tapiocapuddin

Camp was so awesome. Out of my four years on staff, this year had the best students! They just seemed so on fire for God and willing to pay the price to be there. My cabin was especially great! Our devotion time was so precious. The girls were open, honest, and so mature. The way they applied the lessons right away made me so proud of them! They didn't wait until they got home, but started right away to bless the people around them. Though no one may never know what they did, we're counting on that, God is going to bless them beyond anything they could ever imagine. Demo Club was sweet 'cause of all the great help I had. Go awesome staff!! You truly are leaders and the "Obedient Servants of Today." I miss the talks and walks with y'all. Now everyone has to come to the Christmas Party training, k??

Oh, and thanx for everyone who prayed for me! I did almost fall down the stairs, but I've survived pretty well, so far... Don't worry, I'm catching up on sleep as fast as possible!!

We Are SO Blessed! Nice Try, Satan... 

Weston Almost Doesn't Make It Back From Campfire 

Class Time 

It Is Never Boring With Daniel Around... 

Yay For People Like Derrick Who Taught Demo Club With Me! 

Erika Practicing During Team Practice Time 

Poor Weston Could Only Get His Head Muddy In The Mud Fight 

One Of The Boys's Cabin's Skit 

The Staff's Bag Skit 

Weston--This Poor Guy Was Waited On Hand And Foot (his crutches made a great tripod for my video camera ;-) ) 

What We Do In Between Classes 

My Awesome Friend--Katrina 

Foothills Area--Yeah, We're Crazy

My Cabin 

My Team Practice Group 

Wow, I can't believe it! It's already time for camp!! I am so not ready, but can't wait for it to come! Camp officially starts Saturday, but since my sister and I are on staff, we're arriving Friday afternoon. This is gonna be one awesome week of craziness and spiritual growth. Please pray that the students would come away revived and excited about using their summer to serve others. Please pray for me as I help to lead and teach. Being of staff is so wearing, pray that I'll have the strength to finish strong. Thanx, I'll see you when I get back the 25th!

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately. Last week was a really hard week and it has taken me awhile to recover. Last Thursday we were planning to go down and visit my dying aunt and hopefully witness to her. The night before we left, we heard that she had died. It really hit my family and hurt a lot. We are her only saved relatives and not getting to see her one last time was devastating. My parents are going to the funeral on Saturday. My sisters and I won't be able to go because of our responsibilities at Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) camp. Pray for them, especially my dad.

Would y'all please pray for me and my family? We're leaving tomorrow to go down to visit my Aunt. She's dying from cancer and is not saved. Pray that we'll have boldness and that God's Word would work in her life. Thanx, this really means a lot to me!

My Aunt and Uncle are amazing people. I really don't know how they do it. They are missionaries with Rural Home Missionary Association and live in Columbus, Texas. From month to month, they never knew how much money they'll receive. In April, they got $25 for the whole month! Somehow they manage to stay afloat. Sometimes people question their ministry. Are you really doing any good there? Your church is so tiny, why don't you move to a bigger town? Why don't you go somewhere and start teaching? I think you'd be much more effective doing something else... But when you visit their church and hear the stories behind each of the members's lives, you'll no longer question their work. Mary, a former strong feminist, was raised Catholic, but left those values behind and lived her own life. Through a stroke and other events, she promised God to go back to church. She attended the church and started discussions where she'd begin as the atheologian, but slowly began to see the light. It wasn't long until she accepted Christ as her Savior. Her life dramatically changed! Even her Catholic relatives couldn't help but notice. Her mom thanked my Aunt and Uncle for what they did, but it wasn't just them, it was Jesus. This is only one of the stories they told us. There's also Tom, Brandon, Theresa, Jim, Little Brandon, Andrea... While it may not seem like they're doing much, my Aunt and Uncle's faith has touched more people than they'll ever know.

I really like doing the rest home ministry in the morning! Not only are they awake (no afternoon naps in the service), but they are also pretty perky. One of the ways this shows up is in their "funniness moments." D F, a guy from my church, met Mugs (Margaret) for the first time. After talking to her awhile, he came up to my dad and said, "Did you know that one of your patients is here??" Dad: "Mugs? Yes, she's a very sweet lady!" Mugs was nearby and listening, of course.;-) She, not very casually, elbowed her "boyfriend" to make sure he heard. They are a hilarious pair... Mugs commented on how the guys at her table keep dying. But she said they always bring along another guy to replace him. D P fell into one of her "funniness moments." When Mugs asked if he remembered her (like anyone could ever forget her!), he said, "of course!" Mugs loudly and excitedly whispered to her "boyfriend," "he remembers me!!!!!" For the devotion, Mr. P was using Robinson Crusoe as an example. He said that in the first chapter you could learn that obeying your parents is a smart thing to do. The lady next to D P elbowed him and loudly said "Did you hear that????" I will testify to the fact that he has already taken that advice to heart! As we were leaving, one poor man was talking to a nurse at the front counter. "Do I need bail?" "Bail? This isn't jail, hunny," said the nurse. Man, "but do I still need bail??" Last, but not least, a lady grabbed my sister and said, "which church do you all belong to?" My sister thought quickly and said, "Home Church Fellowship." The lady sat back and said, "aahhh, I thought so!" Maybe she should've use the "Church of the Open Sky" line...;-)

COMMANDANCY OF THE ALAMO-
BEXAR, FEBY. 24TH 1836-
TO THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AND ALL AMERICANS IN THE WORLD--

FELLOW CITIZENS AND COMPATRIOTS
I AM BESIEGED, BY A THOUSAND OR MORE OF THE MEXICANS AND SANTA ANNA- I HAVE SUSTAINED A CONTINUAL BOMBARDMENT & CANNONADE FOR 24 HOURS & HAVE NOT LOST A MAN- THE ENEMY HAS DEMANDED A SURRENDER AT DISCRETION, OTHERWISE, THE GARRISON ARE TO BE PUT TO THE SWORD, IF THE FORT IS TAKEN- I HAVE ANSWERED THE DEMAND WITH A CANNON SHOT, & OUR FLAG STILL WAVES PROUDLY FROM THE WALL- _I SHALL NEVER SURRENDER OR RETREAT_ THEN, I CALL ON YOU IN THE NAME OF LIBERTY, OF PATRIOTISM AND EVERYTHING DEAR TO THE AMERICAN CHARACTER TO COME TO OUR AID, WITH ALL DISPATCH - THE ENEMY IS RECEIVING REINFORCEMENT DAILY AND WILL NO DOUBT INCREASE TO THREE OR FOUR THOUSAND IN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS.
IF THIS CALL IS NEGLECTED, I AM DETERMINED TO SUSTAIN MYSELF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE & DIE LIKE A SOLDIER WHO NEVER FORGETS WHAT IS DUE TO HIS OWN HONOR & THAT OF HIS COUNTRY- ___VICTORY OR DEATH___

WILLIAM BARRET TRAVIS
LT. COL. COMDT.
P. S. THE LORD IS ONE OUR SIDE- WHEN THE ENEMY APPEARED IN SIGHT WE HAD NOT THREE BUSHELS OF CORN- WE HAVE SINCE FOUND IN DESERTED HOUSES 80 OR 90 BUSHELS & GOT INTO THE WALLS 30 OR 40 HEAD OF BEEVES-
TRAVIS

The first face you see when you walk in the door of my Uncle and Aunt's house. 

A rifle used in WWII. 

The guns we learned to shoot:
.223 Ruger" Ranch Rifle
9mm Smith & Wesson 5906
.22 cal. J. C. Higgins Circa 1948 Semi-auto
.41 Magnum Ruger
.30 cal. M-1 Carbine, Semi-auto
.22 cal. AMT Back Up, Semi-auto
.45 ACP Kimber Custom C1911 Colt Style Semi-auto 

A black eyed susan was the target in the middle of the target. Mine is on the left. 

This letter was written in the Alamo. The spirit those guys had is still living in the armed forces of today! 

I had SO much fun!! The humidity was awful, but it didn't keep us inside the whole time. I did get to play with cousins, hang out, actually read something for fun, check out their Walmart, learn to shoot, tour Blue Bell, listen to true, amazing alligator stories, visit the Alamo, eat out with missionary friends, throw tomahawks, get mosquito bites, help run miniature trains, laugh, take tons of pics, go shopping, eat pizza and lots of Mexican food, sleep in, feed turtles, and much, much more!!! For a more elaborate description and pics to boot, drop me an IM, and I'll be more than happy to accommodate your needs! ;-)