A Chance to Breathe at Black Rock

Sunday August 23, 2009
A Chance to Breathe at Black Rock

I enjoy keeping busy but it comes to a point where it’s like “okay, I’m ready for a rest!” And today, Sunday (fitting really), I am finally getting a rest after what has been a busy, full–of-fun adventures and awesome people summer!

My third amazing summer at the Marsh came to a bit of a pre-mature end in order to begin training for my next (and fourth in a row!) “Christian camp job” at Black Rock Retreat up near Lancaster, PA. My last day at the Marsh ended on a great note with a Thursday late night cook out! I’m not sure how it all got started but after our usual meal of Marsh Stew and S’mores some of the girls began asking for more stew. However, not with the purpose of eating it, but with the idea of flicking it using their forks. Being the end of summer we allowed this to happen but told the girls to take it into the woods. Before we knew it all of the girls were off in the woods flicking each other with stew using forks. When about the fifth girl returned to get more stew out of the pot, my curiosity was peaked and I couldn’t resist the urge to join in the fun! Without fully thinking it through, before I knew it I had filled a cup with stew and was heading into the trees, plastic fork in hand. I must say, there was something satisfying about flicking stew off a plastic fork! But of course, as soon as word got out that “Chief Laura” had joined the fun, I had just about every girl running after me with forks full of tomato-sauce based stew; great idea Laura! I ran for cover back to the pot, where my fellow “Chiefs” stood chatting clean and stew-free. I don’t remember if I decided to give up and join the fun full force or if it was decided for me. What I do know is that I turned my back to run from the chaos only to feel someone reach from behind me and smear a handful of globby, luke-warm tomato sauce, ground beef, cheese, onion concoction across my face. I turned ready to retaliate only to find my boss behind me with stew – covered hands. I thought briefly but really saw no other option, so using my cup of stew, retaliated with little hesitation. Now I pause here to ask you . . . What other job is there in the world where you can smear the previously mentioned concoction on your bosses face and at the end of the day she is still asking you to return the next year?? I challenge you, really, to find another job out there. Now I’m not suggesting by any means that you should attempt this at your work place but I’m just saying perhaps this is something to consider!

So yeah, my last day at the Marsh was definitely a memorable one and a great way to end another “Toad-ally Awesome” summer!

I won’t go into too much detail about Black Rock now as there are many things I’d like to do with this day of rest. I will, however, say that I have yet again found myself feeling so very blessed and so very sure that I am where God wants me right now. I have two great bosses here, two lovely house mates, and three awesome guys who I will be working with over the next twoish months.

I almost feel like I should be getting tired of this whole camp scene thing but really each of the three camps I have spent time at have provided a different experience, through which I can and have grown and learnt / learned.

I hope this fall / autumn / spring (If anyone from Aus is reading this) finds all of you content and confident in how God is working in your life. 