one week down...

our team in the city!!
Sunset at our place
this is what we see driving in to work in the morning
The kids one day at camp
Bailey and Tristyn
Rosie and I
me and ali

My group bowling



1 week down, 2 to go...

Camp Sunshine AU is heaps different than Camp Sonshine Silver Spring... (do you like my Aussie lingo?) I reckon you should haha...

Anyways, whats so different? First, the parents here are not used to people playing with their kids or getting to know them period. They just expect to drop off their kids and pick them up. They weren't expecting the relationships that we build. We seriously have the best team ever. Each person is here for a reason and make such a difference. We had about 20 kids everyday last week...which is nothing compared to America but it was great because we could really talk to the kids like all the time and invest in their lives.

Even though the kids get attached to you easily it is still hard to feel like you are making an impact because the kids can sign up for only one day. In the states you have to sign up for a 2 week period. Here the kids may sign up for two random days and that is all!

It is easy to feel like you dont make a difference for kids that are only at camp for a short time. But God works through us and affects the kids around us. I met a girl named Rosie who was much older than most campers. She had only been in Au for 3 months and she moved from England. We clicked right away and now her mother is talking about sending her to Camp Sonshine US when she is 15! She was lovely and made me a friendship braclet on the last day she was there (which was the third day of camp!).

It is also so much more laid back here than in the states. We go with the flow. If the kids like an activity we stay there longer...oh and thats another thing. They never seemed to get bored like the kids in the states do. They are satisfied playing a game of tag or tiggy as they call it here. It is such an overall different attitude.

The weather here has been really cool. They said that it has been unusually cool for this time of year. We have to wear sweatshirts in the morning and night. But the days are beautiful not humid at all.

Yesterday we went into the city. It was really cool to explore Melbourne and get out because where we are seems so far away from civilization. haha. Tonight we are going to a cricket game, which should be fun!

Allright, I dont have internet for that long so that is my quick update. I love and miss you all. My favorite thing ever is to have messages and emails when I get to check it so keep me updated!! Sorry for the scattered thoughts!