The Most Difficult, But Beautiful Experience Yet.

September 22, 2011

            Alright, so. It’s been a while since I have written, partially because we went on a canoe trip in which electronics were exiled…We have been pretty darn busy doing reflections, unpacking, doing laundry, and starting with a new speaker. The canoe trip was out at Pioneer Camp on Shoal Lake in Ontario, and it was a trying but fun time indeed. There were crazy, and I mean crazy winds on the first day and we did about 13ish kilometers of canoeing. Our site was split up into two groups, however due to the wind our whole site ended up meeting by fluke at the same island campsite. We had a huge gathering that night, with lazy man porgies for dinner (which I must say I never would have eaten if I wasn’t so tired, wet, and hungry). The next day was way better weather with close to no wind, and a lucky meeting with the Guatemala site that was also portaging their canoe’s at the same time, just in the opposite direction out of Canoe Lake. So to make matters easier…we just switched canoes! So great, no need for any heavy canoe lugging! Then it was off to our campsite on Canoe Lake to make stir-fry and set up camp. It was truly beautiful on Canoe Lake, our site was perfectly positioned on the shore for the sunset to be in view. The next day was out of Canoe Lake after a bushwhacking hike up a hill (a rather large hill), we had lunch at the top and the view was so breath taking.  We then portaged back into Shoal Lake (not easy, I hate carrying canoes), and a couple kilometer paddle to our site. The next morning was raining and yucky, but luckily we only had to out on the water until 10 o’clock, and then we were back at Pioneer Camp. A delicious meal of (real cheese…not processed) grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, epically good.  There were some super highs and lows on the trip for sure, but it all pushed me to be way more thankful for everything I have, even here at camp away from home and constantly surrounded by people.

            Which I must say, no matter how thankful I am it is quite difficult. I’m not having the best day of my life for sure, and being around so many people with such strong personalities is not easy. However we have a new speaker named Wendy and she is really great, she is speaking on Peace, Conflict Resolution, and Reconciliation. She is a really great speaker, quite passionate about what she is teaching. She really enjoys group work and that’s how these two topics connect. Working in large groups often with so many people with differing personalities and temperaments has taken a toll on me. I can’t escape it though, so I guess I’m just going to have to deal with it.  I’m also struggling to find my place in the group a little bit, and trying to find how I fit within this whole group atmosphere is something I’m sure will come with time…but I hope it comes soon.
            Funny Story of the Blog: So, one of our guides on the canoe trip name was Rob, and his sister Liz was our other guide. At first they looked boring compared to the other guide (who was CRAZY), and I was a touch disappointed. However, as the trip went on I realized how much I loved Liz, how funny she was and her laugh was simply the best.  So, on with the funny story, notice how I haven’t said much about Rob yet. Well, the first night back at Camp Arnes we all sat down and talked about our highs and lows during the trip. I had already said my highs and lows, and so had most other people. Then Luke mentioned another high moment for him were Rob calls (Rob calls is Rob’s way of waking us up, calling us back to things, anything really. It’s this loud scream type holler). Then I said “ I think another high for me was just Rob!”. That may not seem that funny, but everyone knew what I was saying. He was such a good-looking man it wasn’t even funny, everyone was thinking it…but no one had the guts to say it but me. There was a touch of hysterical laugher after my comment, no biggie.

            We have our Urban Plunge in Winnipeg from Sunday until Tuesday, I’m pretty sure will just be homeless during the day and be patrons and Siloam Mission (Winnipeg Soup Kitchen), and then we sleep in a church basement downtown. Not going to lie, I’m scared. 

A Rocky, Naked Start

September 14^th

            Kay well it’s almost dinner so this won’t be long, but I would like to enter today was the first day I had some for reals homesickness. I knew that there would be ups and downs in this program, but I’m not as comfortable as I could. I understand that’s the whole point of the program, but it’s hard to be away from my mum. I called her and cried a little (well... lot). I miss that lovely woman. I understand how my friend Jessie feels when she moved to England, away from almost everyone she knows and at that point where things just suck. Jasmyn gave me a present before I left and it was by far the best present anyone could have given me, except my mum. My mum always wins. Anyways there is a story behind it before I explain her gift. At Silver Bay Bible Camp where we counsel together, sometimes there are homesick campers. Just like any bible camp with young kids I’m sure. Anyway, we like to ease the pain with a “Homesick Pill” which is just a “Tum”. The bottle of Tums is all dresses up with a nice new cover that says “Homesick Pills”. They always work. So if you haven’t already guessed she got me some homesick pills, which really came in handy this afternoon. Thank you Jasmyn. I love you.

Later on that day….. Haha, yeah I just did it. So we just went skinny -dipping. SO COLD. It wasn’t even the cold really, just the fact there were thousands of rocks! My feet hurt so flippin bad it’s not even funny. I didn’t even get hardly wet because my feet were falling off, no joke. However, I really started connecting with people today, after my slight freak out. I really got more comfortable in my own skin and started being more me, which is great. I love that. : )

September 16, 2011

Kay Well, today is the day we travel to Pioneer Camp in Ontario, in which the canoe trip takes place. There is three nights that we will be sleeping in tents out there in the boonies. Which oddly enough I’m happy about, all I have is a yoga mat to sleep on…I brought an air mattress. But that’s not what they want you to bring, it’s way tooooo big. Soo, I borrowed a yoga mat. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, and we will have very little clothing, and it’s all super shoved into our bag, like almost impossible to take it out.  Well, I guess this will be fun. I also have to pee and poo no less outside. Scary. Our departure time was pushed back from 9 to 11. I had enough time to shower, (Again, but this time it was hot) and get myself mentally freaked out for this experience. ( WHAT A MESS!---> Packing is not easy!)
              I know it will be fun, and I also know it will stretch me, which I want  (I suppose). That is what this whole program is about, yes? So I guess I should look to it less of a burden and more of an adventure. A turn out my mum is in Gimli about week from today and said she can drop by some things if I needed and going out for lunch! I’m going to give her some of my useless things I don’t know why I brought, and trade them in for more sweaters and a warm vest. Woo hoo. Awesome, I’ll have a little more variety then two sweaters. It’s also may more stupid cold than I thought it would be, so I will also trade in some t-shirts for long sleeves. Awesome : )

The canoe trip in a tech blackout, so for the entirety of being at the pioneer camp we will have no access to phones, music, or computers. Which, I must say isn’t too much of a biggie, I do believe I can handle it!
            Well, I must go soon. It’s almost time to jump in the giant van for close to 5 hours, as far as I know.  

Teas, Mummies, and...Postmodernism?

September 13, 2011

Points to Mention: Thank you so much to my mummy, for buying me my mug. I seriously would be lost without it here. Not even kidding, I’ve had 3 mugs of tea today because it was so cold. It just reminds me of home, and keeps me rather pleased with life.
            We had a dance party in the cabin last night, after snack. Super funny, I’m looking forward to having more.

Well, I’m sure I’m not going to write a blog post everyday like I have been doing, I just feel like there is SO much I need to keep writing about. Like, we started classes today! We had our first session this morning; it was at 9 to about 11 o’clock. Our speaker is preaching on theology, and the intro this morning pretty much goes over my head. We talked a lot about postmodernism, and I’m not going to lie, I don’t really know what it is. He gave us definitions, but they all are pretty confusing. Postmodernism came after the enlightenment, it’s an approach to life that is all about you, and science, and the belief you can do anything in the world really. Or that is how Julie is explaining to me as I type…we need to try to interpret things our own way and not take everything that everyone says as truth.

So at Silver Bay Bible Camp (The camp I counsel at every summer) has a coffee house, in which we dance, drink tasty beverages and such.  So I thought for the Halloween party with our site we could kinda do the same thing, with dancing. In which someone….haha i.e. ME would make up simple simple simple choreography in which people would partner up and do and then watch groups go together after the learning process. Yeah. It would be great, like super chill dance class.

It's Been A While Hasn't Now?

Due To The Lack Of Internet My Next Posts will Be Incorrectly Dated On The Home Page And Probs The Link...Deal With It! 

September 12^th

Here at Camp Arnes!! We have a quiet time everyday at 11:00 to 12:00.  Which is lovely, it keeps us a away from each other a little bit and keeps living in community a touch easier. So far things are pretty great, our site leaders are fantastic, and everyone is really friendly and nice.   I know everyone’s name, which I’m pretty proud of I must say. The girls in my cabin are super fun, always smiling being kind and accommodating to one another.  Everyone is pretty dang chill, like yesterday a few of us played a willy-nilly game of volleyball, and I maybe hit the ball over once but everyone keep encouraging me and laughing and joking together, super good.
            Real quick I’ll explain how most things work, we are staying at camp Arnes at the moment, and yesterday after the program at CMU we all piled in to two 15 passenger vans and one mini van and headed over here.  There are about 7 or fewer girls in a cabin, and there are 3 cabins of girls. There are about 12 boys I do believe, there are 30 students, so 12 boys and 18 girls. Yes math!! We have sessions that start at 9 every day, quiet time, then lunch. That’s all I know right now, it’s only the second day… Every Sunday night we have ANCHER time, which is an acronym for  

                                                         A= Announcements

                                                         N= News

                                                         C= Concerns

                                                         H= Humorous

                                                         E= Encouragements

                                                         R= Reflection

We were handed out our reading assignments this morning, six books! I’m super excited; I’m forced to read…which I usually avoid at all costs.  The books seem really neat oh, I’ve heard of half of them. Two we have at home, and one I think the guys group at my church studied it.  Irresistible Revolution, which we have two copies at home already, and now my own! Also The Adventures of Missing the Point my mum has, and opened up a chapter for me to read that had a really great option on homosexuality. Which is a “issue” that I feel really close to as a Christian, excepting and loving people for who they are no matter what. Even though I don’t think it’s right, that doesn’t mean I can’t love and except them for it right?

I’m so far really enjoying myself and I’m super stoked for this next year. I do feel however, like the baby. I’m used to being at camp and being one of the oldest counselors, and I naturally take a leadership role and feel…old. I’m one of the youngest students, and I’m pretty sure the youngest in my cabin. Even though it doesn’t really matter it just feels a little weird, and my confidence level or aspect of my personality is hiding a little. It’s getting better as I feel more comfortable with the people around me, I just don’t want to be seen as the baby…. so I guess I should stop feeling like it and more or less acting like it!

Stuck In Metaphorical Mud In My Proverbial Pick Up Truck

It’s 6 30, the night before and I’m not packed yet.... Oh goodness. My mum helped me clean out my room today, there were 2 recycling bags, 2 garbage bags, and a tub full of crap that I was either donating or just throwing out. I have no idea why I keep as much stuff as I do. Bonnie, my oh so pampered cat enjoyed the cleaning process as well apparently. Now my room looks a little naked. However, coming home to a clean room will be beyond fabulous. I love that feeling.

            Jasmyn (my bestie pants) is moving in to my room in October, due to   the fact that she got hired at the Esso here in town. She doesn’t live in town, so it’s awfully lovely that I do. She shall take my place indeed. Speaking of which, we decided today that we should have a friendship fish. I purchased a lovely white and orange goldfish, she will take care of while I’m gone and then when I’m home, I’ll join in the fun.Dudley Ringo Gildriscoll, welcome to your new home! : )

             We had Chinese food tonight as a lovely treat, and my fortune cookie said, “You have much to be thankful for”.  It’s not a fortune at all, however it’s extremely true. My mum is crazy amazing, pretty much cleaning my whole room and organizing everything, sewing things that need to be repaired, and all the while being happy and patient. I love that woman; I hope I will be like her.         
           It hasn’t settled in yet that I’m leaving; looking at my empty room is a little unsettling however. I was speaking to my friend last night and he looked over my schedule for the next 3 months and he said to me “ Wow. This is going to be amazing. It looks like just a huge party!” I really appreciate that perspective.  Sometimes I tend to get caught up with the fact that I can’t come home, and I will only have a few pairs of pants, or in other words the little things. When I should be thinking about the amazing fun experience I’m about to embark upon. I am truly thankful for everything my family, and the Lord have provided for me, and I can’t wait to start this crazy party tomorrow!