This is My Domain

I believe that the kitchen is one of the holiest places at camp. When I walk in there, I just feel it. I absolutely love what I get to do in that place. It's hard work, and no one in his right mind wants to do that work, but for whatever reason, there isn't a place that I would rather be. In the kitchen, you are forced to rely on one another. One person, two people, even four people, cannot feed 500 campers three times a day, at least not well. We have to ask for help, and look for ways to serve each other. When you get passed any pride around that, and just allow yourself to serve and be served, the community that builds around that is remarkable. I learned so much about that at Malibu last summer. That experience really taught me so much, and is largely the reason that I'm here now.

This morning I set foot into the kitchen for the first time. The other interns saw how I visibly changed. I just got so excited! All I want to do is get in there and work with my summer staff! One of the interns, Emily, said to me "I love to see how much you love it here. You know this is where you're supposed to be, and that's awesome." I hadn't thought about it, but she is right. It is where I'm supposed to be, and I feel that in my bones. We, in the kitchen, have the unique opportunity to serve literally every person on this property multiple times per day. Everyone has to eat, and we provide those meals for them. We are behind the scenes, and it is certainly not the most glorifying job, but it can be so gratifying. Knowing that a meal has gone well, that everyone is fed, and that we prepared delicious, filling food is the best. The cheers when the meal comes out, and knowing that those campers are thrilled to be eating is awesome. I know it isn't so much about us as the food itself, but hey. Just knowing that we have helped to provide that joy grants me so much happiness.

We didn't do much cooking today. We just cleaned, sorted, folded, and prepared ourselves for the time to come. Eventually, we did go to the other camp here and help them in the kitchen. They have guests currently in the off-season, and were short-handed. Jasper, Emily, and Tayler are the names of the other interns. If you're a believer in prayer, prayers for us would be amazing. If not, thoughts will do just fine. I think we have a great group. Though I haven't worked with Tayler yet, she seems wonderful. I pray that we lead well, and know when to follow. The community that will exist among the four of us will be unique. None of us work the same shift, but we all help each other and rely on each other. Tayler and I will overlap for a few hours a day. Jasper will float around between shifts, depending on the need. Emily is overseeing the dining hall. Without one of us, the meals won't happen. We are four parts of a whole that cannot function with just three. It's exciting. Our bosses are great, as well. Though, I haven't met one of them. I've heard good things.

The intern group as a whole is still awesome. We had some really great time last night around a bonfire sharing bits of our lives and our hopes for the summer with one another. And who can be mad at s'mores? This was after a day of scaling a mountain, visiting some beautiful landmarks called the painted hills, and overwhelming a small-town restaurant.

The view from Mt. Wagner.

The Painted Hills

By the way, I didn't realize how much of a Kansan I was until I was in an old Toyota truck driving up the side of a mountain at a grade that made me feel like I was going to flip over backwards. Terrifying. But the view from the top was incredible. I thought I might make it 24 hours before being taken completely out of my comfort zone, but that was not the case. I'm glad I had that experience, though. The interns now have things to laugh at me over.

All good things here. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I'll be back in my domain. Here's to Shenanigans that bring glory to God, and encourage relationships.

I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains...

Well, I made it. If you don't know, I'm working at a Young Life camp in Antelope, OR this summer until August 31st. I'll be in the kitchen on the PM shift, praise the Lord. Truly. I wouldn't make it if I was on the AM. 

When I was offered the position, I accepted immediately and decided then that I would drive to Oregon. Why? I don't know. But that was my decision, and I stuck to that. If you have the ability and the opportunity to drive halfway across the country, do it. It's harder than you could imagine, and way more exciting than I thought it would be. I drove around 1,700 miles in the last three days. The first day I drove from Wichita to Ft. Collins, CO. I've done that drive multiple times, so it wasn't much of anything to me. I got to spend the night with Zach from Work Crew. We've been friends for four years. Crazy. So good to catch up with him.

The next day, I was driving from Ft. Collins to Boise, ID where I would be staying with a friend from Summer Staff at Malibu. That was the long day; it was about a 10.5 hour drive. I wasn't quite looking forward to it. However, once I started driving and I caught glimpse of those foothills and mountains (I drove in the day before in the dark) I started grinning, and I don't think I stopped for two hours. I love the mountains, so much. I don't know what it is about them, but they just captivate me. Driving to Boise, I stopped in Twin Falls, ID. I was planning on grabbing some dinner and killing a little time before coordinating with my friend in Boise. However, I crossed a beautiful canyon with the Snake River running through it... So, I got out at the scenic overhang. Then I read the map and noticed that there were two waterfalls nearby. With some crafty GPS-ing, and some questionably legal, semi-off-roading, I found a spot to take a picture of them. It was awesome. Well-worth it. It's hard for me to not be in awe when I see such wonderful creation, and know that the Creator of all of that is a god that loves us more than that gorgeous scene. 

Today I jumped in my car again and drove to the camp. Don't listen to your GPS when it takes you off the highways. I was on some kind of county road that was NOT intended for my Pontiac Grand Am for about 50 miles, and it took me about an hour and a half. Then the GPS abandoned me, so I was grateful for my map of Oregon. It was the sketchiest thing I think I have ever done. I will not be doing that again ever. So stressful. A cow tried to headbutt my car, I thought I was going to slip off the road and go careening down the mountain... It was just a rough time. 

But now I'm here. This place is stunning. The interns that are here already... woof. I'm already quite fond of them, and we hardly know each other. "Excited" doesn't begin to explain how I feel about this summer, the community that will exist here, the kids that will come through those gates, and the lives that will be changed - including my own. 

P.S. Forgive any typos. I'm exhausted and don't care to proofread this.