It was a very tearful goodbye on sunday to all the Albany staff who we had come to love and call family. After breakfast down at Christ the King Center the team had to get ready for departing in three vehicles to take them down to Albany railway station, for a beautiful 2 and a half hour journey through the most beautiful countryside to Penn station in New York.
After negoiating our way to our guest house we dumped our stuff and headed into New York walking through central park to do some retail therapy - the team had lists in their hands and money at hand . . . New York better be preapared. After a few hours shopping it was time for food in TGI Fridays. Then a bit of site seeing - the Rockafella tower to get a grreat view over the city (not so good for those scared of heights) . . . absolutely beautiful at night with the lights on New York city shiining brightly.
Then into Times square and getting our bearings for the onslaught of shopping the next day.
After a very hot and sweaty nights sleep or no sleep at all - as there is no air conditioning, we headed out for breakfast together. Then we separated our own way in groups of 4 or more to hit the city after saying goodbye to Julie - 'please don't leave us with Simon getting us to the airport and home!'
Shopping, shopping, shopping and yes even more shopping!! tired feet, empty wallets, soaked through by the rain but very happy now the dilema was to get all the stuff into our suitcases!
Subway to the train station train out to Newark airport and homeward flight . . . phew exhausting this travellin lark but home sweet home - well done Simon we knew you could do it!
Just a quick thank you to all our families, friends and churches who prayed for us and left wee notes for us THANK YOU so much it meant a lot to each one of us.
God was good to us and blessed us immensely through each day of our trip and sometimes just blew us away with what He was and continues to do in our lives.
Please please ask us about our trip and even ask us to speak in church we would love the opportunity.
the Albany Team 2011
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Thursday, 21 July 2011
the end is near!!
Wow what an amazing last few days. The team are well in the swing of things and the running of the camp and God has blessed us as a team with good health and no accidents, so far - keep praying:)
Camp is certainly keeping us busy with 70 overnight campers for the week and 28 day campers - you may think it's harder work doing the overnight campers but the day guys are definately not easy and are keeping Becky and Regan really busy, the rest of our team were needed for the overnighters.
As well as doing camp duties and basically being on call 24/7 our team also have the pleasure of helping with kitchen duties at the welcome centre were everyone gets fed (including guests at the Kings Inn), housekeeping duties at the Kings Inn of making beds, cleaning the rooms and cleaning every window in the hotel and occasionally gardening work - in the veggie plot and hay baling . . . so we are keeping out of mischief (or at least that's what they are telling Julie!)
Today Thursday Bill (head Chef) made us a very special dinner tonight of fish and chips and gave a tear jerking speech (although Bill wont admit it there were tears in his eyes!) of how much the team have impressed him and his staff at their willingness to work very hard and always with a cheery smile and he wished us God's blessing.
It was extremely oppressive today weather wise as the breathing atmosphere reached 107 F - so there were lots of water sports today and plenty of water drinking.
Tonight was also talent night which was good craic - these young people are not shy at showing off their talents and letting us know how 'awesome' they are ( which they are!)
Three of the team have had the opportunity to totally step out of their comfort zones and stand up and give their testimonies - Ve, Tracy and Joy B - (Becky hopes to be able to do hers tomorrow) as well as doing two sketches.It has been an amazing privilege to see not only these guys but the whole team be moved on and challenged in their faith.
We are one of the largest Irish youth teams sent out and have made our presence felt in our own style. . .
We pray that God would continue to use us to be a blessing to our american brothers and sisters and the young people we have grown to love will 'Choose life' (the theme of the camps)in all its abundance from God,
signing out for the night
Julie
Camp is certainly keeping us busy with 70 overnight campers for the week and 28 day campers - you may think it's harder work doing the overnight campers but the day guys are definately not easy and are keeping Becky and Regan really busy, the rest of our team were needed for the overnighters.
As well as doing camp duties and basically being on call 24/7 our team also have the pleasure of helping with kitchen duties at the welcome centre were everyone gets fed (including guests at the Kings Inn), housekeeping duties at the Kings Inn of making beds, cleaning the rooms and cleaning every window in the hotel and occasionally gardening work - in the veggie plot and hay baling . . . so we are keeping out of mischief (or at least that's what they are telling Julie!)
Today Thursday Bill (head Chef) made us a very special dinner tonight of fish and chips and gave a tear jerking speech (although Bill wont admit it there were tears in his eyes!) of how much the team have impressed him and his staff at their willingness to work very hard and always with a cheery smile and he wished us God's blessing.
It was extremely oppressive today weather wise as the breathing atmosphere reached 107 F - so there were lots of water sports today and plenty of water drinking.
Tonight was also talent night which was good craic - these young people are not shy at showing off their talents and letting us know how 'awesome' they are ( which they are!)
Three of the team have had the opportunity to totally step out of their comfort zones and stand up and give their testimonies - Ve, Tracy and Joy B - (Becky hopes to be able to do hers tomorrow) as well as doing two sketches.It has been an amazing privilege to see not only these guys but the whole team be moved on and challenged in their faith.
We are one of the largest Irish youth teams sent out and have made our presence felt in our own style. . .
We pray that God would continue to use us to be a blessing to our american brothers and sisters and the young people we have grown to love will 'Choose life' (the theme of the camps)in all its abundance from God,
signing out for the night
Julie
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Goldrush
Since i'm a day camp councilor this week, i'll give you a taste of my day. Up at 7am for a shower and down to meet some of the campers to take the kids to breakfast, but most had already eaten so Regan and i ate with the overnight campers. I had planned to go to the healing service but day camp was seriously understaffed so i couldn't go. Sadface. But we played a game of Braveheart, which is basically tag rugby but you get to yell "Freedom!!!!" at the start. There was a free for all round where i had no mercy and won against all the kids.
After that was arts and crafts where we made ginger bread houses, some just won't forget that it was christmas last week. Some were awesome, the kids all had loads of fun and even though they weren't exactly works of art, they sure did taste good! American candy sure is good too!
I was able to take the lead on the bus singing the bear song, the moose song and even little red wagon on the way to waterfront and fishing (where the kids caught 7 kids between the 13 of them!)
Afternoon blast was a little bit more difficult with the day campers than the overnight campers since the kids are a bit younger and don't have too long an attention span, so it's a bit of a challenge trying to keep them from kicking Father Tyler and trying to run away.
But luckily the day campers don't stay all day and we were able to join the overnighters for dinner. Before that though, we had to prepare for the game. 5 of us were given cans of gold spray paint to cover rocks, twigs, leaves, flowers, anything we could find for GOLDRUSH. Another councilor thought it would be fun to spray my shoes gold. -_-
The game was AWESOME. There were some bandits (that was me!), sherifs and gold miners. The miners had to find the gold things, the bandits chased them with water pistols to steal the gold and the sherifs went after the bandits. Everyone got thoroughly SOAKED. It was a great night all round. :D
PS. Hi Anna and Robert :)
Becky xx
Monday, 18 July 2011
Monday, Monday...
Up we got, after not nearly enough sleep, to begin our first full day with out new group of campers.
Last weeks campers who were asleep by 10pm seem to be a distant memory in comparison to the nocturnal 11-14 year olds. We'll have to work extra hard during the day to tire them out to ensure a decent nights sleep soon!
Today we had our first experience of american rain. It's like our rain, but warmer.
The change in weather didn't put a dampener on our activities. (excuse the pun), we still went down to the lake, played tag rugby (despite the americans lack of understanding), went fishing, made bracelets, did archery and plenty of other activities. It was like being at summer camp at home.
For dinner we had 'Cheeseburger Pasta', which looked and smelt like dog food, and after our interesting meal we headed to Worship where Ve gave her testimony, which was very brave and encouraging for both the campers and the other councillors.
Our evening is being finished off with a game of 'Braveheart' before devotions and bed.
Today has been a good day and I have enjoyed getting to know the kids.
Thanks for all the comments and encouragements so far. It's been great to hear from home.
Feel free to send donations to the Simon Henry & Jonny Sykes Designer Clothing Fund, C/O Beaver Cross Camp, Greenwich, New York.
God Bless,
Rachel xox
Sunday, 17 July 2011
First day of 6-8 grade campers
After watching the extended version of the first Lord Of The Rings until 1:30 this morning was a slow and tough start for most of the group today.
After heading to church we eventually helped clear all the christmas decorations that have been hanging at the pavilion since we celebrated christmas on wednesday, but thankfully both the american and irish councilors were on the job so many hands made light work and we were finished in no time.
Once we finished we had to prepare for the kids to arrive, but very quickly we were shocked to see many of the kids from last week arriving with their older siblings to say their goodbyes.
It seemed to take forever for the kids to arrive and get settled in but soon we were heading to the lake (or the Waterfront as Beaver Cross calls it) for the swim test which took forever seeing as there were roughly 70 children that had to take the test.
During dinner Chris, Jonny M, Becky, Charlotte and I (Ricky) were asked to help out at a concert 5 minutes which was in aid of Lougerhrig's disease which slowly breaks down the body and the person slowly loses body function. The person performing used to play with his friend for many years until the friend was diagnosed with Lougerhig's disease.
The performance was pretty good even though he decided to finish the concert then start playing again on two separate occasions. Putting that aside it was a great concert for a good cause and our help was greatly appreciated.
We came back to Beaver Cross as the kids were playing capture the flag and the red team was definitely better than the blue team.
Hopefully this week will run as smoothly as the last did and I hope that the kids will leave the camp having a strong faith in God.
signing off
Ricky
After heading to church we eventually helped clear all the christmas decorations that have been hanging at the pavilion since we celebrated christmas on wednesday, but thankfully both the american and irish councilors were on the job so many hands made light work and we were finished in no time.
Once we finished we had to prepare for the kids to arrive, but very quickly we were shocked to see many of the kids from last week arriving with their older siblings to say their goodbyes.
It seemed to take forever for the kids to arrive and get settled in but soon we were heading to the lake (or the Waterfront as Beaver Cross calls it) for the swim test which took forever seeing as there were roughly 70 children that had to take the test.
During dinner Chris, Jonny M, Becky, Charlotte and I (Ricky) were asked to help out at a concert 5 minutes which was in aid of Lougerhrig's disease which slowly breaks down the body and the person slowly loses body function. The person performing used to play with his friend for many years until the friend was diagnosed with Lougerhig's disease.
The performance was pretty good even though he decided to finish the concert then start playing again on two separate occasions. Putting that aside it was a great concert for a good cause and our help was greatly appreciated.
We came back to Beaver Cross as the kids were playing capture the flag and the red team was definitely better than the blue team.
Hopefully this week will run as smoothly as the last did and I hope that the kids will leave the camp having a strong faith in God.
signing off
Ricky
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Nice tan lines :)
Hello to everyone who is reading right now...and Mum and Dad I would like to clarify that I am safe and well so no more embarassing comments please!! Luckily for us today was our day off...meaning no babysitting until tomorrow! Started the day at 10.30 with a spot of breakfast in the Slodge (the staff Lodge) and then travelled into Greenwich for some sight-seeing of the local K-mart and Dunkin' doughnuts. We were fascinated by such things as Justin Bieber schoolbags and the fact we could buy 6 bottles of powerade for $2.99.
We then went to the local Dunkin' doughnuts and bought 6 quality doughnuts along with an American equivalent of a slush puppy...I may tell you now that everything in America seems to be super sized...from their 'candy' to their bottles of body wash...everything is HUGE!!
Carrying on, we then returned back to camp to get changed into clothes to go to the lake. We walked in the heat to the Beaver Cross Lake for sunbathing and swimming..even though the water is nasty. Apart from being bitten alive and burning to a crisp we had a good time and then some of the men showed off their football skillz before tea...just had a full feed and am logging off :)
God Bless...missing you all...and Big Leigh and C-swizzle I am not a lost case don't be freaking out :)
Lots of love
Regan xx
We then went to the local Dunkin' doughnuts and bought 6 quality doughnuts along with an American equivalent of a slush puppy...I may tell you now that everything in America seems to be super sized...from their 'candy' to their bottles of body wash...everything is HUGE!!
Carrying on, we then returned back to camp to get changed into clothes to go to the lake. We walked in the heat to the Beaver Cross Lake for sunbathing and swimming..even though the water is nasty. Apart from being bitten alive and burning to a crisp we had a good time and then some of the men showed off their football skillz before tea...just had a full feed and am logging off :)
God Bless...missing you all...and Big Leigh and C-swizzle I am not a lost case don't be freaking out :)
Lots of love
Regan xx
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