My Want to Do list... :grin:

Things I want to do...

(I'm sure this list will be ever changing with me adding new things I want to do, and moving things to the 'done' list as I get to them)

1. Swim with dolphins
2. visit Israel, and the places I have read about in the Bible
3. Stand underneath a waterfall
4. Stand on the top of a mountain, with my face to the wind
5. Go to the beginning of the Mississippi River
6. Ride a bus cross country
7. Take a cross country train ride
8. Sail on a sailboat
9. White water rafting
10. Take an underwater tour on a submarine
11. Blow bubbles out of a hot air balloon
12. Fly in a helicopter
13. Ride in a one-horse-open-sleigh
14. Ride something bigger than a horse- like an elephant, or a camel.
15. Learn to ride on a segway
16. Become fluent in another language- Spanish or French preferably
17. Invent something useful
18. Climb to the top of a lighthouse
19. See an Iceberg
20. Go rock climbing
21. Visit Arlington National Cemetery
22. Take pictures in a castle
23. Visit the great pyramids in Egypt
24. Backpack somewhere overnight that involves camping outside under the stars
25. See the northern lights
26. Visit the golden gate bridge
27. Niagara falls
28. Redwood forest
29. Great wall of china
30. Learn how to make yeast rolls
31. Visit all 50 states, especially Hawaii
32. Yellowstone national park and old faithful
33. Grand canyon
34. Carlsbad caverns
35. make fire without matches
36. Mt Rushmore
37. Make apple butter
38. Go to the ice sculptures place
39. Hold a baby spider monkey
40. Go to Australia
41. Remodel/build my own house
42. Flatten coins on a train track
43. Fry an ant with a magnifying glass
44. Build my own computer
45. Learn how to take star trails
46. Do a light graffiti in a cave
47. Learn to say the alphabet backwards really fast
48. Drive/own a motorcycle
49. Totally complete a coloring book
50. Build an amazing tree house
51. Walk successfully through a maze/labyrinth
52. Go geo-caching and leave a note for someone else to find later
53. Learn to play backgammon
54. Carve my name in a tree
55. Make an absolutely huge sand castle with other people
56. Run a whole mile
57. Go hunting
58. Learn how to proficiently roller-blade
59. See Phantom of the Opera on Broadway when I go to NYC
60. Be able to do 100 sit-ups without having to stop
61. Learn to identify at least 15 constellations by sight, so that all year around, whenever I see stars, I can find one
62. Finally learn how to keep a hula hoop up for more than 30 seconds
63. See St Louis Arch
64. shoot a real bow and arrow
65. own a telescope
66. Make my own pizza sauce
67. Learn how to can things and make my own jelly!
68. Take a picture of my reflection in the Cloud Gate in Chicago
69. Go to Jason and Elona's wedding. :grin:
70. Go to Arkansas and See Lou again, and steal Roscoe's Donuts. :evilgrin:

Things I have already done that used to be on my list

1. Learn to type faster than 50wpm -2008
2. Go on a cruise -2010
3. Go overseas for more than a week on a mission trip -2009
4. Take a photography class -2007
5. Learn how to play racquetball -2007
6. Do a high ropes course, and go on a zip-line -2004
7. get an underwater camera, and go snorkeling -2010
8. ride a horse -2008, 2009
9. hike a volcano -2009
10. go to the Oregon coast -2011
11. learn how to swim -2004
12. meet people in person that I met on-line -2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, etc... :grin:
13. knit something -2004
14. change my own oil/tires/breaks on my car -2009
15. ride in a police car -2004
16. become a nurse -2008
17. read the whole bible in a year -2011
18. totally out of debt -2011
19. do something for someone who has no potential to ever pay me back -2010, 11
20. fly in a plane first class somewhere -2011
21. own a convertible -2009-2010
22. write a book -2004
23. write a poem -2004
24. ride a roller-coaster -2009
25. climb a tree and have my picture taken while up in it -2008, 2010
26. fast (nothing but water for 3 days) 2008, 2010
27. vote 2004, 2008
28. milk a cow -2002
29. take a picture of lightning -2010
30. raise enough money to go on a mission trip totally funded -2008
31. Go swimming at night and float on my back and pick out constellations -2009, 2010
32. take a road trip -2007, 2008
33. Go to an aquarium -2008, 2011
34. run in the rain -all the time now. :grin:
35. win first place in a cooking contest -2007?
36. tried calamari, sushi, lobster, lamb, goat, frog legs and oysters -2010
37. fired a shotgun, handgun, and shot a clay pigeon -2011
38. communicated with someone who didn't speak a bit of English, and understand everything they were saying -2009
39. write in the sand and let the waves wash it all away -2010?
40. canoeing -2010
41. 2 month mission trip-2011
42. own my own chopsticks- 2011
    

Things I do differently now that I am back from Haiti

1. Drive. I didn't drive at all when I was in Haiti, and I missed it while I was there, but was not all that anxious to drive over there due to not having any idea where in the world I was going, or how to deal with the other people on the road who drove very "Haitian-like" or the roads them selves- It's an important thing to know which pot holes are OK to go through, and which ones need to be avoided at all costs! So how does this affect me now that I am back in the USA? Well... I drive slower, and more cautiously for one thing. I do not really have any reason to do so since the roads are up-kept here, but I do. Maybe something about that last day in Haiti, and the almost falling off the cliff experience has something to do with it. :grin: I will never know.
2. Drink Milk. :grin: Before I went to Haiti, I would drink as much milk as I wanted, which was very often! I love that stuff! Since being back from Haiti, I still drink milk, but not near as much as I used to. Something about going 2 months without real milk (with the exception of that one half gallon that I broke down and bought when it went on sale for 8 dollars...) will make it OK to not get it every day like you were used to.
3. Drink more water. I drank water before I went, but now I drink more.
   
4. Use chapstick! :grin: My skin and hair and nails and such had acclimated to Haiti! Since I have gotten back to the USA, I have had to use chapstick at least 3-4 times a day to keep my lips from bleeding from cracking. I know, I know, you are thinking that I live in a really humid place compared to where you are, but let me tell you! Texas humidity has nothing on Haitian humidity!
   
5. Don't use the air-conditioner/heater near as much. Partially because I don't really need it now that the weather here is much cooler than it was when I left, but partially because I got used to not having it, and being ok.
   
6. Occasionally. I will use ice in my drinks now. I know, if you knew me before I left, you are wondering what in the world happened to me! To be honest, I have no idea, but it was probably due to the fact that it was so hot that the ice didn't really last in Haiti anyways, and it was a way to get something cold... even if it was for 10 minutes. It's like it was a mini air-conditioner, just one inside your mouth. :grin:
7. I still listen to music, and the radio, but not near as much as I used to. I think this is another thing I just got used to not having access to.
8. Text and talk on the phone. I still have as much to say, maybe more, but a different attitude towards phones, and their use.
   

~ Chelbertina

Things learned from the Louw's... :grin:

1. Baboons do not like oranges that have had Tabasco sauce put on them... Once they find one somewhere, they will stay away from wherever that was- so it's used to keep them out of your house, yard.
   
2. Elephants communicate... and leave behind elephant patties that are over 2 feet tall! That's a lot of stuff!
   
3. Baboons are cowardly if they are by themselves, but if they are in a group, they will do a whole lot of damage while there is one set up as a lookout.
   
4. Baboons like to play in pools.
   
5. There is a country that makes paper out of elephant dung... that some people order to write their resignation letter on...
   
6. I learned what a sputnik was, and what a Muppet was, and all about rugby.
   
7. I learned everything I needed to know about creating lamps. :grin: And then I made 2.
   
8. It's not good to pick up anything shiny, or anything that isn't yours in Africa- because it's probably a booby trap.
   
9. There are no benches, trashcans, or anything in the malls in Africa- so that people can't hide bombs there.
   
10. I actually learned a whole lot more from them than this... but some of it I do not feel like sharing at this time. I had some great chat's with Sis. Louw, but they were personal. I really enjoyed the time I had with him being here helping us in Haiti, and then the week I got to go over to the DR and be with them. I totally enjoyed the service I got to be at with them in the DR, and really needed it. Thank you so much for your kindness, and your advice, and for all that you did for me. I really appreciate it.
    

~ Chelbertina

What have I done so far? (updated)

1. Learned part of the local kid's names.
   
2. Designed a bulletin board for the kids crusade that is going to be happening in Nov.
   
3. Designed ID cards for the pastor's license.
4. Typed a final exam in French for one of the bible school classes... :grin: This was interesting... I was really glad for the teacher's manual that followed along in English.
   
5. Set up the AlphaCard software and the Enduro printer to print the ID cards.
   
6. Created ID cards for the Bible school
7. Helped with inscription for Bible School- which involves printing out the ID cards
8. Scanned all of the discontinued school books into the computer, and organized them accordingly. That adds up to 18 books, and 1082 PAGES. :grin: And if you know me, you know how I felt about this one. lol
   
9. Had one of my Debit cards turned off 3 times, even though I went and talked to the bank before I left about it, and had another Debit card turned off once, and found out that Credit cards, and checks are easier when in Haiti.
   
10. Written a check, and had it go through the bank properly before any of the credit card charges were finalized... (say what? not sure how that happened!)
    
11. Bagged the rice to be given to the proper people
    
12. Attempted to stop a tropical storm from coming inside the office... This one wasn't very successful...
    
13. Made all the doors and chairs stop squeaking... :grin:
    
14. Taken a million pictures of various things for documentation- or at least over 3400 so far.
    
15. Helped with the kids on the playground.
    
16. Helped Ron get setup on his iPad.
    
17. Partially organized the " My Documents" folder on the main computer.
    
18. Partially restored a laptop to get rid of personal information.
    
19. Bugged the snot out of Ron and Terry... but mostly just Ron. :grin: Any that is for Terry is totally unintentional.
    
20. Pressure washed the roof of my apartment and got it ready to paint.
    
21. Set up a flash drive with music, and an SD card with an audio bible for their vehicle.
    
22. Converted BOTT into MP3 format.
23. lost 10 pounds somewhere.
    
24. Held a baby... :grin:
    
25. Gotten sick twice, and gotten over it.
26. Learned what it's like to have a toenail taken all the way back, and then how to deal with the throbbing and such afterwards
27. Learned how scary a shopping center in Haiti is to a hurt toe...
    
28. Learned how to sleep without a fan (not very well apparently)
29. Learned how to fix a fan motor... :grin:
    
30. Went to the Dominican Republic, and survived an 8hr bus ride, multiple custom checks, and an interesting taxi ride.
    
31. Ate Chinese food with ivory chopsticks in the DR! It was soooo amazing!
    
32. Gone to a service in the DR, and totally enjoyed it!
33. Got to proofread a book before it's published. :grin:
    
34. helped troubleshoot computer/mp3/Pocket computer problems
35. Carried 150lbs worth of Luggage all by myself. :whew: This one was tough for me.
    
36. Made 2 cool looking lamps (minus the lampshades)
    
37. Eaten local food here in Haiti.
    
38. Snorkeled, and taken a picture of a "beware of falling coconut's" sign
    
39. Realized how impatient I am with other people.
    
40. Learned a bit of Creole, but not enough yet.
    
41. Attended a yearly meeting in Kenscoff
42. Tried beet salad... :grin: and it was odd...
    
43. Learned how to properly light a gas oven, and to cook proficiently on a gas stove, especially one that doesn't have a temperature gauge.
44. learned how to cook for one person
45. Learned how to store food out of reach of ants, mice, roaches, and spiders.
46. Made 4 tabletops for the bible school room, and painted them
    
47. Cleaned out the back of the bible school room, and helped rearrange it to accommodate more students
48. painted a couple chalkboards, and then put together the wood of the one that goes in the classroom that you can write on both sides of, and might eventually have wheels.
    
49. Organized storage room #1
50. Painted metal to go on top of trusses
51. Experienced electrical problems
    
52. Helped install a pump for my apartment
53. Took birthday pictures of the Brians
54. Went shopping on the street
55. Went to the iron market
56. learned how to make German chocolate cake, lasagna in a crock-pot, and a few other random things I have never made before.
    
57. Learned how absolutely amazing Ice-cream is here! :grin:
58. Learned how to appreciate ice in my drinks again (yes, I did purposely think of this one just so I could have 58 on here... :grin:)
    

And I'm now almost done with my time here... :grin: But we have more planned for the rest of my time here!
~ Chelbertina

What are the things I use the most that I did bring?

1. Baby Wipes!
2. My little extra hair clips. I have been surprised at how many of these I have gone through on this trip.
   
3. Zip Lock baggies
4. My Water bottle.
   
5. The clothes of course... :grin:
   
6. my iPod- with it's calculator / money converter/ music/ etc.
   
7. I am using a bit more medicine than I thought I would need.
   
8. my bag/purse
9. My camera of course. I expected that (right up there with the clothes)
10. Scissors! I have used these on so many random things!
11. Laptop and phone.
    

What are the things that I brought that I haven't used much yet?

1. Conditioner- It's really hard to get it out, and it's not really needed here. I used it like once.
   
2. Lotion- :grin: this came in handy only once so far- when I was sunburned.
   
3. Chapstick
   
4. My backpack.
   
5. My socks and tennis shoes... Mainly because they are so hot! I have worn them maybe twice so far.
6. The flashlight.
   
7. Batteries. :grin:

~ Chelbertina

What I have learned about Haiti

1. The trucks they transport people in are called tap-taps... because when the people want out, they tap-tap on the side of the truck to let the driver know.
   
2. there are a total of like 3 ATM's in the country, and the one that we stopped at today I was told is not in working order normally.
3. Stuff that doesn't get eaten the first day or so, goes stale REALLY really quickly, especially if it's not closed very well. :grin:
   
4. Frozen chips are actually really good! (byproduct of the last one... :grin:)
5. It is cheaper for me to call out of Haiti, than for people to call in. :grin: (So, if you want me to call you, you can donate some money to my trip, and I will use that money to buy a phone card and call you! :grin: Just be sure to include in the comments what number you want me to call! It costs about 2.50 for 20 minutes.)
   

~ Chelbertina

What I will miss about Haiti...

1. The kids. I have learned quite a few of their names... at least of the regulars.
   
2. The lack of need for chapstick, or humidifiers. :grin: If I had a fan on me in my house like I do in my apartment at night, then I would wake up with a dry throat... but here, Not so!
   
3. The apartment. :grin:
   
4. The time to think.
5. The roof, and the wind
6. The awesome lightning, and the opportunity to take pictures of it
7. The rain. I miss the rain.
   
8. The weather- Maybe it will be as cool as it is here back in the USA when I get there.
9. The Brian's. :grin: I like them.
10. Elsie! She is the gal that helps out around here... She is really neat!
    

~ Chelbertina

Lessons Learned from Blueberry Muffins

I got up this morning and made blueberry muffins. They were quite good too. I made them small, so I ate 2 of them for breakfast, (while they were still hot, with a bit of butter on them) and was really excited to have 4 left over for later on, like for dessert for lunch, or for breakfast in the morning. I was really excited about them!

So I put them in the microwave to cool down and stay safe away from where the rats, roaches, and tarantula's could get to them, and went to the office to work.

At lunchtime, I went back over to my apartment, all excited because I was going to eat another blueberry muffin for dessert! I walked in the door, and immediately noticed the Congo line of ants parading from the door jam, all the way up to the ceiling, following the electrical lines, all the way behind the fridge, over the bathroom door, over the kitchen sink, over the top of the counter on one side, and out the bottom of the counter on the other side, over the stove.... yup, you guessed it. INTO the back of the microwave via the handy little electrical cord ladder they had found. :sigh: I figured it was just ants, that i could move the muffins, and maybe save one of them (cause I was really wanting one) seeing as there were 4 in there... but alas, when I opened the microwave- there were so many ants in there the muffins (all 4 of them) were totally covered in sneaky black little thieves, chomping away at my prized dessert! It was amazing... it had been less than 5 hrs, and in that time, they had found a way into the microwave, found my muffins, alerted their cohorts, formed the Congo line, decimated a whole one and a half of my muffins, and had made piles of crumbs as high as a muffin in itself ready to carry off! DUDE!

I will forever remember the lessons learned from my Blueberry Muffins:

1. Microwaves are not safe from ANTS! they may be safe from rats, roaches, and tarantulas, but not ants.
   
2. I also learned how to cook in a gas oven without a temperature gauge, without burning them, but that's another story that takes second place to the ants. :sad:

~ Chelbertina

What will I appreciate more back in the USA...

1. The roads!
   
2. Being able to get out of the shower, dry off, and get dressed without it being difficult because you are already sweating again.
   
3. Salads... lettuce, and all that kind of fresh things I can get anytime I want it.
   
4. Sausage. It's non-existent here. unless you like the link kinds.
   
5. The ability to communicate clearly and be understood.
   
6. The prices of the food and things I eat, It is quite a bit cheaper at home.
   
7. The cleanliness of everything in general... and the laws that keep it that way. And the citizens that follow those rules.
   
8. The clean air.
   
9. The church services that I can understand. This is probably one of the biggest things I miss actually.
   
10. Water pressure. :grin: I am really really glad to be able to wash my hair... but I will be really really glad to be able to wash my hair in less than 5 min. again.
11. Tap water being OK to drink... and being able to brush my teeth without using a bottle of water.
    

~ Chelbertina

Have I said Thank YOU yet?

Because if so, I am fixing to say it again. There were so many people who sacrificed, and gave, and helped, and helped some more so that I could come here to Haiti, and I want to say THANK YOU again. I want each of you who donated to know how much it means to me to be able to be here helping, and learning, and experiencing.

Thank you for those of you who are praying. I can't thank you guys enough. I really appreciate your prayers, and not only for safety, but everything else too. :grin: Not saying that my safety isn't important, but that I would rather be doing what I am supposed to be doing than hiding out somewhere because I am safe in that somewhere. I would rather live the life that I was made to live, than to merely exist in a safe haven. (not sure how I got onto that rabbit trail... lol)

Thank you to the people who are back in the USA taking care of what I would be doing if I were there, at work, at home, and at church. I know that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And thank you for you random people who are randomly donating to my PayPal account. I had someone donate just the amount I needed last week, and I want to say thanks! That was so neat seeing God use you to come through at just the right time like he did! :hyper: That made my day! (*starts singing* Jehovah-Jireh, my provider!) It's a good thing that my timing is not final, and God's timing is always on time!

So Very Thankful.
~ Chelbertina

What I would have done differently...

If I had known then what I know now, I would have:

1. packed that second suitcase anyways, but with food items, and paid the extra 30 dollars to bring it (we went to the store the first day I was here to get supplies, and I quickly found out just how expensive the cost of living over here is. I ended up spending about 111 dollars for things that I would have spent about a fourth of that in the USA. :grin: it's a good thing I like rice!
   
2. brought paper, and pens. post it notes!
   
3. brought 2 shampoos and just left the conditioner at home! it's so humid that there really isn't a need for it here.
   
4. started earlier with the money raising... and budgeted more for food and stuff.
5. Brought clothes with pockets! I left my denim stuff at home mostly, and totally didn't think about the fact that nothing I had packed had a single pocket on it. oops! (which is really bad, because I am having a really really hard time keeping up with my phone... instead of leaving it in my room)
   
6. Brought a crockpot.
   
7. NOT forgotten my brush... especially in a country who doesn't have natives with hair like mine. There is no such thing as a brush here that I have found so far. oops! (GOOD NEWS! I just found mine after 8 days! woohoo! I am ever so glad that I didn't really leave this at home!)
8. Went ahead and either replaced my External HD, or gotten another one, and put my full music collection on it to bring.
   
9. brought my recipes. I am really missing these!
10. Hydrocortisone cream, or some other type of anti-itch cream for all these bites!
    
11. brought those Wisps things... the little one use and then throw away toothbrushes! They would be so very handy for someone not staying long term down here!
    

and that's about it for now... I am sure that there will be more added to this list as the days go by... because you wont really learn everything you did wrong until you are completely done right? :grin:

~ Chelbertina

What I hate about Haiti

I'm sure many of you knew this post was coming since I already did the other half of it, talking about what I loved here... lol!

1. The trash. It's everywhere, all over the roads, the ditches, the mountainside, even in the cities.
   
2. the poverty. The whole place is poor, and not really anything is being done about it... and not sure that anything CAN be done about it.
   
3. The price of the food, and everything else. It's outrageous! 11 dollars for a half gallon of milk? I think I can wait a few more weeks before I give in for that one...
   
4. The mentality of the people. Bro. Ron was telling me a story about how some university took loads of trash to see if it could be used, they found a use for part of it, and tried to implement it, and it just didn't work because the people were so used to doing it the way they had always done it, and were not willing to change.
5. The SPIDERS! There was a tarantula in my apartment today... :shudders: that was not fun. Terry warned me that it sounded like it was one of the smaller ones, with the bigger ones getting to be like 3 inches big. Ugh. The Tarantulas can stay somewhere else please!
   
6. The traffic. I still say that the traffic here is a bit worse than Guatemala... which that statement in itself says something!
7. The roads. They are right there with Guatemala on this one too... potholes, speedbumps, and cracks and crevices from the earthquake, trash piles right in the middle of the road, rubble blocking the way... yeah. So much goes into this one.
   
8. The air pollution. We followed a school bus home today, and it was belching black exhaust fumes... and I got so nausiated about halfway home... ugh. Not fun!
   

~ Chelbertina

How to make Jello:

with 10 Haitian gals who speak like 5 words total in English... :grin: Don't worry, I didnt know how to do it either, before today that is... lol! It was quite an experience. First, I said "This is a test to see how much English you can understand... Bro. Brian got the stuff to make Jello" I am 100 percent sure that none of them understood anything I said but Bro Brian, and Jello, lol! but that's all it took!

During the process, they showed off how they knew how to count in English, (and Spanish) and tried to teach me French. I got to about 6. lol. Then I made them read me the ingredients in English, and translate them- which was a really hard joint effort, cause I had no idea. haha! It was great though, and they are very smart kids.

Although I don't know more than a few words in French, I am kinda surprised at what bit of it I can understand already... (and very confused by the fact that I used to have no idea what the words were in Spanish, but for some reason when I am reaching for the French word, the Spanish one will come to my mind, and be correct... huh? Where did that come from??)

So, the Jello is in the fridge, and they will be coming back tomorrow to eat it, (and finish braiding the other half of my hair Haitian style... :grin:) What random new experiences today!

~ Chelbertina

What I Love about Haiti so far...

1. The kids! did you even have to guess that this would be first on the list? :grin: They are so kind and loving, and glad to just be with you, even if you cant communicate one word with them.
   
2. The wind! I love the wind, and this is one thing that is almost non-existent in Texas summers.
   
3. The beautiful land- mountains in the distance, right on the ocean
   
4. the weather! While it's hot, it is so much cooler and more comfortable than 118 like it was in Texas! I can actually enjoy being outside!
5. The roof! This is such an awesome place, where the wind is the strongest, and it's so refreshing!
6. The apartment... There has been a ton of work going on before I got here, and the things they did made it amazing! There are screens on all the windows, which means they can be open without worrying about the mosquitoes... The shower is awesome, the kitchen is great, (and I dont have to share it with anyone... :grin:)
7. The rain! They say it hasnt rained much in the last little bit... but so far, it has rained a bit each day I have been here, and it feels awesome! I love walking in the rain.
   
8. The lightning- It's like God's light show! I actually got a few pictures of it tonight! Woohoo!
9. The missionaries- :grin: It always helps to like who you are working with, and this time it's easy!
   

~ Chelbertina

Things I have learned so far in Haiti...

1. If they don't understand you in English because they speak French- It prolly wont help much to repeat yourself in Spanish... :grin: oops!
2. I went to the store, and quickly found out that stuff is like 4 times more expensive here than where I am from! Dude! If I had gotten milk, it would have cost 11 dollars for a half gallon, and toilet paper was a dollar a small roll...
   
3. The traffic is in fact a bit worse than Guatemalan traffic... I didn't know that was possible!
   
4. Angels come in all shapes and sizes... especially when they are bilingual!
   
5. Cold showers are not too bad in this kind of weather.
6. Just because a dog recognizes you in the daytime don't mean he will at night.
7. I think it is just now starting to settle in that I am actually here, and will be for a while... :grin:
   
8. I can tell that the roof of this compound is already going to be one of my favorite places. The wind up here is totally awesome!
   
9. that there are 2 currencies here... a real one (Haitian goods- which are like 40 goods to 1 US dollar) and a fake one that exists only in the native Haitian's head.... but I forgot what those are called already cause I was trying so hard to remember the real one.
10. I now know how to start a gas stove and oven! with a match!
11. Kids don't really care what language you know, as long as you are friendly and carry balloons! :grin:
12. Water is your friend!
    

I'm sure this is only the beginning... with so much more to come! Hope you guys are having a great day!
~ Chelbertina

Crusader Camp 2011

Youth camp! Crusader Youth Camp! What fun we have Crusader Youth Camp! Tall kids, small kids, kids who eat a lot, LOUD kids, quiet kids, kids who brush their teeth (or not) Oh, Youth camp, Crusader Youth Camp! The BEST TIME OF THE YEAR!

not quite anything else in the world like hearing 600 kids screaming and belting out that song at the beginning of each day. :grin:

What a week! What a ton of work... But I go each year knowing just how much work it is, and plan to keep going as much as I can. They said that as of Wednesday, over 30 kids had already received the Holy Ghost, and that right there makes it totally worth it all. (not to mention getting to spend the entire week with friends I like)

More will be posted later.
~ Chel Dubois

PS: for those of you who were asking me to create a link where you could buy the sets of DVDisks of all the pictures and the slideshow, I have done so, and added it to the right edge of this page. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions! Thanks!