worry when they realize they haven't really left. Throw in some diagrams written on scrap paper and you have our evening.
     She talked, we listened trying to type here and there. She took some coffee and talked some more. She drew a diagram and talked some more. Every once in a while we would think she was about to leave but nope, she had more to say. She was pleasant, a really nice lady. If I was more awake during that time I might have gleaned some wisdom from her chattering, but alas, I was in haze. By the time she did leave, I was in such a state that I didn't know when people were coming in going. All I knew was something strange had just happened.

Parents will never cease to throw me into shock...

Larry, Oh Larry!

     I love to travel. I always have. The excitement of the unknown. The people you meet, the sounds, the smells, the feeling of adventure. The best part of traveling is coming home. HOME. The most precious four letter word in the dictionary. It embodies everything I hold dear. Sadly, I had been home and now I was sitting in the airport ready to leave home.
     Little known fact about Kansas is that there are not a lot of direct flights coming and going. Which simply means connecting flights. My first flight had gone well. It was completely full and I didn't feel like sleeping (something I would regret later), but I made it to St. Louis, Missouri without a scratch. I was exhausted!! I was ready to drop on the spot and fall asleep. I mean I had been up since 5!! But I couldn't sleep just yet. I began to walk and found the board of outgoing flights. Gate 220. Perfect it's right in front of me. Now that I know where I have to be, I need lunch. So, I began to walk. There really wasn't much in this airport. Nothing like Atlanta or Dallas. There was a Dunkin Donuts and a Burger King. Neither sounded that great but I chose Burger King. The moment I got in line I regretted it. They aren't really known for their cleanliness. In fact, Burger King has never been that high in my regard. The only good thing I remember about it was losing my first tooth there. Ok, the only "Thing" I remember, skip the good. I lost it when I was about 6 or so, at the local Burger King as I bit into a chicken nugget. Anyways, I go and order the Chicken Strips, to which the waitress relied, "We are all out of Chicken Strips." *Sigh* Seriously!? All I want is to find some food, sit in a chair and sleep. "Ok, do you have the Chicken Sandwich?" The waitress yells back to the other staff, "Chicken Sandwich" Go figure. They have the sandwich that is a few dollars extra! Whatever, lets just get my food and go. I get my food, my drink and go to my gate. Thank you Lord! There is a seat right by the gate! I sit, get comfortable and take a sip of my pop. Yes, I said POP. I'm from the West! I took a sip of pop and made a face. Great all carbonation!! I pick up all my stuff, and trot back to Burger King. I pour out the Dr. Pepper and fill it up with Coke. To be nice I stood and waited to tell them it was out. To which she snappingly replied there was Mr. Pibb on the other side. I'm tired so I'm cranky and I thought about being rude back but I'm a nice person and even though I think it I never say it so I smile and nod. I head back to my seat and go figure it was taken. So, I sat in the only empty spot, a bar stool. This bar stool was apparently made for very tall people because the seat was like a mile away from the bar! Take a deep breathe and just eat your sandwich Jack.
      Finally, a seat opened up. I was able to sit comfortably and wait for my flight. I pull out my ipad and try to connect to wifi, which didn't work. Fine, I'll just play a different game. I was so tired I didn't notice the time pass. All of the sudden, over the loud speaker I hear my name!!!

JACQUELYN DAVIS. JACQUELYN DAVIS IF YOU ARE GOING ON YOUR FLIGHT WITH US TO ORLANDO PLEASE COME TO GATE 210. JACQUELYN DAVIS PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO GATE 210.  

Heavens to Betsy!!!!! I quickly grab everything and run!!!! My heart was pounding and I was heavily breathing but I made it to gate 210 in time. The guy at the counter took my ticket and retorted, "Trying to miss your flight girl." I wanted to SMACK him! which is unlike me. but instead I politely explained that the board said gate 220. "You must have been looking at incoming flight." I wanted to say, "Sir, I have been flying an awful lot in my day and I know what I saw thank you very much." But I instead nodded and headed down the plank to the airplane. Funny thing about SouthWest airlines is that they line everyone up by numbers and let you go pick your seat! Who came up with that idea I have no idea. But as the last person on a almost full flight you can imagine my dilemma. So, I started walking down the aisle. nothing. nothing. notta. nothing. seat. Oh creep. nothing. nothing. nothing. another seat. and another creep. nothing. nothing. Oh a seat in-between an older couple. wellllll....is there anything else? Tiptoe look. nothing.
      "Excuse me sir" I notice a strange smell as I take my seat between a larger man and what seemed to be his wife? Well, so much for sleeping on this trip. "No you be nice." the older gentleman said sarcastically. I nicely chuckled and agreed. "Oh Larry!" Exclaimed the woman. "You better be nice." This could be a very interesting flight. Very interesting indeed.

"My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company." -Jane Austen 

          So there I found myself, smushed in-between a larger, what seemed to possible be, an older couple. I was absolutely exhausted. All I wanted to do was fall asleep. But, there is a phrase my pastor once gave and since he did has become a constant phrase in my family. "The ministry is People!" So, I tried to strike up a conversation. Unfortunately, the lady sitting beside me like to chat, and her, "Friend" liked to comment. It started by her asking me a bunch of questions about my life, which I was happy to answer when Larry sarcastically said, "How old are you, how many siblings do you have what's your favorite color. Leave her alone." I have to say it was amusing listening to the two of them throughout the flight. I found out that they had been married for 15+ years and had 6 children before the divorced. The wife remarried a "good" man according to Larry, who died several years ago. They both live in St. Louise and are best friends. They were now on their way to Florida to have a winter sabbatical with their kids. Now if that ain't strange I don't know what is.
 
   Larry had a seemingly cynical attitude about almost everything. He would more than likely challenge anything you said. Those time of people I definitely prefer to shy away from at times. But, God had other plans. To be honest I am not sure how it all started. Somehow I found myself in the middle of a biblical discussion with Larry. Suddenly I was listening intently as the man's voice changed as he explained how as an older man he came to know the Lord sitting in his living room chair. He said he didn't utter one word, but he knew. He knew he had accepted Christ and he had lifted his burdens. His voice soften as he described how tears fell down his face as he sat all alone in his dark living room. A few minutes passed as we exchanged beliefs and praises at what our God had done. I have to admit I sat shocked. He was a man, who at first I assumed we had nothing in common. Yet, we were brother and sister in Christ.
     After Larry shared his testimony I was able to share about what God was doing in my life and the burden I have of helping young believers understand the Bible and how to defend their faith. What a joy to be able to talk to a fellow believer you just met about what God is doing in your life. As the plane began to land and everyone prepared to exit the plane, Larry turned to me and said, "God bless you in what your doing, and I'm going to pray for a husband for you." 
     HAHA I don't know about the last part, but God bless you too Larry, wherever you are. 
   

A Typical Kyle Saturday

The excitement was almost too much to stand a week before summer camp! Could you blame me!! I had been working 6 months for this moment. Learning new skills and preparing for a wave of campers to flood the camp and learn about God possible for the first time. But there was something possibly even more exciting. MY BROTHERS WERE COMING!! For the whole summer, since who knows when, I would get to hang out with my brothers. Yep, it was going to be a good summer.
     The moment they arrived it was just as I suspected. My brothers and I hung out, ate pizza, watched movies and swam in the lake. The next day, as I worked in the office they helped Juan until it was time to begin counselor training. The excitement just built as old friends and new friends all began to arrive. This would be our Summer Camp Team! I remember feeling blessed, leaning up against the chapel wall, a brother on either side, just watching as people arrived. Suddenly, the door opened and stepped in one person. One person who would change the entire summer. Little did I know this person would steal the most important thing in my summer experience: MY BROTHER! In stepped Kyle Ashcraft.
      The moment he walked in the door, Hunter leaned over to me and said, "Hey, he looks like our cousin Kyle!" and that was it. I had lost my brother for the summer. For the rest of training week, wherever Kyle was, there was Hunter and visa versa. Our first week of camp came around and was about to end. I was super excited because the weekend meant I could hang out with my brothers! But my dreams were crushed when at a meal my brother said, "I think Hunter P. and I are going to the beach with Kyle this weekend." WHAAAATTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! I am pretty sure smoke came flying out of my ears. You have got to be kidding me. Yep, the summer wasn't what I expected. In fact a typical Kyle weekend went something like this:

Typical Saturday:

• Wake up to a brother walking into my little trailer looking for food or doing devos. 
• Finding some coffee that Hunter Pardue probably made as the "Hunters" talk about KYLE.
• Swim the lake as the "Hunters" talk about their evening plans with KYLE.
• Find some lunch as the "Hunters" are texting KYLE.
• Get Pelicans as the "Hunters" take pictures of themselves to send to, you guessed it, KYLE.
• Get dropped off at home so the "Hunters" can go spend the night with KYLE.

I had lost the battle. Yep, my brother had a new best friend. All those plans for my weekends with my brothers were pretty much foiled. Don't get me wrong I had a great summer! I have some great memories with Hunter and Caleb, they just all seem to have something to do with Hunter, Hunter and Kyle and what has come to be known as the bromance triangle.  

So were my Summer Weekends......

#bromancetriangle