Today was our 2nd day with the campers. I was NOT going to spend all day outside again because of my sun burn so I did volleyball in the morning, and basketball in the afternoon. BUT before all that happened something amazing happened. Before we go to the camp we have to first go to our church site to see our director, and our kids. We hung out there for awhile while the kids all arrived, some played games, and others colored. After that the kids loaded up the Union Gospel Mission's van, and we all went in our car to go to the sports camp. On the way we decided we NEEDED coffee so we stopped at a place called, Cutter's Coffee. After we ordered our drinks, and got them, the barista asked if we wanted any "mess up" drinks..and DUH, the answer was yes. So we got 3 free drinks, along with our drinks we ordered. SERIOUSLY brightened my whole morning. For all you other coffee lovers out there, you understand.
So while we were at the camps today I basically played what I call, "cry control". What I did was sit on the sidelines of the volleyball court, and basketball court and waited for kids that didn't wanna play, or that came out crying because they got hurt, or someone stole their ball from them etc. Let me tell yah somethin: having a 6 year old tell you why they are crying while they are crying is probably one of the best things in the world hahaha. It's absolutely precious. Although I love comforting them, I hate having to be authoritative when they do something mean, or wrong. It's easy for me to do that to kids I know, but with these kids, it almost hurts me to raise my voice to them. I made a lot of new little kiddie friends such as RayShawn, Lily, Brett, and a few others that I didn't get the name of (oops). It's crazy how fast they get attached to you. They really just love having you talking to them, and comforting them. OHHH, also in the morning I got to do some ASSESSMENTS on some of the Kindergartners. As a Social Worker, that is 80% of what I do. I was sooo stoked!! All I did was go through and made sure they could tell me the letters of the alphabet, and their sounds. It doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but practicing my engaging skills, and assessment skills is an awesome thing. Each day I'm working with the kids I'm always watching how I say things, what I say, trying to read their facial expressions etc. so that I can get use to working with kids, and actually using the things I'm learning in school.
My group (which is 18 kids) left the sports camp at 3 today. When we got back to our church site we got them a snack, and brought out games/coloring books for them to do while we waited for their parents to come get them. All the kids were gone around 4:45 so we cleaned up after them a bit. We actually didn't leave until almost 5:30 because we were having a great conversation with our director, Amber. She recently graduated with a B.A. in Ministry Training(I think that's what it's called). She's a really chill person, with a really great head on her shoulders. She comes from a biracial family that grew up in the inner city, and she shared a lot of cool things with us. Rural ministry (small town) vs. urban/inner city ministry is completely different. You have to go about it in different ways. She grew up with a mom that wanted her to see the different type of people, and cultures in the world so that she wouldn't grow up to be ignorant. The reason she is biracial is because her grandma is caucasian, and I do believe her grandpa was african american. Back then, that was a HUGE deal. A lot of people still look down upon it today, but she doesn't have any stereotypes about anything. She thinks that growing up in the family she did made her more open to things. She said, "The world is more than your back yard, get out of your bubble, or you'll become an ignorant person." That statement is COMPLETELY true. I'm grateful that I've gotten to see different parts of the world, and realize that there are more than just 2,000 white people in rural Wells, MN. There is no point in judging people because of their background, skin color, or heritage. I will probably take the things she said today far into my life. It was a real eye opener.
Amber also talked to us about what it's like to try, and teach these kids as much as they can while they have them in their program. She may have them all day, but it can get very hard sometimes to send them home at night knowing the home situations they might be going to. She, and whomever she is working with, try their best to teach them good morals, and what it's like to just be a good person. A lot of who you become is what kind of environment you grow up in. They try their best to do all they can while they are there, and when they leave, she just tries to think that she did all she could, and that God will take care of the rest. If you try to save everyone from the life they are in, then that is just you playing God, and putting way too much pressure on yourself. This was really good to hear because as a social worker I will deal with success, and failures. I need to realize I can only do so much, and if the person gets on the wrong path, then I can only do so much to help them. I really, really respect Amber as a person, and her perspectives.
Once we got home we ate supper, and I had to show Kathleen (our cook, and on staff nurse) my blisters on my shoulder (from my sun burn) because everyone was freaking out about them. Everyone was super sympathetic about the sun burn, but I didn't see it as a huge deal, but turns out it is a 3rd degree burn. I had to use legit burn cream, and my shoulders all wrapped up like I was in a fire. Hopefully it heals up all good without infections.
Tomorrow is our last day of camp, then Thursday is the 4th OF JULY!!! Weeeeeeee
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