Camp Victory part 1: Life as a CIT

Summer, oh the summer.  I would not even say that mine has been busy, but of course I have not written much at all.  The one blog that I did write was very short and honestly crappy (pardon my pun).  A few days ago, I was surprised to find three blogs written but never published.  I would publish them now but they are so far into the past that it would be silly.

The summer has been full of ups with only a handful of downs thrown in here and there.  This summer I had the privilege of working at Camp Victory as a CIT–it was such a joy.  I met new people and feel as though perhaps I made an impact in someone’s life.

In a previous blog I mentioned my walking into an “I Hate This Girl!” club–I’ll call this female Vicki so that she remains…innocent. I did not understand the other girls hatred dislike for Vicki.  God is funny, for Vicki was my partner for the week.  I still did not understand why they did not like her…but I guess it just might be a girl thing.  I mean sure, I will admit that it felt like I did more of the work a lot of the time (butIthinkthatshewasonherperiod..), but she is really nice and fun to hang with sometimes.  I think I got along very well with all of my fellow CITs.

During the week, the CITs went to the challenge course.  I always enjoy this,  I enjoy the talks we have afterwards–especially the part about leaders and followers.  On this particular trip I was most definitely a follower–I fear we had a few too many leaders this time.  We had an activity which consisted of getting the group from point A to point C without touching the ground and with only two blocks of wood.  It was difficult to figure out but I was embarrassingly surprised at how quickly the group became frustrated.

My cabin was wonderful.  The girls were well behaved and that made my one week (*sigh*) of work more fun.  There was only one first year camper–one whom I felt sympathetic toward.  See, she tried to fit in a little too hard; even I shared in the girls frustration.  That little girl and I had the same pajama bottoms.  The other girls complimented mine and not hers.

Girl 1: Charita, your pajamas are so cute!

New Girl: I have the same ones!

Girl 2: Charita, your pants are totally awesome.

New Girl: Hey, I have the same ones!

Girl 3: Charita, I like your pajamas.

New Girl:  I’ve got the same ones!!

Me:  Hey guys, don’t you like her pajamas too?

Girl 1:  Your shirt brings out the color more.

I almost started to laugh, right in their presence.

The only thing I regret is my inability to stay up late into the night.  It is sad that I went to sleep before my campers did.  I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to tell blond jokes until midnight–but I still wish I could have stayed up.  Another thing that I need to improve is my talkativeness. The girls in my cabin commented on my quietness.  I honestly thought I was extra loud that week….

I also had the opportunity to share my testimony with my fellow cabin mates–God did things that night.  My testimony prompted another girl to share, and another, and another–every girl shared her testimony.  It was amazing!

Detox

Recently, I have been at home with nothing to do (always something to do, just either 1) not worth doing or 2) I am procrastinating) and watching the numerous infomercials that come on television.  Every Saturday and sometimes Sunday they have two or three on the subject of Detox.  They make me laugh ever so much.  I have never openly talked about bowel movements, nor have I seen anyone who did–from size to thickness to color.

You have these supposed doctors (I’m not quite sure what they are) trying to convince you, the person lame enough to be watching an infomercial in the first place, to by their product–usually pills.  They tell you that your colon is clogged up and needs to be emptied (how they know about my colon, I’m not quite sure).  The answer to this problem is their new pill.  But oh no, it is  not a laxitive–makes you poop your guts out–but definitely not a laxitive.  The doctor(s) got very defensive when this subject was brought up.

I learned many other things about the (my?) body.  For instance,  if the colon is not properly detoxed on a regular basis the fecal matter that has not been properly disposed seeps back into the body.  It stays there hardening; the body tries to rid itself of the unuseful substance and sometimes it seeps at the skin.  Do you have embarrasing marks on your body?  Maybe you should detox!!

Staff Training

This week of Staff Training has been terrific.  I found it spiritually refreshing, informative, and I also made plenty of new friends.

I was nervous on Monday.  I wanted to be well liked and accepted (without the weird look in one’s eye).  As previously posted, my brother is extremely popular; I just found out how much.  I sort of shadowed him that day (and probably the rest of the week:).  I got plenty of “Hey, you’re Makario’s sister!  You guys look so much alike.”  I took it in stride, knowing that it would come and choosing not to care.  I made friends, met somebody’s special friend (and gave her my blessing), and ate. I like camp food.  We had a “get acquainted” time in the chapel.  We were supposed to tell 1) our name 2) our current location 3) pick something off a table and tell what it represented to us.  I had the best thing in mind too.  I was going to pick the toy guitar and say, ” I picked the guitar because I don’t play the guitar.  If asked to do so, I probably wouldn’t because I don’t know how.  God wants up to get out of our comfort zones.”  BUT the girl in front of me chose that object so I had to think of something else at the last moment.  I picked up the calculator (because it looked cool) and said, “I picked this calculator because God wants us to be..uhh….smart.”  The entire chapel errupted with laughter.  Can you say embarrasing?

The next day I had Dining Room Crew.  I learned how to properly set the table and how to pitchers on the table so that they would not bother ADD people.  Being a CIT has wonderful privileges.  Free food and coffee (I have had five cups in the past two days–decaf though:).  There wasn’t too much to do with dining room.  When I think about it though, there is not too much to do with any of them.  You just have to learn where things are.  There were many classes.  One class that I found most interesting was a study of courtship vs dating.  Boy was that interesting.  There is a fine line between the two and I think that is what I shall stick with.

I suppose another positive thing that came out of it was,  I faced my phobia of canines.  My phobia of dogs is still alive and well, but now, I suppose it is feeling ill.  There was a stray dog that followed me around.  I was freaking out and did not know what to do (but apparently, I hid it well because the dog did not have a clue).  They gave an announcement that morning saying “Please do not pet the dog(s).”  Almost everyone broke that rule (except me, why pet a canine, that just makes no sense).

Josiah and I got to hang out a bit.  We went on the swings together and were going to go boating but that didn’t work out.

This years theme is AmazinGrace (based on the actual games).  We were competing against other cabins.  Some of the sections were particularly memorable. There was this one part when only one person could participate; the rest or his/her teammates had to pick out food for the other person to eat.  The choices were a raw potato, saltine crackers, vienna sausages, and baby food –we had to choose three out of the four. I could have done it.  Timan’s food really doesn’t taste that bad, but I didn’t volunteer.  We also had to put a tee shirt on a pig.  I am starting to wonder if I accidentally wrote “Not an animal person” on my application.

That is pretty much the highlights of my week (and I am tired of writing).

What a day…

My CIT weeks were due on Tuesday. I was very determined to get it in on time. My mother said, “Why don’t we just wait until tomorrow? We can talk about it then.”

I said, ” No, Mom, I have to turn it in today.”

Makario and I drove all the way downtown to the post office. The line was terrible long (taxes were due on this day, Tuesday, April 15), people were complaining and cursing under there breath, and I was afraid of being a penny short. At last, it is my turn in line. I put in my forty one cents (did you know the price is going to rise again in May?) and waited for my stamp. I had already addressed the envelope to camp. I dropped it into the box and breathed a sigh of relief. I had made it and on time at that. Huzzah for me! I am amazing.

The next day…..

“Charita, Charita, you got mail!”

I am always excited to receive mail. For some reason, perhaps the tone of Timia’s voice, I was ecstatic. I looked at the envelope.

*Gasp*

I had mailed the weeks that I wished to work to myself! I was so determined and then it comes back to me the next day. What a waste of forty-one cents.

Farewell Josiah

Goodbye, my love, I shall miss you.

Josiah, you have been an excellent friend and I will miss you. Our ups and downs were great, but it is now time for us to part. My first and only boyfriend–I will never regret the time we spent together . Our long talks and walks in the park, going to Baskin Robbins, eating at fast food restaurants, these things will be trapped in my memory. I am mourning your leaving but I know it is for the best.

I am sorry for the way my friends treated you, as though you were not real. Indeed, you were very real to me. I would like to apologize for Abby stepping on your foot. I know that it must have hurt but you bore the pain silently, as you do most things.

Your silence and strength has helped me through much. Though we will never be together again, I will always remember you.

I love you, Josiah and I always will.

Do not forget me, I certainly will not forget you.

Charita Lewis

P.S. Thank you for all of the flowers you sent me.