Camp is where the heart is...

This summer has been the greatest summer of my life so far. This summer, I worked alongside some of the greatest people God has put on this earth and formed friendships with them that I hope will last a lifetime, or even longer. I formed friendships with campers; I wanted each of them to know that they are loved by God and myself. The camp staff became my family, camp itself became my home, and while my faith is still nowhere near that of a prophet or a saint, I believe that I grew significantly in my faith. Below is a list of the members of my camp family, random facts about each of them, and some things that they have taught me.

Hillary a.k.a. H - H is probably one of the most hardworking people you will ever meet. She was one of my bosses, but she was so much more than that. She didn't just tell me what to do and walk off, no. She would tell me what I needed to do and then help me with it. She worked alongside me and the other support staff. She taught me that it is impossible to die at camp. Believe me, she would know. She is a great friend. Whether she knows it or not, Hillary helped me to overcome some of my greatest struggles. Her listening was enough to really help me.

Kayla - Kayla can play any sport and cut grass! Kayla is really awesome. We rode to camp together a few times, and I feel like I got to know her pretty well. She taught me that it's okay to speak my mind. If someone is treating me in a way that makes me feel useless, I need to speak up and not be walked all over.

Addie - Addie is the best kitchen ninja Camp Longridge ever had! I am going to miss her so much when she leaves, but I know God is going to use her in magnificent ways in Guatemala. Addie taught me that not everything was meant to be taken personally; some things - actually most things that happen at camp - are results of frustration and sleep deprivation.

Kaitlyn - If you ever have anybody giving you trouble, Kaitlyn will personally take that punk down!

James - James may seem quiet at first, but be not fooled. He is CRAZY! I loved ATB excursions with James. If I was ever in a bad mood, James would always manage to do something random and crack me up.

Jen - This girl is accident prone. Seriously, she needs a bubble wrap suit. But Jen was a great friend. We shared a few rides to and from camp, and I found out that we have a lot in common, the main thing being our craziness.

Kinsee - Kinsee is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, but she is a redhead, so don't get her angry. Haha, I love Kinsee. She is a GREAT friend who would always listen when I needed to talk. You could tell that Kinsee truly cares. I am going to miss her so much, and I hope she is having an awesome time in Tennessee! I hope we can keep in touch!

Jimmy - Jimmy probably does more awkward things than anyone.

Nate - Nate is one of the most caring guys you will ever meet. His gentle, caring voice is enough to probably convince you to do anything, even to do the ropes course without a harness.

Tony - Tony is...Tony. There is no other way to describe him. Not that that is a bad thing. I think Tony was misunderstood a lot, but deep down he is a really good guy and I loved working with him.

Bri - Bri likes to tell corny jokes. She is also very caring. Bri is awesome.

Justin - Justin was a GREAT orange team leader, and a great praise band leader.

Nicole - Everybody loves Nicole. I mean EVERYBODY.

Betsy - Betsy is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met - inside and out. When I shared my testimony, she was right there to offer scripture that would help me. If I needed to talk, she was there. Betsy is very understanding, and she knows that you don't always have to offer the best advice. Betsy offers open ears, open arms, and a caring heart.

Amy - Amy was one of the first new staffers I talked to. From the moment I first spoke to her, I knew Amy was going to be a good friend. She is the epitome of a great friend - she listens, she cares, she relates, she offers advice, and she is random.

Jason - Jason was an awesome green team leader, and just an all around great camp counselor.

Evan - Evan can make it happen. He is always willing to work and get the job done.

Alyssa - Alyssa was my roommate for the summer. We spent a lot of time together, and she was always there for me if I needed to talk, literally.

Will - Will's hair smells really nice. ;-) Will is crazy. So crazy, that my first impression of him was that he wouldn't be a very easy person to talk to. Boy, was I wrong! Will is actually a great listener, and he is very caring.

Chas - Chas is a grown up Justin Beiber. Not really, but he is awesome.