Day 2 - Camp Oro Quay

Well, we got to camp all fine and nobody got car sick. It took a little longer to get to Camp Oro Quay than usual. I guess that's what happens when you let a bunch of pre-pubescent girls have 32 oz soft serve in a cup! When they asked me if they could get shakes and ice cream, I thought it was in place of their drinks, not their lunch. Well, none of them ate lunch and I was a bit nervous about the fact that all of them had a ton of ice cream but no one complained or got hungry on the drive.
When we got to camp, we found a beautiful camp setting in the foothills outside of Albuquerque. Last night was mostly just an introduction time to camp but the camp speaker did a great job of introducing the theme of camp "Exploring God". It's amazing to listen to his messages and hear the doctrine that is being taught to these little ones and they don't even realize it. He's really speaking to their level!
Right now all the kids are swimming, I think for the exception of Stephanie. (thumb). I hope someone is watching them as they swim! J/K. They have three lifeguards on duty and Katie is with them as well.
Let me just give a quick update on each student from our group for all you who are inquiring minds:
Stephanie: doing great, quite athletic as she beat me in the Castle House race
Becca: talks a mile a minute and is having a great time. I feel like God is working on her this week. She said she memorized a verse out of the Bible this morning. That's a great step for her even though when I asked her what the verse was, she couldn't remember it.
Bella: Surprisingly to me, I have not heard much out of Bella. I can tell she's having a great time but she doesn't talk to me much. Maybe I stink. Maybe I should take a shower. I see her listening during the messages and participating in all the games and activities though.
Kari: She stinkin beat me in the Castle House race too! Doing great at camp away from home for the first time in this setting. I was a little nervous about her since she was crying at church before we left but she shows no signs of homesickness. I asked her if she was and she said "no way" but also that she did miss her mom a little.
Ethan: I'm convinced this kid is a genius and no one has realized it yet. There is a lot going on in that head of his and we had a great discussion about last night's message afterward. I was thinking I was going to have to prod him a little to get him to talk. Man, it took him about 2 seconds to get going. Then he became the preacher. I told him I thought he would make a great preacher someday. He is very in tune with God and what He is doing around him.

That's it for now. Please be praying for each of these kids that God's Spirit would get a hold of each of them right where they're at and just how they need it!
Check out my facebook if you want even more pictures! I would love to have your comments. I'll make sure I share them with the kids. Don't forget to send your kids "Meal Mail". None of them have gotten any and I think they might be getting a bit disappointed. You can email them from the camp website: www.oroquay.org
Chris Standridge