Week 4 has come... and week 3 has gone.

Well, week 3 was just amazing. It was music week, so it was a week filled with music: sung liturgies, prayer services, ect... One of the course groups did an awesome presentation of The King and I, and we sang Amazing Grace for the Amazing Grace project. 

Nothing too extraordinary happened last week, or at least I can't think of much at this point. We are now in our forth week of Anglican Programming with only one more week to go. Then I am writing final reports and working in a different department. It's hard to think that I only have one more week of working with children/youth, daily worship, and all the wonderful people who come. The following weeks after Anglican Programming will consist of Pentecostal Pastors Week, two weeks of Swing and Bluegrass, and I think something else... pretty much it equals an even busier camp here... especially for Swing and Bluegrass. 

This week I have been doing a lot of administration stuff. In terms of the campers we have come in, and my summer staff. It just never seems to end. There are many great people on site this week, some who I know and I am enjoying catching up with and some who I've never met before but are amazing. 

The children and youth did the worship service today, and it was amazing. They did such a great job! Pretty much they take care of doing the readings, sermon, prayers of the people, bringing up the elements for Eucharist, and assisting with the administration of Eucharist. Every week the children and youth do a service, which really means a lot of preparation on our part, and the liturgical leader for the summer. But there is something about having the children and youth do a service, participate and make decisions. It's full of meaning for them, myself, and the guests. It's a reminder that our church, even with our pews fill with the aging generations, still has young people interested and eager to participate. 

I am definitely slowly starting to feel how much time and energy this position takes out of a person. I love it though, I love the work, the people, the learning, and the experience. Even when we have staff issues, or difficulties with things/plans/events on site, when it comes down to it... well it is all worth it!

Last Sunday some of my staff convinced me to go canoeing with them, being told that we were just wandering a little ways from shore I gave in (secretly excited of course!). Well by the time I got down to the beach I was informed of our destination... straight across to the other side of the lake! After 40 minutes of continuous paddling we made it, and it was worth it. Although I was extremely tired. And did you know you use different muscles when you are paddling and they sometimes become sore!!? Totally worth it though, I went swimming for the first time this summer, paddles across a lake, didn't get lost or run over by a boat. And I think my staff might be able to convince me to go again at some point. 

I hope everyone is doing well, and the summer is enjoyable. Not too hot, but not too cold. We just got an air conditioner put in our living room, which was well welcomed by us all. Living upstairs with ten other girls in a very warm house can get hard. Some of the girls are beginning to get sick, so I'm hoping it's nothing major and it bypasses me. I'm sure you can imagine what would happen when someone gets sick in close living quarters... 

But I am going to enjoy a few hours of sleep before tomorrow comes and another day begins. Well, after I do a curfew check and lock-up of the house that is!

Week 2

Week two has now come and gone, and it was a great week. My thinking came true this week... When I took this job I knew that is would not be a traditional forty hour a week job but a lifestyle. And a way of life it is, I've pretty much decided that I have no life for the time being outside of everything one can possibly do at the Centre. I, being one who likes to keep busy and doing things, spends my whole day doing stuff and then into the night. Chatting on msn, responding to emails, phoning home, and reading a good book have all become activities of the past. If seems like it all can't be done in the forty hours so I spend my free time willingly doing things. And of course the amazing part is I love it. I love the work and I am okay with the fact that I spend my freetime doing work stuff. It is part of who I am, I just need to be careful not to get burned out, so taking enough time to myself is also a mandatory activity. 

So, our second week at Sorrento Centre had Bishop Mark McDonald with us leading a course, the first National Indigenous Bishop for the Anglican Church of Canada. Craig Luccock, who has done a lot of work with youth over the years and worked in the position I am in for three years. I learned a lot through conversations with both of them, and enjoyed their presence on site. 

This week also was Day Camp week, which I was overseeing. It was BUSY!! My hours transitioned from a split shift to a 8:00am-4:00pm, then dinner, short break (usually filled with one-on-ones with staff, then the evening activity. Which meant that my afternoon nap time was gone. But it was a great week, with sixteen children we had a ton of fun. It reminded me of doing Vacation Bible School back at home. Most of our afternoons with the children were spent at the beach, which for me consisted of continuously counting sixteen heads to make sure everyone was still present! 

We had a major storm here on Thursday, to the extent of having to keep the children inside and not being able to leave until we got the all clear from the Executive Director. Good thing to know that our Emergency protocol works! Then, that evening we got to put another Emergency Protocol to the test when we had some major curfew issues. Lets just say that very little sleep was granted. 

On Wednesday I presided once again at the evening prayer service. I really enjoyed it, every time I take that leadership role on I do more or write more of the service myself. I am very thankful for the support, encouragement, and challenges I am given here.

Saturday I went to Kelowna to spend some time with Matt and his family. It was very nice being with them and also nice to get off site for a bit. We didn't do much, hung out for the most part. Which is definitely what I needed to do!

This coming week is going to be very busy, it already has been! It's "music" week so lots of people and great workshop leaders, but I will rant on that latter. We have a large number of children joining us, so I for see another successful week. I am going do be doing a lot of paperwork and administration work this week. Most of it easy and straightforward, just time consuming - but is has to be done! I will also be doing a lot of the planning for the children and youth Wednesday Eucharist service, organizing prayers, songs, scripture, sermon, ect... You don't know how short a day really is until you try and do everything in one day!

My prayer is that everyone's summer is going well, that the weather is pleasant and everyone is safe and enjoying themselves! I will try to update you on the fabulous things I am doing, but as I'm sure you have now figured out.... my time can be limited! 

Week 1

Ever since I got back from Generation 2008 my life has been go, go, go, don't stop!! It's awesome but I'm exhausted tonight. Friday night is the dance night at Sorrento Centre, so although I wish to be in bed I am waiting for staff to get back so I can do the night check in because of curfew. 

Last Friday our staff arrived and then they went through and intense training on Saturday and Sunday, we only had two days and lots to cover. We got it done though, and all survived. The staff even made it through my mandatory but not so exciting Emergency Procedures workshop. I also did a workshop on Spirituality - which I didn't think was boring and I'm told was not boring!

My first week has been amazing, and my staff are awesome! I am doing the 0-4 year old program, which I think was a ton of fun, I loved every moment of it. We had nine children in this program this week, and one little boy, Amiel, who is three years old absolutely loves me. We had dinner dates and he always invited me to come visit him at his cabana. It was so cute, his mom and him did a song about me at the variety night about his huge crush on me. I will miss Amiel when he leaves tomorrow, we've had a great week together. Who will I ever eat lunch and dinner with, and who is going to follow me around all the time?? 

Monday and Tuesday had the weather way to hot, and then by Thursday it was cold and windy out, and we were scheduled for a water fight - we froze but had fun. I've only spent a bit of time at the beach, I get most afternoons between programs off so I try to take a nap, and then usually have some work to get done. The 0-4 year old program I have made is called, "God Made Me!" and works well as this age group is all, "me, me, me!" I love the work here, it is doing what I love doing in an amazing atmosphere. How much better could it get?!

I am still learning as I go along, figuring things out, and making mistakes and then fixing them. But it is all part of the amazing process. I am living with ten other girls which is an adventure within itself - oh, and only one bathroom! It's great though, an experience I will take with me forever. And we all get along, which makes it that much better. The food here is great, I have no idea what I will do when I go back to school and have to cook for myself again, I've gotten very used to being fed three "homecooked" meals a day. Did I mention they are delicious?? 

And then there is worship. We have a morning Eucharist service Monday - Thursday, closing Eucharist on Friday afternoon, and with our orientation on Sunday a short service. Then there is the evening prayer services on Tuesday and Wednesday. I love it, I can't emphasize that in any other way other then just saying it. I feel like I'm being spoiled having so many opportunities to worship with a community. It's another one of those, "I have no idea what I'll do when it's all over and I don't get to attend services each day!" Our liturgist this summer, Jay, is from Huron University College in London, ON and is amazing. He has so many different forms of worship, I'm finding it all very interesting to be part of. I met Jay when I was at Generation 2008 so I was already excited for his arrival prior to his arriving here.  On Monday afternoon he asked me if I would like to preside at a service at some point, and I said I would. He then invited me to preside at the Tuesday evening prayer service, so I took it on and although I was a fair bit nervous (it was a very simple service, lots of silence and meditation) once I began it felt fully natural and I enjoyed every minute of it. And then the next day due to people getting sick and Jay having to play the piano because of a sick piano player I ended up presiding at that service also, so in the first week of Anglican programming I've already presided twice! I also did a brief summarizing sermon on Wednesday morning after the children did a skit for the sermon. I connected their story to the scripture readings. I am looking forward to continued adventure in worship. 

Next week I am doing the 0-4 years old program once again, but only in the morning. Once it is over I am doing day camp, which should equally be a blast. We currently have 15 children registered for day camp. I think our afternoons will be spent at the beach if the weather is good. So tomorrow I have some last bit of organization to do both for day camp and the children and youth programming. I get Saturdays off but it is very much a "way of life" here. Although I am only scheduled for certain times I find myself doing stuff still when I'm not scheduled. It is my own choice and I enjoy the work so it works for me! I plan on trying to get off site next Saturday for the night, although I love it here it is still important to take some time to re-energize and focus. And also get away from the life here, filled with staff and guests. 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and that the weather is good, but not too hot! And now that all my staff are back it's time to lock up the house!