Amy's Got Gas!!!

Will Mattingly...An Awkward Man

Is It Worth It?

Camp Teams 2007 is offically over for us and the feeling is very bittersweet. I (William) am glad to be going home and resting up for my trip to Taiwan in a week but my heart longs so much to go back and hang out with kids. Last Thursday, Levi left to go to Kansas City and get on a plane for his brother's wedding and the rest of our team headed back to Joplin the next day. I left yesterday morning for my 7 hour drive home (I live in Iowa).
During training week, my car was broken into and the radio was stolen, so my drive was without music. It was just me driving. I spent my time reflecting on the last 38 days and my future trip to Taiwan. For a good time, I spent much time complaining about:
--my health (i had a bad cough and stomach flu the last week)
--my exhaustion (38 days sleeping in my sleeping bag on mattresses not specifically made for comfort)
--my finances (being gone on my missions trip doesn't allow me to put some money away for next semester)
--my uncomfort (no need for explanation)
--the stinking rain!!!!! (i woke up on friday to the third day straight of rain with two flies on my knee--i think it's a sign...)

As I was whining and talking to God, I was getting more and more irritated and then at the moment I was the most irritated, I heard the Spirit say, "Isn't it worth it?"

I paused (but was still driving...).

Then I thought of all the moments I had in the last month encouraging kids to go home and shine like stars (Philippians 2:15) or talking to kids about the importance of purity or just being their friend that listened (because that is what I like to do). Through all the pain, all the exhaustion, all the discomfort, for one person to move in a different direction- a direction towards God and not themselves- it is worth it.

So, with this being my (william) final post on this blog, I ask all of you reading this:

What is it worth to give up everything?

To me, it is worth everything to give up everything.

Have a great summer!

3 weeks down 1 to go...

Hey guys!! This is Amy. I can't believe that 3 weeks has already gone by. It seems like yesturday that we were at Camp Sooner...but it has almost been 3 weeks. WOW!!
Right now the team and I are at some Nebraska Furniture store....but this store has EVERYTHING.I am actually on one of thier laptops writing this....their computers in the store have internet. How cool is that?!?!?! Yeah, I know pretty cool!!! We aren't in Nebraska or anything like that. We are in Kansas City...well the Kansas side of Kansas City. We just went to Cabella's. That was the first time that I have ever experienced anything like that. It was pretty cool.
Here is some funny stuff that all of you I am sure would like to know. Today i petted a cow!!! It was the coolest thing ever. It was a little baby. Her name was Coco. THEN I got to ride in some thing that seperated the grain from the stalks. Ya know the movie CARS???? Ya know FRANK that chased the main character? It was one of those!!! SO COOL!!!! I will post some picutres when I get a chance. I think that all of you would like them. I also got to ride on a 4-wheeler for the 2nd time in my life. That was pretty cool. AND Rachel's Mom made us the most AMAZING home made pizza and cookies. yum yum. I liked them a lot. I will post picures of the day as soon as I can.
Last week was really good at West Central. We met some awesome students and staff. I am really excited to work with some of the same youth ministers again this week.
Well...this store is about to close in 10 minutes and I don't want to get yelled at. So until next time...
Good-bye Loyal Readers!!
In Christ,
Amy
Ps... I love you MOM!!!
Pss....I love you NAN!!!!

Hey!

Hi guys! I miss all of you already! But, we are on the road again.... ;) On to one more camp, a Junior High group. I'm really excited to meet more campers and go to camp with them for week. Last week was so much fun, I met alot of campers who are going to be sending me mail LOL. I'm going to sing and dance so many times next week, it will not be even funny.... lol even tho i'm still laughing about it. :)Till later! - Becca :)

the last two weeks...

hey guys! it's william! sorry we haven't posted in a while, we've been away from an internet connection. right now, we are at Northside Christian Church in Warrensburg, MO. it's been a blast the last two weeks and i'll put more on the blog later on, see ya!

My 2 Cents....

Hey Ya'll!! This is Amy. Today was our first day off. It was really nice to be able to sleep in and just hang out. I got to watch 5 episodes of Dr. Quinn (thanks goes to Susan!!)...and that was AWESOME!! Today Will, Rebecca, and I went to my house in Bentonville, Arkansas (about an hour away from Joplin) to eat some lunch and hang out. It was a lot of fun and we have a few videos from going that we will put up soon. I hadn’t been home in almost a month so it was good to be able to see my family and have a home cooked meal. Praise God for Mom’s that can cook!!!
Camp Sooner was really awesome. I have to be honest and say that i was really nervous because someone had told me that it was really rustic…and well if you get to know me I am the most non-rustic person known to mankind. Knowing that was really hindering me from getting excited about going but as soon as I got onto the camp my nervousness was completely at ease. It was not bad at all and I had a WONDERFUL week. I loved all the people that I met there and I was really upset when the week was over that I had to say goodbye to all my new friends. I can’t believe how time really does fly when you are having fun.
We are heading off to Pittsfield, IL tomorrow. I think it is about 5 hours away…but knowing how our team gets lost it will probably take us about 6 hours. The theme for this week is “Myspace”. I am REALLY excited to see how the week goes. I think that the theme is really unique and I know that the deans have worked really hard to make it the best week of camp ever.
I hope everyone enjoys the videos that we put on in our last post. We should be putting on some more whenever we get some time.
Thank you to all of our loyal readers and watchers.
In Christ,
Amy

Ps... This is a picture of all the camp teams that were at Camp Sooner

Camp Sooner!!!

Whew! What an awesome week for all of us on team 29. We all had a blast and have memories that last a lifetime. It's hard to believe with all that we have learned and experienced that there is still three weeks of camp left! The other camp teams from St. Louis Christian College, Dallas Christian College, Nebraska Christian College and Manhattan Christian College were so much fun to hang out and they all are definetely going to be missed. The theme of the week was "The Time is Now" challeneged the camp teams as well as the campers about priorities and faithfulness to God. Our team is praying for the campers going back to lives outside of a Christian camp to be full-on for God and willing to be changed and filled with the Holy Spirit.

a startling revelation...

hey y'all! it's 1 o'clock sunday morning and team 29 will be leaving in less than 9 hours for Camp Sooner in Oklahoma. whew! it's already arriving! this is my [William] second summer on camp teams and i still have the same fears like i did last year. my fears is that i won't measure up to what others are doing in the kingdom. i was praying about it tonight and i realized that i measure up to God. Romans makes it very clear that my sin is cleared away in order to be with God (Romans 6). I'm going to sleep now--i'll be posting again on friday!-william

Foreverandeverandeverandeverandeverandeverandeverandeverandever

This song has been on my heart ever since the first time i heard it (which was over a year ago). It's so true when the chorus states "I'm finding everything i'll ever need, by giving up-gaining everything, falling for you for eternity, right here at Your feet, where I want to be, I am Yours--FOREVER"...It wasn't until last April when I wrote a paper about Philippians 3 and it struck me hard how Paul makes it clear that whatever he has earned-mentally, physically, economically, strategically, does NOT matter when it comes to salvation and the result of his salvation? a strong, buring desire to know Christ and His resurrection more. look it up--it'll change you.

Preparations...

Whew! what a week! after a really intense group-building weekend in the woods, it has now come time for team 29 to get ready for camps!!!! i'm [William] excited and so is the rest of the team. from preparing lessons to getting last-minute driving directions it's all-out fun. this sunday we head to Camp Sooner in Oklahoma. we're stoked and hopefully those reading this are too! see ya!

Name: Levi Hartley Hutton

Future Plans: to earn my mission certificate at Ozark then go on to get my degree in international buisness

Favorite TV Show: Seinfeld and the Office

Favorite Movie: Wayne's world I and II

Favorite Day of the Week: St. Patrics Day

Favorite Color: ROY G BIV

Favorite Bible verse and why it is your favorite (don't take it out of context!!!!): Micha 7:8

What I look foward to most in camp teams this summer: Sleeping on the top-bunk for a solid month!!!!

Rebecca Ricksgers... A Little About Me

Hey guys! I am soooo excited to see you at the camps this summer! Here's a little about me:

Name: Rebecca Anne Ricksgers
Future Plans: I want to be a missionary in a foreign country after I graduate from OCC.
Favortie Movie: I have a lot of these: Men in Black, Shrek, Superman, Hitch, Napoleon Dynamite, Monster in Law, the Emporer's New Groove and anything else funny.
Favorite TV show: I love game shows, I liked So you think you can dance when it was on, I like watching the funny people on American Idol, and whatever happens to be on I'll watch.
Favorite day of the week: Friday!! Always have, always will.
Favorite Color: Bright Green and Bright Orange... always a good mix!
Favorite Bible Verse and Why I like it: Psalm 139 is my fave right now. It reminds me how much God loves me, cares for me, watches over me, and how much he understands me. It's a really comforting passage.
What I look forward to most in camp teams this summer: I am going to LOVE meeting new kids, playing with them, hanging out with them, and just getting to know them! Plus I am going to love being with my teammates and working with them.

A Little about me...Amy Inskeep

Name: Amy
Future Plans: I hope to become a Christian Psychologist. I want to be the psychologist/counselor on staff at a church or a Christian psychology firm.
Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy
Favorite Movie: Raising Helen, A Walk To Remember, Sweet home Alabama, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Favorite Day of the Week: Monday because we don't have school.
Favorite Color: Hot Pink
Favorite Bible verse: Proverbs 31.
What I look forward to most in camp teams this summer: Getting to meet some awesome high school and junior high students.

A Little Bit about me...William Mattingly

Name:William Francis Lee Mattingly III
Future Plans: Youth Ministry
Favorite TV Show: Dancing with the Stars, Animaniacs & 24
Favorite Movie: Cars
Favorite Day of the Week: Friday
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Bible verse and why it is your favorite: Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed; do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to the Father through Him". I love this verse because it says that whatever I do here on earth, do it to give glory to God and not myself. Let me say it again: WHATEVER i do can give glory to God! How amazing!
What I look foward to most in camp teams this summer: Being friends with teenagers because being friends with people is the best thing to do!!!!