Half a month into Kawayan Camp, I am: 

1. sunburned and evading bugs that bite 
2. speaking English a lot… saken naassign yung Korean na camper e
3. very well-fed and am among the few counselors NOT on a diet and still eating rice everything
4. learning to understand (and speak?) Hiligaynon and Cebuano
5. back to wearing a tubao and baggy clothes
6. falling asleep 0-5 seconds after lying down
7. having a breather from special events… but wait, there is more next week!!!
8. appreciating siesta time
9. enjoying throwing questions at my students about OIA (inductive Bible Study)
10. in demand for my massages
11. washing a lot of dishes while singing Sunday school songs
12. realizing the difficulty of keeping teenagers attentive. the secret is to feed them well
13. chasing the paka, the tuko, and the pabo
14. having KC reunions with West V people after 5 years (waaah Jason at last!!!)
15. doing a lot of praying (please Lord don’t let it rain…)
16. thanking God that I am with Kuya Mark and Vina (boom!)
17. being reminded of lessons learned about personhood, KOG, LCMS, etc.
18. memorizing memory verses creatively… i especially liked like this one:

I lift up my eyes to the hills –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you –
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm –
He will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more.

Random illustrations for this post:

It’s my day off as a counselor for a one-month concentration camp, er, intensive leadership training camp here in Negros. This summer, I am simply overwhelmed with everything that happened the last 2 weeks of March…

9 days before I went to Bacolod: On my last day at work, overnight parteeh at my officemate’s house with Team Funcit Canton; camwhoring and food galore! I miss them already.

8 days before I went to Bacolod: I spent the Holy Week vegetating in Tarlac with my family. Had a surprise visit from Frozti and reread my beloved pockebooks. 

3 days before I went to Bacolod:I was able to finish all my requirements for my MA finals in just 3 days… and I got a happy surprise from my teacher about my discourse analysis. =)

2 days before I went to Bacolod:Then off to Tagaytay for a weekend summer retreat with IVPM. Aside from the challenge of organizing that event on a limited time frame, there were a lot of bounses. Spent 3 hours stargazing on Sarurday night and saw 7 shooting stars. Also went to Tagaytay Highlands for lunch… I am now inspired to become rich. Hehehe. I also memorized the covenant of affirmation. After Tagaytay, I went to Makati with my big backpack and spent the night with my kcmates for a reunion in honor of Em2. Masarap palang iulam ang crabsticks…

The day before I went to Bacolod, I had a massage, met with my triad and watched Bucket List.

 For two weeks: Average of 4 hours sleep and the realization that I still do not know how to travel light. Overwhelmed with activities too.

NOW. It’s the last 30 minutes before I go back to the campsite, an hour away from the city. Back to Camp Humayan and the trees, the grass, the sunset and the stars, the ifugao house, the faraway CR, no TV or computers, lots of food, lots of people, special events planning, staying up late, waking up early, sweeping a never-ending supply of leaves, washing dishes, being an ate and counselor, being a Tagalog outnumbered by Visayan and Hiligaynon speakers, massages and hugs, and the start of a month of being responsible.

Tomorrow is the first day of Kawayan Camp 2008, and our theme is Si Hesu Kristo: ang ating simula, ating kaganapan. This is also the 50th year that IVCF has been conducting this camp. I am both excited and scared. Not just because it’s my first time to be a counselor, but because of the crossroads I see coming. But despite the pressure and mixed emotions, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. Five years ago, He spoke to me in the mountains of Cebu. Now, He is about to let me  witness something truly magnificent.

But wait, there’s more! KC reunion with the West V people mid April. Haha!