Hey Yall!!

Sorry it's been so long. We've been so busy closing down camp and packing everything up.

So it's coming down to the end of the summer. Saturday our friends and family will be at Pines for closing and Sunday morning we'll be doing our closing circle and then packing up to leave. I have a feeling this is going to be an extreme "hug/cry time". This summer has just been so amazing and I can't believe it's almost over.

I'll be leaving this place after gaining many bug bites, bruises, truck parts, secret sleeping places, greater knowledge of mountain roads, many inside jokes, new sayings, and life long friends. Along with many more things. I'm going to miss it so much. I have a feeling that when I return to the valley that no one is going to be able to fully comprehend my experience this summer, even if they have been to moutain t.o.p. before. I'm scared to go back to the valley.

It's going to be so weird to go back to Ohio and not see my staff/sister staff everyday. To return to the "real world". Up here everything is just better, it's so surreal. My Faith has grown so much these past couple months and I'm loving it. If I could live on this mountain all year round I would. I want to so badly. But I can't. I have to find a way to take the mountain home with me. To keep my spiritual growth active back in Ohio.

The song that we play during Fish hook service is going to be my theme when I return. It's called "The Mountain" by Steven Curtis Chapman. My favorite part is this:

I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what
You've shown me
Up on the mountain

That describes my summer. God called me here, CALLED. I wasn't planning on coming up here this summer at all. It was all him. Mountain T.O.P. was part of his plan for me that I didn't see planned for myself. And now that I've experienced the closeness up here I never want to be distant from him. I'm scared to go back to Ohio. Scared that I'll feel alone, that no one will understand, that I'll forget what I've seen and experienced this summer. But as long as I remember this summer the Lord has blessed me with I will remain stronger than ever. And that's where I want to be.

Tennesse has become my home. The people of the community, my staff/sister staff, the staff at pines, support staff, ALL the people I've come in contact with have become my family. And I'm going to miss it terribly until I return. Which will hopefully be soon.

Thank you all for supporting me in this decision that I made. I can never thank you enough for all you're prayers and that you've done.

- Chelsea♥

Hey Yall!!

Sorry it's been so long, we've been so busy getting ready for our 4th and final camp week. WOW!! this summer has just flown by so fast. I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end...

Last week was amazing!! Our community was so energetic, I loved it!! It was also nice to see some old friends from '07. My MG was once again pretty Ballin' I must say. They rocked at everything and got all their projects done like a Boss. :)

Worships and Spiritual Growth was way more evident to me this week. I don't know why. Maybe because I actually took the time to stand back and watch everyone, especially my Major Group. It was just amazing to watch how everyone grew and to see the bonding. I seriously almost cried Friday night knowing that they would be leaving on Saturday. Like I was the little Mama Bird telling my Babies that they were all grown up and that it was time for them to leave the nest and go out on their own.

I've also already decided that I'm going to be coming down here for an AIM weekend during my Fall Break. This summer has officially hooked me to this mountain and I want to be down here as much as possible. I'm so thankful that I had this opportunity and that God truly provided for me this summer.

NEWSFLASH!! I didn't do anything stupid this week, aka: get stuck, forget something, etc.

The only thing I do have to say is that during Sister Staff Intros Michael's joke about me has been carried on into this week. I have a feeling that I'm never going to live it down...lol and for those of you who haven't heard it:
Michael (to our whole community at breakfast): "Hey Guys, so how many Chelsea's does it take to screw in a lightbulb."
Everyone: How Many?!
Michael: "What's a lightbulb??"

During break I went to Matt's house with Shawn. It was awesome and we had so much fun. We spend most of Sunday at Tenn. Tech. then went to his house and watched "Once Upon A Forrest". In which we laughed hysterically at. The next day Matt's friend Jesse came over and we all went driving down the back roads in my truck, found a creek and skipped some rocks, went and saw Transformers, then went back to the house to swim and hang out in the hot tub. I came back to campe early on Tuesday and went over to Pines to have dinner and see the other half of Kent UMC. Then went and saw HARRY POTTER :) with Kim, in which I have been rubbing in Shane's face all week. :)

Well I'm probably gonna go to bed. Please keep me, my staff, and our campers in your prayers as we go into our final camp week on Sunday.

- Chelsea♥

HEY Yall!!



Okay 2 weeks down, 2 more to go!! SP3 is officially over!! Woot*Woot!! This week was also amazing, got to see the family & friends which was cool. My MG was freaking Ballin'!! They all knocked out their 2-day projects. I'm so proud of them.



It seems as if every week the worships get more and more intense for both the staff & campers. Which is a good thing, its just so amazing!! I can't wait to see what God has instore for us for SP5. Also my "Happy" for the day is that when I went to go pick-up a load of lumber the guy at the house was surprised that I didn't bring anyone else with me, after all I am a girl. And by the time I left I have 4 people sitting in lawn chairs watching me because it was just "so amazing". lol. so yeah, that's my Happy for the day...LOVE the Field!!



List of bad things that happened this week:

- Got a flat tire (screw)

- Guy at Wal-Mart gave me a repair kit for a 4-wheeler or tractor (Steve fixed it by using caulking)

- I ran over a turtle :(

- Had 4 holes (no projects scheduled)

- Daddy cut his hand open on a circular saw

- Got Lost

- Was stuck in construction traffic for 2 hours

- Was really stressed for some reason

- I've come to the realization I'm suck with Bo all summer

So I'm getting ready to go on break. I'm going home with Veronica and we're gonna go see Transformers at the Drive in and get massages :) I'm so excited!! I'll update again once I'm on break...

- Chelsea♥

Hey Ya'll!!

So I'm on break now...and It's wonderful!! It's nice be to away for awhile. But I am kinda anxious to get back up to the mountain.

I went to the CMA Fest last night with Sam. It was AMAZING!! I got to see Jack Ingram, Heidi Newfield, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, John Rich, Cowboy Troy, 2 Foot Fred, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and Kenny Chesney!! I had so much fun!! And if you wanna see pictures I'm gonna put them on my facebook.

Today I'm just going to go downtown and walk around alittle bit and pick up some stuff and do my laundry. And tomorrow is strickly a relaxation day before I start pre-camp on Wednesday. I'm so excited, because next week I get to see everyone!!

Well I'm gonna get going!!

- Chelsea♥

Hey Ya'll!!

So i'm offically done with my first camp week. Well as in the campers are gone. We still have a whole bunch of stuff that we need to do!!

But my first week was wonderful...I loved watching everyone bond and form one community and grow in their faith. It's just an awesome feeling to know you're apart of that. But at the same time I'm also growing. I gave the message during worship on Wednesday, which was a big step for me. And I'm learning how to not stress about things and just give them to God. I feel so close to him on this mountain and I just hope I continue to do so as I leave in the fall to go back home.

So the list of bad things that happened this week:
- Locked my keys in my truck in Pikeville(which is about 45 min. away from camp)
- Got stuck in the mud and had to have Bo, Ryan, & Jay come get me out
- Field Issues
- Rained during MG Worship and we had to run from the prayer dock to the dining hall
- Severe Weather Warning/having everyone huddled in the dungeon

Tonight we're going out to dinner as a Staff(just the 7 of us)the going with everyone (Baker & Pines) to a Bluegrass festival!! I'm so excited!! The tomorrow morning we're all going to church. During break I'm gonna be staying at Ms. Amy's house. I'm possibly going to the CMA Fest tomorrow night, which if I do will be freaking awesome!!

But I gotta go get ready!! I'll write again once I'm on break.

- Chelsea♥

Hey Ya'll!

Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. But we've(My Staff and I) have been so busy considering the fact WE GET CAMPERS TOMORROW MORNING!! AHHHH!! So please pray for us in the upcoming week...I have a feeling its going to be really stressful and we are going to get super tired. But yeah, that's all the time I have to write this morning. I have to go finish some confirmations on projects and deliver some materials, then make sure everything is ready for tomorrow!!

- Chelsea♥

Hey Ya'll!!

So I'm OFFICIALLY moved into Baker!! It's so exciting!! I brought the rest of my stuff over this morning from Pines. Ran to McMinnville to do some Wal-Mart shopping and do laundry at the laundry mat. I have everything organized, well as of now. I'm sure in a couple weeks it will not be as neat as it is now. I'm on break today and tomorrow, then Tues. I start my Pre-Camp. And we get our first group of campers on Sunday...as in a week. I hope that I'm ready for this. *Note: During my Pre-Camp/Camp Weeks I probably won't have time to update until my Break*

I'm supposed to go Caving tomorrow with Tommy...but I dunno if i'm up to it. Kinda scared actually...lol. I guess we'll see tomorrow morning if I'm gonna go or not. haha

-Chelsea♥