Praise, Safety, and Sickness

[Lengai]

Lots of prayer requests, oh my!

Got back Friday from Camp Garaywa. So, for those of you who don't know, Garaywa (pronounced Gare-ah-way)is a Christian girls' camp (Girls in Action, specifically) for kids grade 3-6. Two weeks of the summer, girls in 7-12 can attend (Acteens). Anyway, I was at camp as a Counselor-in-Training (my third year as such, and I've been a camper every year since 1999 - except this year). Was with eight other CITs, including my sister.

On Tuesday, we got to bed at around midnight, and I was sleeping really well. Dreaming and everything. Well, at 3:30AM, Erica (the camp director) bursts into the CIT cabin and turns the light on, and says something to the effect of, "Get up, there's been a fire in the camp". Most of us roll over and slap on flip-flops and shuffle outside - where we can see firetrucks and emergency vehicles across the courtyard. We were the last ones to be evacuated, and everyone got out within three minutes.

Now, there weren't actually any flames. What had happened was that Cabin 15 had had air conditioner work done the previous day. In the night, the motor came loose, but kept running - but on top of wires. One of the cabin leaders heard it and instinctively got up and turned the AC off. But, it was smoking and set off the detector. To err on the side of caution, we all evacuated. The firemen said that that air conditioner was only a few seconds away from bursting into flames. It could've been bad. The only real trouble were some disgruntled campers and some of the counselors who go to Union University suffered from some flashbacks to the tornado that hit their school last year. The black sky and flashing lights.

Prayer Request from this: Safety for the rest of the summer. There hasn't been a fire or similar emergency at Garaywa since the 50's.

Praise: About nine girls gave their lives to Christ last week, and more will throughout the summer. Please pray for the girls and leaders. Counseling fourteen little girls constantly is a strain - emotionally, spiritually, and physically. And they have to do it for around eight weeks.

Next, I found out that one of the women in my church, Mrs. Lisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. It was caught early. However, there's also a man in my church with colon cancer, and he's been on intensive chemo..And it might kill him. He can't keep anything down, and the chemo will last for about a year. They're trying to prevent/stop the cancer from getting to his lymph nodes.

Also, one of the CITs I was with this past week, Kayla, is going to be having major surgery in a few weeks - for her scoliosis. I don't know what all it entails, except for a rod in her back. She's starting college in the fall, but she'll be incapacitated for a long time.

Finally, my Aunt and Uncle (Russell and Melinda Kyzar) are moving to Prague this Wednesday on a new mission assignment. They're going to be working primarily with Russians in Prague, since they spent seven years in Moscow as missionaries, too.

Thanks, guys.

[12praiseGOD]

Definitely praying!

[animewarrior]

shall pray.

[Lengai]

Good news - 21 girls at camp made professions of faith last week! Praise God!

In other news, I got through Freshman Orientation this weekend, and I've been blessed with a very supportive family, helpful staff, and great roommate. Not to mention I've got a pretty fantastic looking schedule.