So, this week. Words to describe it: tough, challenging, relieving, full of grace, requiring endurance, learning, hopeful, miraculous, fruitful, exciting, funny, and much, much more. 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday, adds up to 35 hours. That's 35 hours to pour into these kids. 35 hours to teach them about Jesus, about life, and about learning. 35 hours to discipline them, to love them, and to guide them. 35 hours to have fun, play games, crack jokes, and develop friendships. I would certainly call my job difficult. But, I would also call my job the best thing in the world. I, for sure, feel blessed and lucky to have this position. Because, as much as the kids drive me up the wall sometimes, they're the reason I'm here: to dispense His love to the world, to the least of these, to the broken and the rejected.
So, here's one story that I will share from the week that I found most challenging and frustrating, but in the end, fruitful, rewarding, and hopeful. Get in the mind of Tuesday: high moment of encouragement and group morale, followed by complete and utter chaos. The very next day, Wednesday. In light of the prior day's events, the interns all decided that we needed to begin to really lay down the law. At first, we all find it hard to send the kids home when they misbehave, not wanting to make them upset, or for us to feel mean. But, now, after gaining knowledge on Tuesday, we understood the importance of discipline and that it is worth the slight moment of discomfort. With that being said, Wednesday was a predetermined day of behavior correction. Otherwise, we, as leaders, wouldn't be respected the rest of summer. Got this idea in your mind? This thought of loving the kids enough to discipline them, despite the possibility of them disliking us momentarily, in order to yield a harvest of good behavior. Okay, well, Wednesday commences.
All's going well. Devotion, journaling (awesome), outdoor game, then…some problems arose. A boy named Andrew, began giving one of the interns some trouble. He was not cooperating with their instructions to give them the basketball. Essentially, he was completely ignoring them and disrespecting them. Hence, a warning. Not but a few minutes later, his attitude erupted a little again inside. The reminder of his warning was given once. Then, after his final lapse of misconduct, the punishment was set--going home. However, at the declaration of his sentence, his temper raged. Storming out of the house, into the street, and down the block, Andrew paid no attention to my calls for his return. You see, we're responsible for his safe return home. In the morning, most all of the kids are picked up in our van. So, with that, we must take them home (kinda like the public busses for school). However, Andrew wouldn't cooperate. He would stop once in a while, turn around, and begin to argue. Then, he would proceed up the street. I waited patiently at the end of our property line, continuing to call out for his return. I would say, "You can still come back, Andrew, and I'll take you home. I'll wait right here. I want you to be at camp." Finally, he reached the end of the street, turned around, and slowly returned to the yard. By this point, there was a noticeable sniffle in the sound of his voice. But, he persisted in arguing his case. Note, almost all of the kids struggle with taking ownership of their bad decisions. They think, and say, and believe, that nothing is ever their fault. Even if they hit someone in the face, for instance, they still will plead innocent on account of, "He started it!" So, at this point, now standing before me, Andrew began to plead his case of innocence. His rationalization was, "You always single me out. What about those other kids, huh? You never tell any of them they're going home!" This continued for about 3-5 minutes. I listened. I let him plead his case and get all of it off of his chest. Then, responding gently, "Andrew, you have to take responsibility for your actions. When you choose to disrespect the counselors (one of our posted camp rules), multiple times in a row, there are consequences. You cannot stand here and tell me that you didn't disrespect the counselors. You are going home. There are 2 options: A, you get in the van and go home and you can come back tomorrow, or B, you don't get in the van and you cannot come back tomorrow. Your choice." However, thinking I'd ended the ongoing argument, Andrew responded with more arguments and claims of unfairness. I wasn't going to stand out there all day and argue, there's 20 other kids inside waiting for camp to resume. So, I began the countdown…"3….2….1…" At 1, there was still no movement to get into the van. With that, I closed the van door, and said, "See you on Friday." Then, he tried to plead his case again, but I proceeded to walk inside and lock the door.
For those who might be thinking this event is crazy, it's not. This kind of thing happens occasionally, maybe once a week or every other week. But, the next thing that happened, is crazy. Why? Because it rarely happens, maybe once a month, or once a summer, or never!
Wednesday, overall, was extremely peaceful. By the end of the day, 4 kids (including Steven) had been sent home. So, with a core group of obedient kids, things went a little smoother. Thursday. Andrew, is still not allowed at camp. However, when we pull up to his stop (also the stop of other kids) he walks outside. All the other kids get in, but as he walks towards the bus, I pull off to avoid confrontation. I was afraid of him beginning an argument while next to the van, never good. So, I proceeded in picking up the rest of the kids (took about 10 minutes maybe). But! When we arrived back to the house, guess who was in the front yard? None other than Andrew. At first, I was confused. Did he think he could argue his way into coming to camp today? But, his words would show something much different than my assumption. He proceeded towards me and the other interns and said…an apology. Scarce. A rare thing. I was caught off guard. He came back, out of his way, to apologize to all of us and tell us how much he loves camp. He owned up to his behavior. He said he knew what he did was wrong. He apologized. No one told him to do it (to my knowledge). All on his own. Amazing. We encouraged him and thanked him, but we didn't let him back to camp. He learned. He knew that he had disrespected us, and he wanted to make amends. Awesome! This was one of those apologies that you're quite ecstatic to accept.
So, with that all being said, the first week of camp was full of amazing things. I have only time to tell you the highlights, but I feel that this story could be the epitome of the week. Rough at first, but quite encouraging towards the end. God has provided so much. He is working in each of the kids' hearts, as well as mine and the other interns.
Please pray for this upcoming week. It's 4 interns and 23 kids. Specifically, ask God to bless us with His love and kindness as we begin to focus more on encouraging good behavior than having to harp on and discipline the bad behavior. Also, that we don't become overwhelmed with frustration, but that we find peace in His love for us, in order to love the kids well. Finally, a praise. Freedom Within Walls (non-profit) is providing Breakfast and Lunch to all of our kids for the rest of the summer starting this week! This is phenomenal.
Adios!
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