Week #2 -- 7th and 8th Grade

I can't believe that the second week of camp is already over!  That means that this Sunday, when we drive back out to camp, will be our final week before embarking on the second leg of our journey, which I am totally excited about.  It's just going by so quickly!  Anyway, as I did last Friday, I will provide a quick overview about each day so you can see how camp went.  Matthew and I were both counselors, so instead of going to all the sessions and being a camper, we got to be in charge (or assist the leader) of a team.  We did cabin inspection each morning and showed the kids how to do the chores thoroughly.  The girls were all very nice and wanted to know all about my family, life, this trip, and Missouri.  Sometimes it felt like I was being interviewed, but what really excited me was a long discussion with a seventh-grade girl named Lennea.  She was so sweet and wondered a lot about me, and a special thing was that I was able to share my faith with her a lot.  You never know if it made a difference, but she did seem to ponder my responses about my faith and beliefs.  So that was really a highlight, and I had a wonderful week.  The weather was gloomy, cloudy, windy (so strong it blew my cabin door open in the middle of the night!), and pelting rain except on Monday.  So we enjoyed the sunshine while we had it, and the campers all got to do fun things regardless of the weather.  Enjoy my report and have a great weekend!

Sunday -- I woke up at 7:45, got ready for church, baked a goodie for fellowship hour (Funfetti cake), had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a doughnut, and water), called my parents, iced the cake, and read a bit before heading down to church around 10:50.  There was a baptism, so after the service, the family brought many different foods.  We just had our meal there -- lasagna, Shepard's Pie, salmon salad on Pilot bread, cupcakes, Hershey-Kiss cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, my cake, and juice boxes.  So much good food!  Then we got everything loaded into the car of one of the church members...he loaned it to us for the week, which was super because then we had flexibility on when to drive out and when to come back into Nome.  Once we got out to camp, we got everything organized, and then I was a little maid and cleaned the girls' cabin (the boys' cabin this week) so that it was spotless.  I worked on that for a long time before supper -- Tuna Creations pasta, salad, chips, rolls, cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, cake, Reese's, and juice.  Then, because it was so warm (like 75!), Grandma and I went down and got in the lake!  I got up to mid-thigh, but Grandma and I dunked up to our necks one time -- just to prove we did it!  Yes, we even have pictures.  It was refreshing, relaxing, and so beautiful because it was sunny and all around us were beautiful mountains with the sunshine glowing on them.  After cleaning up, we played three games of Skip-Bo before I got ready for bed.  Then we all read and relaxed before bed at 12 AM.

Monday -- Woke up at 8:30, had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a roll with gravy, and milk), relaxed, read, and helped Grandma with some tasks before lunch (tomato soup, crackers, fruit salad, and apple juice).  The girls washed dishes; the boys swept the floor.  Then everyone went down to the beach to play around.  Matthew and I went out in a canoe for a little bit...lots of fun in the sunshine and cool breeze.  Then Grandma taught a session on the Lord's Prayer; the kids did papers and a prayer book.  Then Karen, the pastor from Nome, welcomed everyone, told camp rules, and allowed the kids to go eat -- hot dogs, chips, fruit mix, and apple juice).  Karen taught a session after dinner and chores (I was on the Slippery Salmon team; we hauled water), then all the kids went down to play Capture the Flag.  Finally, songs and snacks took place (beautiful songs/music/singing and great peanut-butter-brownie bars) before bed at 12 AM.

Tuesday -- Woke up at 8:45, got ready, went down to the dining hall, and had breakfast (pancakes, oranges, hot dog links, and Tang).  My team swept the dining hall floor, then I went with another counselor (Tammy, from Brevig) to do cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session.  Next, my team set the tabe for lunch -- chili with rice and cheese, apple slices, and milk.  Then all the campers went out to Pilgrim Hot Springs; I stayed at camp and made the snack for that night (M&M bars -- kind of like brownies with M&M's sprinkled on top).  The kids got back from Pilgrim at 7 PM...starving, so we had dinner (salmon caught by Brian, the pastor from Brevig/Teller; mashed potatoes; carrots; and apple juice).  Yum!  My team did dishes before a canteen run and a session by Mark, the pastor from Shishmaref.  To occupy the kids before songs and snacks, they all did a balloon stomp, which was hysterical to watch.  Finally, we had songs and snacks; also last word by Gilbert, the pastor from Wales.  It was short but hit home -- what would you do if Jesus came to your door?  Very thought-provoking and good.  Bed at 1 AM.

Wednesday -- Woke up at 7:45, got ready, went down, and had breakfast (French Toast, apples, milk) at 9:45.  Then Matthew, Tammy, and I did cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session.  The kids went back out to Pilgrim again with sack lunches.  Once again, I stayed and cooked oatmeal-chocolate chip cakes (very moist and yummy).  I also had a sack lunch -- salmon salad sandwiches, Pringles, a Hershey Almond bar, and a juice box.  Around 6:15, a tiny bit of sun peeked out while it rained...creating a gorgeous rainbow three times.  Pretty!  The kids got back from Pilgrim; my team set the table; we had dinner of moose-and-caribou stew with crackers, apple slices, and water; everyone went through the canteen; Karen taught a session; the kids played Capture the Flag (in the blowing wind and rain); and we did songs and snacks.  Wonderful songs; a lot of them were ones I knew.  Bed was at 12:25.

Thursday -- Woke up at 8:45, had breakfast (oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and apple juice), my team did the dishes, Grandma taught a session, we did cabin inspection (the girls won), and lunch -- Sloppy Joe's, carrots, and water.  My team hauled water.  After lunch, all the kids went to play Eskimo baseball; I stayed and baked Rice Krispie treats.  The kids got back, had beach time (canoeing, swimming, wading, playing around), signed shirts, and did canteen...all before supper (ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, fruit cups, and Kool-Aid).  Mark taught a session, the kids played Capture the Flag, and we did songs and snacks.  The snack was the biggest ever -- Rice Krispie treats, popcorn, and Tang or Kool-Aid for firsts; then peanuts and Rice Krispie treats cut in half for seconds.  Every morsel disappeared; the kids were obviously starving! I cleaned everything up, got ready for bed, and was asleep (exhausted) by 1 AM.

Friday -- I woke up at 8:20, we loaded up, and got into Nome around 11 AM.  We got everything situated and started some laundry, relaxed, and had lunch at noon (I didn't even have breakfast!) -- peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, Pringles, applesauce, pudding, and hot cocoa because it's cold and wet here!  After lunch, we went to the Arctic Trading Post (owned by Grandma and Agnes' friend) and I found a hatpin (I hadn't gotten one from Nome yet), a postcard, and a small book on the Aurora Borealis...vivid, breathtaking pictures that was worth the small amount I paid for it!  Then we all came home, I called some people, I took a nap (two hours!), and had dinner at 7:45 -- potato soup, cheesy garlic biscuits, applesauce, and milk.  It was delicious!  Now I am going back up to have dessert (ice cream!) and then go to bed.  I have a cold and I am just going to take it easy this weekend.  Enjoy the pictures, and thanks for reading!

The beautiful rainbow on Wednesday.

Shirt signing on Thursday.

On Thursday night, the rain stopped, the clouds went mostly away...it was beautiful.  I just had to put this picture of Sleepy Dog Mountain (that Matthew and I climbed last Thursday) -- it was breathtaking!

~Anna~