First Week of Summer Camp!

I survived my first week of summer camp!  It actually wasn't too hard to do, the kids were splendid for the most part. :) Truth is, it was other things that I was struggling with this week.  I don't want this to sound like "woe is me" or anything, but my mom told me to just write down whatever comes into my head when I don't know what to write for blog posts - so I'm trying to start and do that.

I've had a hard time feeling like I'm fitting in here.  I have made friends, but when I'm the only one who doesn't like to party much and the only one who doesn't drink, I often feel like I'm completely alone.  I try to hang out with everyone, play games with them, go to the pub occassionaly with them, but there is still an empty feeling and I find myself alone a lot and going to bed early.
Again, I'm not writing this because I want people to feel sorry for me or anything.  I find myself writing this actually because I want to share something that I have become extremely aware and grateful of from this.

There are times in everyone's lives, when you are physically surrounded by multiple of people, but feel completely alone and isolated.  And hopefully, there are moments during these times that you have found someone reaching out to you to lift you out of that lonely and dark hole.  Throughout my life when I have been in those lonely times, I have had a few certain people be that supportive hand, to lift me up and help me feel wanted and loved.  They have become some of my closest friends.  Thank you for those who are still reaching out to me and making a simple call while I am gone on this trip.  Thank you to my family who are constantly checking in on me.

It may seem like such a small little thing.  To write a small message or to make a quick 5 minute call if there's no time for more than that.  But it truly makes the biggest difference for me.  For someone who struggles feeling alone...sometimes more often than not.

I can't help but think that if it makes that much of a difference to me, I can't imagine what it could mean to others who struggle more than I or who are going through more things than what I'm dealing with.  I am made aware that I need to try to be a bit better.  To reach out to others more often.  To be a smile to those who are sad.  A light to those who are in dark.  A hand to those who need lifting.  A shoulder for those who need crying.  I can do better.  We all can do a little better.  Each day.  Even if it's just a smidge better.  :)

I am extremely grateful for my friends and family.  I truly have been so blessed.  I have discovered that, even though I am doing something that I love and enjoy and is quite an adventure, I am so much more happier when I am in the company of those whom I love and they love me.  

I miss home.  I miss my family.  I miss hugs from my mom.  I miss my dads jokes at the dinner table.  I miss being able to walk into my sister's apt whenever I wanted to go see her and her family.  I miss being able to see my best friend on a daily basis.  I miss being surrounded by others who believe the same things as I do.  I miss being able to go to the temple every week.  I miss being able to walk to church, 5 minutes away.  I miss it all, so so much.

However, I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be here.  I am learning what I appreciate the very most.  I am having a wonderful missionary experience, being able to share my beliefs with those whom ask questions when they're curious about something, as most here have never met a Mormon before.

Anyways, thankfully I had a handful of kids to worry about this week which helped a little bit with the hard week I was having in my mind.  I was put in charge of a group of 10 kids, all aged 6-7 years old.  For the most part, they would listen.  I just had to yell a couple of times so that they could hear me over their own excited voices.  haha!

We did some archery, bouldering, ziplining, climbing, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, adventure walks, laser tag, canoeing, and other random games!  It was a blast!  The kids would come in the morning, we go do our sessions, and then they would leave in the afternoon.  It was a sad day when Friday came because that was the end of my groups camp!  Next week is a whole new batch of kids.

We work really hard while the kids played laser tag... ;)

We got shirts and all the kids ran around signing shirts and having kids and leaders sign their shirts.  I had my kids sign my shirt, and then some other kids wanted to sign as well.  I will keep this shirt forever!  I already miss my kids so much!

One girl absolutely stole my heart during the week.  She was my little monkey, as she started climbing up me to become my human backpack and hanging on my leg.  Friday, when her mom came to pick her up, she started bawling and saying, "I don't want to leave summercamp!"  She then turned and ran over to me where she wrapped her arms and legs around me and just hugged me for a good while!  It was the most precious thing.  I will miss her!

And another boy was such a cutie!  We were walking to go do shallow bouldering, and all of a sudden I felt this little hug around my waist.  I looked down and it was this 6 yr old boy.  He was kinda a trouble maker in our group and didn't always listen and seemed to be a "rough" kid.  But he did that a bit more throughout the week and he really was a softie that needed a little hug now and then :) It was the cutest.

Then this weekend a couple of us volunteers went up to Belfast and explored the city!

We went into a really cool and old pub. Built in 1849!

I also have found a new favorite dessert here - Sticky Toffee Pudding. OMG, so good.

Dog piling ontop of Ryan one evening!

Welp. That's all for now, folks! I hope you have a wonderful week! :)