Saturday, August 13, 2011

Some things you may not know

So you may not know, but I recently got a job at Kobe. It's a japanese steakhouse. And yes, I am the token American. haha! I've worked really hard in my training and have earned everyone's respect. It's a great job and I couldn't be more thankful for having it. Thanks sooo much to Miya and Biggie! Everyone has really welcomed me and I'm now THE hostess :) Very fun! Not bad pay either haha. Anyway, yesterday at work Biggie was trying to get me to go out to eat with the workers but I was just too tired. So I promised to go tonight. We met up at G-state and I rode with them to eat at Huddle House...at 11p.m. I had so much fun just hanging out with them at such a late time. On the ride back home I asked Biggie if he went to church here sense he had told me he was Catholic earlier. We got on this huge talk about religion and then I realized how God had placed me here, with these people, so very conveniently. Either I have just opened my eyes or God is just super blunt with me. haha. This is such a great opertunity to share Christ with these people. I'm just so excited because I feel like this summer was such a great time to build me for this very thing. :)
I just thought I would share with you all sense I don't update much.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Quick overview..well not so quick. :)

Hey everyone, sorry I've been a bad updater...haha. Well my summer has been quite full of things to do and NO time to spare. So here we go..
I've decided that not only does God want me to be here at this camp, but is using me in sooo many ways. The Lord is literally taking my life apart piece by piece and fixing me to look more like Him.
          First session I came into this camp thinking I was the big dog. Blessed to be there but my head in the clouds. I'm sure God looked at me and said..You know Emmaline, I'm gonna teach you some humility. So He put me as an assistant for the one girl I thought I was better than. I learned real fast that I loved this girl and loved just helping out instead of being the "boss". Soon I realized how thankful I was not having to deal with all the stress Sarah did. 
           Second session I was promoted to the top. I had learned humility and God had blessed me big time. I loved getting to be over it all by myself and gained the respect of my kids, yet I had made such a close relationship with each one. I loved them all so much! One girl that was in my equestrian program is even bringing her family back to meet me and take me to dinner this weekend! :) I fixed her position so much when she got home to take lessons again, her instructor noticed. But all wasn't just perfect that session...trust me. Here God comes in again. He put me with the hardest cabin of girls AT CAMP. Patience. I learned patience like no other. These girls were probably the hardest test I could take at the time. First session I was put with the most wonderful girls that counselors THIS session still talk about how great they were. So it was tough to love these girls after my first go 'round. I even pushed the possibility of me ever loving them at first. But it came and I really got to loving each girl and they're imperfect and wild selves. 
            Third session. This session I've really come to realize how much God is putting into me. What else could I run into? I've had the low job, bad campers..what more? Well..There is plenty! Sarah is now back over me and I'm thinkin' she must have pressure on her now. Not sure why? Well, she snaps on me daily  and to be honest, I wasn't quite sure how to take it at first. She had come from this sweet and good friend to an enemy for no reason. She wouldn't even let the kids ride my horse, who I'm being paid for to be used by campers. Then it came to me..Forgive and forget. And of course, love always. So I have taken what she dishes out everyday but I just forgive her and love her with my whole heart. It's so neat how everything you do is like a domino effect. You don't realize how kids (and other adults) soak up everything you do and say. Though Sarah doesn't let me help, still won't use my horse, and has the occasional snap, her general attitude had softened. 

God is truly amazing is every last thing He does. He works in each and everyone of your lives and you may not even know it.  So here is a verse that has just popped out for me.. 
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6 

Hope all your summers are going great!  
-Emmaline 

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

First Session!

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted much yet. I've been really busy with all my campers and activities. Just so you know, I love my campers and my job! They never stop testing me or just amaze me every single day with thier talent and things they say. I work at the barn 24/7 and if I'm not there, I'm spending my time with my cabin of 14 11 y/o girls. :) So far camp has treated my body with sunburn, friction burns to my calf muscle, cuts from metal, and just plain exaustion. But my soul with new words of encouragement and test at all times. I've been home just for a few hours to surprise my best friend (Molly Ann Henson) and to visit with family on Saturday 6/11. And to be honest, I wanted to be here most the time that I spent home. Crazy right? Yep, but I love it here. Every last thing about it. I may be tired, or get frustrated with campers, but I couldn't love my life anymore then I do at this very moment. <3  

I'll share some stories tomorrow some keep checking back! Love and miss everyone! Well, not really Gadsden but the folks ;) Hope to see everyone soon

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Orientation/clinic

     So over the past week and a half I've been up on Mentone on the mountain at CSR. The days of the clinic at Skyline were long and..well, I've never wanted to get off a horse in my life but, after 8 hours of riding everyday for three days..it gets old. Quick. We had to teach three lessons. One ground, and two riding. Lets just say I'm not the most organized teacher. haha. I come up with the best lesson when I don't come up with one at all! Though after all of that, I am now certified in level 1 intructor for both English and Western, as well as trail. Whoop whoop! 
Skipping down...

Orientation. Where do I start?
It was hard to learn 90 girl's names! haha. Yes, 90 girls(plus myself) will be working at Camp Skyline this summer. Fun fun. Not only am I the youngest of the counselors, I am the only girl not in a sorority. Yikes.
So orientation mostly consisted of getting to know one another, games, training, and certifying CPR and First Aid. Yeah, I can totally save someone's life now :) haha. It was great and an amazing experience to say the least!
     It's funny, I had been hired as the head for the horses, but ended up being second in comand(God wanting me to learn humility after I let my competitiveness get the best of me). I wanted my horse to come with me to camp, and someone asked if they could lease her to use at Skyline. I wanted to work there, and out of hundreds of applicants, never even been to this camp or met anyone, I was hired. God must really want me here!
      I learned ALOT about how this camp runs, how to take care of campers, how to teach, and how to have fun, but nothing compared to my last night of orientation. I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I have never been on a prayer walk..in my life. And that's what we did our last night. We went around the whole camp, stopping at alot of places to pray for different things. We had four groups divided up going at different times to all the places praying. So literally, the camp was showered with prayers. It was amazing. The Lord was flowing right through me as i prayed, giving me the words to say. 
    As we got to the last spot for the night, I looked up at the sky. We were out in a huge open field used for circus. I've never seen that many stars before! It was beautiful. Then it came to my mind, something I had been thinking about since I got there. Why AM I here? I knew it was for a good reason. God had placed me here so obviously, I just needed to wait to see what comes next. Then my leader spoke. She said, as if reading my mind, "if you ever wonder why you are here, just look up." After that, I knew I was meant to be here. This summer is going to change my life.