Training camp and first week

Sorry it has been so long since we were able to blog! Its been pretty crazy since we have been here.

Training camp- The training camp went well. We learned a lot about how to be a servant, how to share the gospel effectively to the the kids, spiritual safety and physical safety, and we had lots of AWESOME worship. <3 Got a lot of jobs done around the camp through the week as well.

Saturday- Saturday was a rest day. So we slept in till 11 which was glorious! Then we watched a movie upstairs. Helped out with the walk way some more, leveling the ground and such. Ate dinner and then saunaed. This time, Aelita and Janis pampered us a lot! We got coffee and salt rubbed all over us which helps your skin somehow and then we got massages from Aelita and then beat with leaves by Janis. Were gonna be really healthy by the time we get home!s

Sunday- Paige and I actually got to straighten our hair! It was the first time since we have got here. We drove to the church in Madona in our little bus(: Haha. Introduced ourselves in front of the church. Dustin spoke in English and Kristine translated for the sermon. He spoke about worship. I really enjoyed it. Went to lunch and then Paige, Alex and I went shopping for the food for dinner on Monday. The rest of the day we rested.

Monday- Today was a work day. But...... Paige, Becca, Alex, Unda and I accidentally slept in until 9 lol. Dustin and Thomas were out working by 6:30 with a packer right outside our door. Were not exactly how we slept through that. We got a lot done on the sidewalk today, although we have a lot left. I think they are planning on staying up till it gets done, and it doesn't really get dark except from like 1 to 2:30 at night, so they may get it done. Paige, Clarke and I cooked lunch today. It was quite disastrous Haha. We started cooking and realized we didn't have meat, so we changed our plans. It worked out fine we were just a little worried. We just kept rummaging through the cupboards and putting in whatever we could find. But it turned out pretty good! I mowed the ENTIRE lawn. It took like five hours. But it was fun! Imis told me I was really good at mowing the lawn because my last name is Grassman. He's special. I found this HUGE spider. There are pictures of it on Facebook. I was almost as big as the palm of my hand. Now, Imis and Paige and making dinner. Paige is “learning gooder English and learning how to cook by the second bester” -Imis.

Tuesday- This was the first day that camp started. The kids arrived at about 1 and we started playing games at 2. To be honest, time has never gone so slow ever... ever in my entire life. I asked what time it was at 330 thinking it was about 6 and about time for dinner. All of us leaders were so exhausted. Paige, Clarke and I had really no idea what to expect when the kids actually arrived. The need to entertain these kids at every second for 3 day like we were needing to do was an exhausting task to even think about. But we made it through the first day successfully.

Wednesday- We started the day with better attitudes and a better mind set then the previous day. When we came back from our leader meeting all the kids were already awake and running around, playing, and jumping on the trampoline. We also started the day with a group activity/exercise. We broke up into our color groups and we had to run around the lake and whoever finished first got to eat first. But we had to hold hands in a circle and run around the lake. It was interesting... After breakfast it was pouring and the whole camp went out to the field and played games. By the time we were done playing we were SOAKED. But it was a lot of fun! It did stop raining eventually and the kids insisted on swimming. It's crazy no matter the weather they still want to swim. Their little bodies will be shaking and their lips are blue but they still are jumping in the water! We also got to do the zip line, climbing wall, a nature walk and crafts. Along with worship and small group time. Needless to say by the time the day was over we were exhausted.

Thursday- This morning when we got done with our leaders meeting the kids were not awake, and not running around, they must have been more tired then the day before. We had worship and worship here is fun and crazy. We do all these songs that you dance to and all the kids go crazy. Today was just another day of entertaining kids, we got to do all the activities as the day before, but since it was the last night we stayed up later and did skits and a campfire with fireworks. And it was a night of hearts becoming believers!!:) God is good!

Friday- The last day of our first week of camp! It went so well! The hardest part was the language barrier. We had breakfast, free time, worship, and packed up all the kids stuff, and hung out until they left. When the bus came it was like freedom! Lol we were all very tired and were ready to relax. Thank goodness for weekends:)

P.S. If you want to look at some pictures check them out on Shelby's Facebook!!!

Shelby- Its been quite the adventure here in Latvia so far! Working lots, entertaining alot of kids, building relationships with the other interns and helpers, eating lots of good food... Its extremely exhausting.. every single part of it. Mind and Body. Its not always easy to have a good attitude when you are so tired and your body aches from going and going and going without much sleep or relaxation. We are all very sore after this first week of camp. There are times when we all struggle, when we don't want to have a good attitude, we don't want to be encouraging, we don't want to play games. All we want to do is sleep. It becomes a task to even climb the stairs to go to bed because my body is just so tired and aching. But through all of this is where we grow. These times are the times when our character is strengthened. These are the times when Jesus shows himself in the miracle that we made it through yet another day, completely and only by his strength alone. I could not be doing this if it wern't for exactly that, Jesus strength. God has really been teaching me something through all of this: dont worry about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next camp, or when I get back to the US. All I can handle is today, and that is all I need to worry about because God has everything under control and knows everything that will happen in the future. Its so easy to think constantly.. “I wonder if im gonna be able to get through tomorrow, I dont even have energy for toda.” But Hes got it covered. And that is the most reassuring thought that I try remind myself of constantly throughout the day. Latvia is good, God is great.

Clarke and imis- I was forced to type something.... not sure what to say. Im alive, just got done with the first camp and its harder to deal with children that dont know what you are saying. All I can say is prayer plz and send me monsters lol. And if your reading this last part its just so shelby and paige thought I wrote a lot and thats my blog.(Clarke) we had a lot of junk food this week but hast time to eat it all so camps was awesome and great I like watering. I childrens were nice and silent that wasnt so good but its fine a lot of them accepted christ. But I realy felt tired but when I and Lariks (clarke) went to our frat house energy went back to me. (Imis)

Paige- Well it has been good so far! It's crazy where ever you go culture is soooo different but you still can fellowship with people that love and serve the same God. Can't wait for camp to start!! So we can actually do what we came here to do. The people here are great... most of them think that they can't speak English but the more we are around them we find out that they really can speak well, they were just shy at first. I had a girl in my group this week that looked just like my sister Dani. And two of my girls accepted Christ!:) Missing everyone but looking forward to the weeks to come!:)