3rd in a Group :)

So, this is really behind but i felt like i could not ignore my last week at Camp Tekoa. My 4th week as a cit i was 3rd in a group, which means that i assisted two FGLs (family group Leaders) with a single group for the week's entirity. I was paired with two AMAZING counselors, Moises and Aislinn:) I feel like they need a little backgrounding themselves... Aislinn was a wonderful co-buddy. She was so reserved and laid back and i Learned from example not to sweat the small stuff, something that she has mastered. Moises, an international stafff form the Dominican Republic, spread the light of christ better than most anyone ive ever met. He was jovial 24/7, it was ridiculous how much patience he had! hahah i loved him for it though, and he made our group run smoothly. Now onto the Group...:))) I had middle school, and the were a true blessing. Consisiting of 9 girls and 6 boys the group had just about every social dynamic possible. There were the socialites, the introverts, the egocentrics, the perfectionist, the apparently deaf and distracted, the lizard hunter and one incredibly huge heart.
      At first, staying with the boys allt he time was hectic. I had o opportunity to withdraw, to save my sanity. But then through watching moises and how he dealt with the small issues that i had unknowingly transformed into mountains I began to relax, and understand how being an FGL worked. There is no clock work involved, the idealistic structure gives way when inconvienences arrive and through all the valleys you have to keep your head up.  The first two days i exhausted myself with petty things like "quit chasing that lizard" or " your bead isnt straight" and then i realized these kids are 11 years old. Yeah theyre gong into middle school and are approaching that change in maturity but they are STILL kids, who will ignore you, not hear you but in the end irrevocably love you. AND that if i build individual bonds with each of them they will respect me and i will respect them. So as the week progressed i formed with these campers and in turn they started listening, because they liked me and they wanted to make me happy. Its a beautiful cycle that just continues to grow as more love is added.

Leaving was difficult, saying goodbye to the campers was almost as hard as saying goodbye to the staff who i have formed unbelievable friendships with over the past 4 weeks. But somehow im comforted, knowing that next year without a doubt i will be driving up thomas road again, because camp tekoa has become home, my spiritual home, and this is just the begining.