Random bits about my last couple of days.
Hobb Knobbing ... being the host, or hostess, for the evening here at camp. There are quite a number of camps that come to Golden Bell to use the facilities, so if they need something in the evening, we have to be available to assist them. This is why we have Hobb Knobbers. I am not sure where the name came from. We just hang out it the dinning area of the lodge with keys and a radio. If anyone needs anything, it is our job to get it for them or find out information or help them get other assistance if needed. One night when I was hobb knobbing, some girls got locked into their room. I had to call for help and it took quite a long time for Levi and another staff member to get the door open. We also have to cover the pool after it is used, open snack shack (a place on camp where they sell candy and pop stuff) in the evenings if anyone wants anything, sweep/mop the entryway, take out trash, turn out lights, and that is about it. This is what I happen to be doing at this exact moment.
Activity for the day: Tubing. Tubing was quite fun, but it was getting a little old by the 6th time down the river. One little girl (8 years old) named Abby started by herself and then (as far a I know) she got out somewhere only a little ways down the stream. As the lifeguard, I was the last person down the river, so I could help anyone if needed. Well, Abby decided to get back in after all the rest of the group had floated down. However, when she was back in the river, she just yelled for me to help her and hold her hand. I was a little ways in front of her, so I waited and then I held her hand the rest of the way down. Anytime I let go, she would almost have a mild panic attack ... "grab my hand, grab my hand." But when I was holding her hand and we went over rapids, she would laugh and let herself joy tubing. While we were holding hands, we almost ran into a fisherman. It was so close. I had to yank my hand away and then push her away from me, so we didn't make the fisherman topple over. It was pretty entertaining how much she relied on my hand for her to have fun. Also, she wanted to go down fast (as long as I was holding her hand). She would get in front of me on the tube and then say something like "Go faster. Come on, you are supposed to be pulling me." Then, she went for a second time and it was pretty much the same thing over again; she still had to hold my hand the entire way down. I have to say, it was quite the experience. Abby was a part of the first group, or the younger group. We let the boys go twice and the girls go twice, so for that group (in the morning) we tubed 4 times. Since they were younger, we only went in the calmer area.
The afternoon group, who arrived right as we were finishing lunch (good timing), were teenagers. We took them down the river farther, so they could experience more rapids. I kept getting stuck on rocks and I was pretty sure I would fall a few thousand times. It was pretty entertaining, though. Everyone from that group only got to go once, because it got later in the afternoon and we had to return for dinner. I am happy about that...because I was getting tired. The last (6th) time I went down today there was a girl who, I think, was a little too big for her tube. It was quite interesting trying to figure out a way for her to remain on her tube without toppling over. I felt bad for her and tried to help her the best I could. It took us much longer to go down that time, because I kept having to wait for her to climb back into her tube. I was so proud of her, though. Every time she fell she would just grab her tube and try to get back in it until she did. She fell a lot too. Two of her friends were also tubing. At one point, we came up to this rapid area and I saw a girl just sitting on a rock. When I was far away, she just sat there and waved at me. What happened was that she lost her tube and her friend went down the river to get it, so she was just waiting. The friend finally returned up stream carrying the tube with her, which I thought that was very nice. The three of them tried to stay together and ended up bringing up the rear conmigo. I definitely worked my muscles. My arms are in a constant protest right now. Hanging on to rocks all day in a river (with pretty strong currents) can do that to you apparently. I am also pretty much burned to a crisp. It is my own fault, since I didn't put on sunscreen right away. My legs definitely feel like furnaces now though.
When I was running snack shack this evening, those three girls came up to order some food, and I said hi to them all by name. They were all a little confused for a while. Then, 3 minutes later, they finally realized I was the lifeguard and that is how I knew their names/nicknames. I thought it was funny. They told me that they didn't recognize me because my hair was down, I didn't have a life vest, I wasn't in the river, and I was wearing different clothes. I think it was partially also because I showered. :) I actually showered twice today. That is like a record for the whole summer. I usually don't shower as often when I am here at camp compared to being in the 'real' world. I just get really busy and tired here at camp. Plus, you get dirty EVERY day.
Levi and Danielle's son Ethan took his first few steps today and I saw it. Levi was showing him a radio that he wanted to get, so he took 4 steps toward it. It was really cute.
I had to sweep the entry way tonight because of hobb knobbing. When I was sweeping it, this little boy came along and asked if I needed help. I thought that was awesome how he just offered help. I was pretty impressed. I told him I didn't need any help, but thanks. He really did surprise me though. I think his parents are raising him right. It was a good thing to see.
On the other hand, yesterday, I had to go to the bathroom. Well, first, I think you need to know that the lodge only has one open public bathroom at the moment. They are still finishing the other bathrooms. (They added on to the lodge and it looks amazing.) Anyways, I went to the bathroom and there was someone in it, so I just stood by it to wait. Well, this little boy comes around the corner and gets between me and the bathroom door. Apparently, he had to go too. He was just standing there, so I finally said to him that I was going before him. He said okay and moved a little farther from the door. Then, another littler boy comes around the corner and stands between me and the door, so the first boy moved closer and a third boy joined the other two. There the three of them were crowding in this small space around the bathroom door. At this point, I was not sure what to do. The boys were old enough to know better, but they still got in front of me. The second boy kept glancing at me and finally told the first boy that the second one (he) was going to go to the bathroom first. I was going to tell them that I was going before all of them since I was in line first, but I finally decided it wasn't worth the fight. I was already pretty annoyed, so I just let out a big sigh and went to the pool bathroom, which is not that far away. I just thought those boys should know better, and it surprised me with how they were acting. Let's just say, I wasn't too happy with them, and I was a little annoyed.
Next week, I am counseling for Gravity, which is an adventure camp for teens. We are going to be living in tents and cooking our meals and doing a bunch of fun things. Right now, I am the only girl counselor for it. There are only 3 girls coming. They are all going into the 7th grade. Last I heard, there were 14 boys planning on coming for the week. I am not quite sure who the counselors for them will be. I am getting nervous as the days get closer, because I haven't counseled yet for teens, but I am also very excited to counsel for this camp. We are going to hike and go white water rafting. I hope I can show the girls who Jesus really is and just help them grow in their faith. That is what I am praying for now.
This Friday a bunch of the counselors and I are going to see the Harry Potter movie. I am excited to get away from camp and into the real world again.
Well, I am getting tired. It is midnight already here, but there were some people having a meeting. They just finished a little while ago, so I am going to bed. I am definitely sleeping in in the morning.
Sweet dreams!
I was a little scared to stand up at the top.
We had hiking buddies...this is Laura. She was mine. :)
