Train rides are good for blogging.

MAN.

I truly had no idea that this past week that I experienced working with Royal Family Kids camp would be as amazing as it was.

This blog will not even come close to describing or explaining what or whom I encountered this week.

Royal Family kids camp is an organization that is connected to different churches ALL OVER THE WORLD. One of those churches is located in Pasadena and that is whom I volunteered with.

I thought this summer that I would have a car, making it easy to travel to and fro between Northern and Southern California. However, as some of you may know, that wasn't the case considering the fact that my car overheated over Spring Break and died (sad sad day) So maybe perhaps at that point I should of backed out not considering all of the money and time that would have go to into it... but did I ? Of course not.

And then the week leading up to leaving I got a lovely little throat virus and was basically in bed sick all week... and then Saturday came. I had booked my train/bus ride back to Socal the night before, packed my bags, emailed the director that I had just a little bit of a bug but was coming anyway.

My buddy counselor and I, Lizzie were hated sometimes and loved the other times. We were their best friends on some occasion and their enemies the next.

But one thing they knew was that regardless of if we told them no, or to quiet down our fabulous singing voices during lights out time, that we LOVED THEM.

All I knew was a name, two names actually. Two campers that would be mine for a week, to treat them as the princesses that they deserved to be treated as. Once they stepped off of the bus on Monday afternoon, I felt as though I was looking into the faces of my own children. 

During this camp the kids have a chance to swim, make crafts such as their own buttons and tie die, stuff pillows and make bug houses. They also get a chance to stand on a stage and share their talent with the rest of the camp. Our girls were not able to get costumes out of the dress up closet because it was locked and boy were they upset. One of my girls J, expressed her frustration at me and told me it was all my fault, and why can't I do anything right. It hurt and not just because I was getting yelled at by a nine year old but also because theses words she spewed at me were words that at one time were given to her. Ouch. But once the harsh words were finished, the girls were claiming they were embarrassed, that they would not go on stage because they didn’t have costumes and we hadn't practiced. So I got them up and outside and said lets practice now! They did, and then we prayed that we would do well, remember what we practiced and would know that whatever we do, that he would be smiling down on us anyway...and then one of my girls J adds "And who cares if we don’t have costumes!" all of the girls chimed in "Who cares Who cares! Amen."

 If you want to know what the face of God looks like, then look into the face of a beaming child after they received a standing ovation during a little, quickly put together talent show.

Their dimples were deep, their mouths spread wide, JOY spilled from every pore and I was so very proud of them that it brought me to tears while telling them so.

 Every year, Lake Avenue Church throws a birthday party for every child whether or not it really is their birthday. This year the birthday theme was a tea party, which was my favorite if I do say so myself! These little girls were able to dress up, drink out of their own butterfly handle teacup and dance around to Disney music. It was a beautiful beautiful site to see, their faces were more than excited they dance their little hearts out and held out their fancy pinkies proudly.

I have cried almost everyday this week… while praying for my girls and these children. Praying for their situation, seeing them smile and asking God why!? Why them?! Why any child? But he has said, "For He will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor. He will redeem them from oppression and violence for their lives are precious in His sight." Psalm 72:12

And during our staff debriefing one of my friends Rebecca shared this scripture that God had laid on her heart during the week in found in Jeremiah.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says…” Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. Your widows too can trust in me." Jeremiah 49:11

He sent us these words a long long time ago and is the answer he continues to give. He is listening, even when we don’t necessarily see him doing the work he has already promised to accomplish.

I understand this was long, and for those who took the time to read it I thank you.

If I could sum up this week up in a poem... it would be this one;

“While walking on the beach one day,
I saw a Starfish by the score.

And everywhere I looked it seemed,
I saw a thousand more.

Then what to my surprise appeared?
A boy of nine or ten.

And as the Starfish washed ashore,
he threw them back again.

"One fish won't make a difference son;
You can't change this situation."

He stooped and picked up one more fish,
then looking right at me,

"I can make a difference for this one, sir"
and returned it to the sea.

So I went and gathered all my friends,
my brothers and my cousins.

We joined in with that little boy
and save Starfish by the dozens."

There're still many to be rescued -
many "Starfish" on life's shore.

And you can make a difference too...
by saving just one more."

By C.A. Milbrandt

EveryONE matters. Make each day count.