I haven't been on here for a long time but I feel like I should start it up again.

I spent the week at White Lake, my home away from home, the most amazing place on earth. I had an awesome time. It was a church retreat with the Rochester, Elkins Park and Broomall RP churches. We had about 70 people. We had an exciting time canoeing/kayaking/rafting down the Delaware River, including going through some rapids (never done that before!) and getting chased down by a terrible thunderstorm -- it was exciting and a little scary but God was truly watching over us because the storm didn't hit until we were about 1/4 mile from the endpoint, when we had the docking site in view.

I was a counselor for the retreat and I think I grew a lot in just the past few days. There was a major legal issue involving some kids at camp, including one girl in my cabin. I spent several hours sitting with her while she cried and listening to her complaints about her family life and her anxiety about all the repercussions of what she'd done. I have never really had to counsel a kid in this way (she's 12) and I really felt that God gave me that opportunity to be a witness to her. It was difficult but at the same time it was so wonderful knowing that she trusted me enough to confide in me.

I also got to have some interesting discussions with my girls, including what heaven will be like - and wouldn't it be boring? I found that to be a surprising and difficult question to answer. None of them had ever read from Revelations before so I read parts of chapters 20 and 21 to them. They were surprised to hear heaven described as a city with walls, and they thought that an eternity "cooped up" in there would be boring. To be honest, I was floundering for an answer to that and I don't remember what I said. I don't think it will be boring in the least; as one quote goes (don't remember from where) "I'll spend my first thousand years looking at Jesus, and then I'll have a look around." But how would you respond to their concern??

I also got to lead campfire - on my own - every night. I was a little shocked at myself for not being nervous up there. I actually really like being in front of a crowd. I thought it was a lot of fun, even if I don't have a very strong singing voice. I used to be so painfully shy when I was little that I still surprise myself at how confident I can be, and I can hardly believe it when people say I'm easy to talk to or outgoing. I used to be so shy I didn't even come to camp for a couple years cuz I was afraid of being in a cabin.

So I've been made a team leader for White Lake, which means my responsibilities just went through the roof. WE NEED MORE MALE COUNSELORS!!!!!! Desperately! We have 7 girls and only 3 guys on the team right now.

I am looking forward to camp so much. It's always the highlight of my year. There aren't words to describe what White Lake means to me. I think the fellowship of believers I experience at White Lake is the closest I get to heaven. We all love and depend on the Lord and we are reminded of his care and provision every day that we're there. I really believe that this camp is one of the biggest blessings God has given me. You should come!!!!

Ok so clearly I never write here anymore....

So, update time!

All my Rochester friends have been back at school for a week, and I still have another week till I'm back to the Grove, so basically me=bored to death right now. I've been reading, sleeping, cleaning, babysitting. But not too much babysitting, cuz everyone's poor after Christmas. If I don't have a "real" job next January I'm definitely doing Intersession cuz there's really NOTHING to do here....

I'm actually really looking forward to heading back to school. My classes are gonna be hard but good, and I miss everyone there like crazy. Especially Jenny and my roommate Angela.

So, here are my fabulous classes:

New Testament Lit and History with Bibza -- I have this class with Jenny so we're gonna have fun. And I think there's another RPer in there too, but I can't remember who... maybe Gretchen Burger? Anyways we're gonna represent the Reformed. w00t!

US 20th Century History -- my least favorite historical period. Modern history bores me to death. And the teacher, I hear, drones on and on....great. But it'll be a challenge. It'll be good.

World History II -- ahhhh much better. Middle Ages here I come!! I love all this old school stuff. I'd rather read Petrarch and Boccaccio than McNamara any day.

Civ Arts -- we listen to music and look at pictures. Sweet.

Fitwell -- Water aerobics and ??? the mystery lab

Intro to Political Science -- I am completely politics illiterate. I really know almost nothing. It's really shameful. And I hate politics. Probably why I don't know anything about it....so this class is very necessary and will not be easy at all for my poor bwain. It's an elective -- I forced myself to take it. I need to be educated.

I can't wait to be back.... I am going to make some major changes this semester as far as relationships go -- I've been thinking about this a lot and I'm really ashamed of myself for not spending enough time with my roommates last semester. I was in the library all the time, and yeah it was fun there cuz I was studying with friends, but I went way overboard. I completely neglected a bunch of people by the end of the semester, and that's not gonna happen again. My priority now is to really deepen my relationships with the other freshman girls I know. Last semester I was spending way too much time with upperclassmen, like church friends and people who go to the College Fellowship Bible study I go to -- they're all really really nice and they've encouraged a lot of freshman to hang out with them. But that shouldn't be my priority. So, I'm gonna be with my roommates, and the girls from church, and my classmates, and I'm really hoping as we get to know each other better we can begin to encourage and uplift each other spiritually and get beyond the chit chat. But it'll take some work.

I'd appreciate your prayer as I try to decide if I should go back to Airdrie, Scotland on an RP missions trip this summer. I had an AMAZING time there last summer but I'm just not sure if it's financially feasible this time around, plus I need time this summer to practice driving so I can get my license, and I need to make money for college. There's just a lot to plan. Right now I'm just praying for direction.

Well I've got to go now, and finish up the missions presentation I'm doing at church tomorrow. I'm bringing scones and Tetley tea for everyone. Looking back over all the pictures makes me REALLY want to go back, and I miss my teammates SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!! We had the most amazing team ever. We had so much fun!! It would be wierd to go back with a totally different group. But still mucho fun.

OK bye forever =]  jk

~Emily