hey I made it, I'm the world's greatest

hello blogger buddies! today I am gonna fill you in on my week at camp courageous today. camp courageous is often referred to as "the happiest place on earth". before going to camp, I didn't really believe that it was possible to experience so much pure joy. I was a counselor at a special needs camp last summer in Texas called Down Home Ranch and I loved it. it was so rewarding and I loved meeting all of the campers and everything, but camp courageous was even more inspiring. I went to the camp last year on my own because I wanted to, but camp courageous was a trip that was through the youth group that I'm involved in (not younglife but the other one). the trip was called a caravan. the people that went on it were all super sweet. a ton of amazing girls and only 3 guys....very very brave guys! on the car ride there, we were all sort of quiet. a few of my close friends went with me on the caravan, but besides that, I wasn't super duper close with the rest of the girls, even though I know that they're awesome. but anyways....the car ride was kinda quiet and sorta awks. we just listened to some music and talked a little. but besides that, we were just kept to ourselves. and I was exhausted because I was only home for like 12 hours after coming home from WV. so I kept passing out on Jill's lap. most of the girls that were on the trip with me had gone to camp courageous before too. but this was my very first time going. everyone was super excited and kept telling me how amazing it is and everything. and I totally believed them, but there was no way that they could've accurately described to me the week that I would have or the love that I would find or the tears that I would shed after seeing my campers leave. even now, I'm finding myself at a loss for words. shocking, I know. but it's just that it's so ridiculously hard to explain what I saw and experienced and learned. but I will try. so when we got to the camp, we all put our stuff down in the basement that we were staying in, and we got our group assignments. I was paired with this kid Brian. I didn't know him very well before the week, but I knew that he was a nice guy and that he LOVED camp a lot. I was happy to get to know him better, but I was also very nervous because I knew that I was gonna spend a ton of time with him and I didn't know if he would like me or whatever. I don't know what I'm trying to say.....haha but basically I was a little bit shaken. but then, to top it all off, I got assigned six 17 and 18 year old campers for my group. I had never worked with boys my age that have special needs. I was mostly comfortable with girls. but I decided to just suck it up because I knew that no mater what, the whole week was in God's hands, and he purposefully put me with these people so that we could learn from eachother. then we went to the main lodge and I got introduced to the two guy counselors that would be in my group. they were 22 year old college guys and were super chill. but again, more boys. oh boy! (literally) they gave Brian and I an overview of each of our campers and their disabilities and behavior so that we could be prepared. and then our campers started coming. the first camper that I met was named Nick Love. yes, his last name is actually love. how precious is that?! he was super quiet, and he has down syndrome. but I decided from day one that I would love to be his best buddy just because I wanted to challenge myself to connect with a camper that was harder to communicate with. Nicholas/Nick ended up being my best friend by the end of the week. each day I could just tell that he felt a little bit more comfortable with me. as the only girl of our group, it was easier for him to connect with me as a mother figure. he would rest his head on my shoulder occasionally, and one day, he ran up to me and just gave me a huge hug. it was so precious and I wished that he wouldn't let go, but then when he did, he just ran off and acted like nothing had happened. but sometimes, when he would get happy, his face would light up and he would have a huge smile, with his tongue sticking out between his teeth. it melted my heart. and when the song "life is a highway" would come on, he would start smiling and singing and it was just amazing. and even though he was super quiet, he would always volunteer to do all of the camp activities and was so incredibly fearless. at camp, there were a ton of ropes courses and such, and all of the campers were encouraged to try them. even campers in wheel chairs crossed wire bridges and climbed trees in harnesses. I couldn't believe it. I watched a boy with two fingers complete a high ropes course like it was nothing. and the entire week, I saw these campers do these things with smiles on their faces and positive attitudes. they would cheer everyone on too, which was awesome. they just wanted every single camper to be happy and would do anything to ensure that. well I also had a camper named Joey who had hugeeee glasses and never ever stopped talking. ever. even though it was often super tiring, it was also hilarious because he had this infectious giggle that kinda sounded like spongebobs laugh.  I tired to count how many times he laughed in a day, and I got to like 40 within an hour. so I gave up. but the point is, he just found everything hilarious and would always say, "you're cracking me up!!!" he made me feel so funny. he thought it was the best when I would say, "chicken noodle...SOUP!" in a funny voice. and then I had a camper named Tyler that loveddd to sing and every time that he passed the American flag, he would stop and belt the national anthem. every. single. time. and he was actually pretty good! and then there was logan....he was an old soul. he loved toys from the 1970s. and he loved cars. we made crazy hats one day and he built a car on it and wore the hat everywhere. he also really loved cats so he would meow a lot. it was comical. and then there was Ross the boss. he was a quiet guy, but he smiled so much and would give everyone friendly pats on the backs when they seemed sad. he was just so caring. oh and then we have Isiah. he just was amazing. he loved putting on all of the crazy costumes at camp, and one day he literally walked around wearing fuzzy pants with a tail and an afro. and when he would wake up in the morning, he would tell me that he was "wobbly" and I'd have to hold his hand a ton. and he was really affectionate too so he loved hugs and hand holding. Brian and I would each hold his hands, and sometimes, I'd have to hold his belt buckle loop or else his pants would just fall down to his ankles and he'd just say, "uh oh!" He never ever failed to make me smile. oh and another day he said, "I'm coo coo for cocoa puffs!" and then fell asleep. but by far the star of my week was a sweet boy that had downs named Kyle. Kyle never ever stopped smiling. if you made a goofy face at him, he'd copy you and make the same face back. he'd constantly give me hugs and wave at me. and when music would come on, he loved to slow dance with us and just make us feel so happy. the holy spirit truly shined through him and him alone. never have I seen someone who is so positive. not once did he get upset or worked up the entire week. he cared so much for others, and I am so blessed to have met him. when I sad, I just think about Kyle and his beautiful smile and joy. throughout the week, we did so many fun things like swimming, a slip n slide, arts and crafts, bike rides, ropes courses, zip lining, singing, dancing, basketball, frisbee, coloring, games, etc. so so so much fun and love and joy. of course, the whole week wasn't filled with smiles. there were times when campers would have tantrums and we would have to deal with it. but I learned a LOT of patience. I became totally tuned in to the needs of the campers for the week and ignored my own needs. but the funny thing is that they gave me so much more than I could ever have given them. the song that I chose that I think fits the entire week is "World's Greatest" by R Kelly. here it is.....


                                                             "The World's Greatest"

Yeah,Uhh...
Uhh...
Yeah..
It's the worlds greatest, Yo,
It's the worlds greatest, Come on,
Worlds Greatest, Ever

I am a mountain
I am a tall tree
Oh, I am a swift wind
Sweepin' the country
I am a river
Down in the valley
Oh, I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the Face and say

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it mmm
I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant
I am an eagle
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marchin' band
I am the people
I am a helpin' hand
And I am a hero
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the Face and say

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest

In the ring of life I'll reign love
(I will reign)
And the world will notice a king
(Oh Yeah)
When all is darkest, I'll shine a light
(Shine a light)
And use a success you'll find in me
(Me)

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

It's the greatest
Can you feel it
It's the greatest
Can you feel it

I saw the light
At the end of a tunnel
Believe in the pot of gold
At the end of the rainbow
And faith was right there
To pull me through, yeah
Used to be locked doors
Now I can just walk on through
Hey, uh, hey, hey, hey
It's the greatest
I'm that star up in the sky

I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world's greatest

ok so if you haven't heard this song, please listen to it ASAP. ya I know that it seems weird cause its by R Kelly but the lyrics are so fitting for camp courageous. each of the campers are extremely amazing and they all act like they're the world's greatest. they don't focus on the face that they have special needs or that they're disabled. while they're at camp, they are the definition of "normal" and camp is their world that we are trying to fit into. when they are at camp, they all have so much confidence and bravery. and even though they know that they aren't perfect, they don't let it bother them. because perfect is boring. so so boring. what I learned from camp is that God created us all in his image. and even though people think that is is easy to pity people that have special needs, we really shouldn't. God only gives the toughest people the things that they can handle. and these campers really are tough. they are God's gift to us, and by watching them, I realized that I need to love life and quit judging others. because who are we to say what the definition of "normal" is? only God can decide that. and I think that he doesn't care if you're in a wheel chair, or if you can't speak, or if you look a little bit different. he thinks that you are the world's greatest no matter what. and he loves you. ok that is all. also to finish this blog I'll write out the camp song because I love it. we are courageous, courageous are we. happy go lucky, carefree and brave. we are the tops, YES! we are the best, WOO! we are camp courageous, hurray! <3

<3 <3 <3

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