Hey everyone,
Today was the first full day of camp! Morning exercises were great, we listened to "I'm a Believer", YMCA and "Yah" by Usher. Haha anyway, there is a new cook this year so the food is much better! It seems like we eat all the time! Sometimes it's hard to eat dinner because we are still full from lunch.
The campers are awesome but sometimes their caretakers are even more incredible. At my lunch table is the oldest babooshka (grandma) at the camp. Last year was her first year at this camp with her granddaughter and I remember her very well because it was the first time in her life that she had ever experienced a shower. Anyway, at meal times she feeds her granddaughter each bite because she cannot move. Babooshka is so sweet to her. It is such a joy to watch her love her granddaughter so much. After she finishes eating her meal then the babooshka eats. She doesn't even touch her food until she is done serving. I can't imagine living like that, so selfless, every day. I think of how our Father in heaven is like the babooshka, feeding us and taking care of us because we can't do it ourselves. I am useless. We are all useless but God loves and cares for us despite our uselessness.
After every meal I take the babooshka's plates to the kitchen and today before I took her cup she pulled me over to her so that I was on my knees beside her and she started talking to me in Ukrainian, taking my hands between hers. I couldn't understand the words she said, but I understand that she was thanking me. She is a humble, thankful servant and I pray that one day I will be like her... Selfless!
The boy, Sirg, who was having trouble, left camp today so keep him in your prayers. I wish I could write about everything that happened today but just don't have the time. Please know that already in the short time here it has been an amazing experience! Please pray for my friend Ali, she is having a hard time coping with being away from home. Please pray for me that God will give me the right words to say, not only to Ali but to everyone here.
Love you all!
Ashley
3 comments:
Ashley, I am so happy you are there right now! What an amazing experience you get to have three times! I am so happy you are sitting with the babushka, what a lesson you have already learned from her :) I will be praying for Ali, as well as the whole team. I love you girlie!! Keep spreading GOd's love :)
ASHLEY :) wow reading your blog has brought me to tears many times...remembering our time in Ukraine and imaging all the people you are impacting this time around! I loved what you said about the sweet selfless Babushka.. that is such an amazing experiance. I will pray for you and the team and just everything. I am so proud of you and love you!
oh thats from Natalie Pritz... just couldn't figure out how to have my name show up :)
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