#7 Camp Rock
I met with Todd, the head of Camp Rock, and we talked it through. They had a need and things at the Rescue Mission weren’t moving along as planned. A day after our meeting I agreed to shift my responsibilities and money raised to work at Camp Rock for the summer. The last thing to talk over was which group of kids to work with. Todd gave me the opportunity to have a voice in where I would go. I pointed out my experience being mainly with high schoolers and some middle school but told him I would go where he needed me. Come to find out they had enough staff to help out with the high schoolers (there were usually only 15 or so who showed up). The middle schoolers were pretty set as were the 3rd-5th graders. I put my best face to prove I was a cool go with the flow type of guy but really I knew what it meant.
Kindergarten-2nd grade.
As a younger twenty year old guy I wouldn’t have described myself as a kid person. I’d never had a little sibling or neighbor or anything. I felt completely incapable. I was nervous. My plans, as they often do, were completely flipped around. The summer was planned to be spent focusing on community development with churches, rehabilitation programs and helping grown men find jobs. Instead I was with toddlers on playgrounds, going on field trips, laying around in the shade of trees on sunny days or sitting next to an old fan watching Madagascar and explaining questions about what the penguins were doing. I was worried they wouldn’t like me or I wouldn’t be fun for them or wouldn’t be able to calm them down when they started crying in big hyperventilating gasps. Without much of a transition case management was traded in for bear hunts in the woods and job training for lifting tiny bodies into the sky like airplanes. Summer turned into time spent with little kids who have weird little lives. They are entirely confused and ask when lunch is about a thousand times a day. Their hands, which they are always insisting you hold on to tightly, are always sweaty, they tell you when they are about to pee their pants and we run to the bathroom. They would rather feel your muscles or be picked up and spun around over and over than have anything else the world has to offer. Someone is always needing a hug or a hand to hold when walking places, they are scared of weird things and need someone to console them when they are afraid. To cup their tiny bodies up in arms and whisper little words in little ears how everything is going to be okay and make them feel protected.
#7 was a change of plans I am very glad for. It was a great way to learn something about myself, and little the little kids I learned I have a heart for, and what I’m capable of. Giving little kids attention and love they need. Learning each and every one is a special little being and is worth treating so.
I AM PART 