Ye Old Wash and Ye Old Faces.

Well folks, this lovely 24 is beginning to draw to a close.

So Sad. 

I've gotten all my errands run. 

Oh but I need to buy stamps! 

Got the laundry washed. 

Thank You Zach Walthall for recommending this lovely washateria. 

It's so nice and clean and has free wifi.

What What!

So now Im just sitting relaxing at Ye Old Wash in Hollister Missouri.

Just enjoying a few more minutes of quiet and solitude before I return to the "joys" of kamp.

I had the pleasure of eating lunch with Mr. Sutton Davison, and others. 

We had some delicious Chinese food. 

(it wasn't as good as Z Buffet)

(no worries folks)

It was so nice to get to talk with him and spend some time with him. 

What was really nice was talking to someone and mentioning something about someone, and that person actually knowing who you are talking about. 

Ahhhh someone familiar. 

Finally!

Y'all Im loving kamp. 

But I just gotta be honest, Im going to love HOME too.

I think one thing Im most excited about is being able to LIVE somewhere again. 

I've been just STAYING somewhere pretty much all summer and Im ready to LIVE again. 

It's going to be nice! 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. 

I still got TWO WEEKS left of kamp.

That's KRAZY.

Let's Do It! 

This set of kampers leave Saturday.

So Sad. 

New kampers come Saturday!

So Exciting! 

Bring on the middle schoolers!!! 

My prayer request would be that I am able to focus and pour everything I have into the people at kamp. 

Whether that's kids, girls in the office, the counselors, leadership, the people working in the kitchen or on maintenance, whomever and however. 

Lord USE ME. 

The Ailes of Kamp.

Well guys Im off on my second 24!

WAHOO!! 

Let's hope this one gives me more rest than the last.

Confused?

Allow me to explain.

Before I left for my last night off I wasn't feeling super hot but I was okay for the most part.

Well whilst I was on the night off, I got SICK.

I had probably the worst nights sleep EVER. 

And I just felt terrible. 

I was so ready to get back to kamp so I could go see the nurse and get some medicine. 

As it turns out I had a bacterial infection in my lungs that I probably got while I was in Wales.

Fun.

Not quite. 

But they took very good care of me and put me on some antibiotics and Im feeling much much better. 

My sickness is pretty much gone! 

Praise da Laurd. 

Although now I think I had an allergic reaction to the medicine and I've got some form of heat rash all about me. 

Frustration.

Im not sure why I keep getting sick and such but I've got a feeling it's the Lord keeping me dependent on Him. 

Because okay, I am at kamp.

Yes, it is tiring. 

It is stressful at times.

It is difficult now and then.

But, Im also in the office. 

So it's a good bit more laid back and chill.

And the work isn't that difficult, sometimes there's just a lot of it. 

Or so it seems. 

So, I feel like it could be very tempting to just get into a "routine" or something and think I've got it all under control. 

It would be very easy to try and do all of this in my own power. 

So if me being sick is what it takes for me to stay dependent on God then let the illnesses roll!!

On a different note, 

Kamp has been GREAT!

Especially now that Im feeling better I am actually able to ENJOY kamp. 

HALLELUJAH. 

These girls are so precious!

And some of them ask some really hard questions. 

But the Lord is working and you can see it in their sweet little hearts!

It's going to be sad when they leave Saturday...

But we won't have too much time to think about it because in just a few short hours new ones will come!

It's crazy to think that these are the last kids to come to kamp for the whole summer. 

Im almost halfway done with my time at kamp.

KRAZY.

Lord use me for your service! 

Make the most of my time here! 

24 Hours of Relaxation.

Holy Moly.

It's my first day off from Kamp.

It is surreal to be in this lovely hotel room, in the air conditioner, on a soft bed, on the internet, smelling nice. 

It feels GOOD. 

Don't get me wrong I love me some Kamp but it gets pretty tiring out there. 

I'm liking my time in the office.

It's been an adjustment fa sho!

But its been good.

I've got a good bit of down time so it's been nice to just sit and read and relax.

It's been a little weird too...

I've had to really ask the Lord to not let me fear the down time. 

To just enjoy sitting and learning about Him or just relaxing in His presence. 

But, it's been great to see Him give me that peace and to see how He's using me in my role at Kamp.

I can't wait to see all that the Lord has in store for me at Kamp.

All the GREAT things I am going to learn there. 

I am so excited!! 

I can't wait to see the Lord work in the lives of all those precious kampers He's entrusted to us. 

It's going to be an INCREDIBLE couple of weeks! 

He's got some BIG PLANS!

WAHOO!!

Can't wait to get this party on with Meredith Wooley and Kate Cody!!

Let's Do It!

Kamp Dayz.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Today I embark on a new journey.

I begin my time at Kanakuk Kamps! 

Let me tell you, I am some kind of excited! 

Kamp is such a unique and incredible environment to be in. 

You are just surrounded with positive and encouraging people 24/7. 

It's AWESOME. 

I'll be at K-West! 

It's Kanakuk's middle school kamp. 

All junior high ALL THE TIME. 

(Lord be with me)

I'll be what we refer to as an office girl.

Im not entirely sure what all of this entails, I was sort of thrown into it last minute. 

But, I would assume it's officey type duties and such. 

So we'll see how it goes. 

I am really excited to see what the Lord has in store for me there. 

I know He is going to continue to challenge me and grow me. 

Just be praying that my focus stays where it needs to be. 

Just coming off my trip to Wales it would be easy for me to get tired and start focusing on myself.

And I am bummed at how little time I've had at home in between all my comings and goings. 

But the Lord will provide me with everything I need. 

He is ALWAYS with me! 

So, BOOM. 

Also, while Im at kamp I'll be incomunicado. 

No phones. 

No internet. 

No Blog!

I know, I know that upsets me too.

But no worries I'll be sure and post on my nights off and whenever I can! 

Buuuuuuuuuut, we do encourage letter writing!!! 

So, if anyone feels like droppin a girl a note:

Phoebe Thomas

793 K-West Dr. 

Lampe MO 65681

The Greatest of Days.

As some of you may know, today is somewhat of a special day. 

That's right it's ma BIRTHDAY! 

Today, I leave the days of my youth. 

I am now 20 years old. 

That's right the big 2-0. 

I am no longer a teenager. 

Wahoo!

No more ones in front, I only rock the twos now!

I just want to say that I LOVE birthdays. 

(and Im not just saying that because it's mine)

I really do! 

I love everyone's birthday!

It's true. 

I mean who wouldn't?

All you people out there who claim to "hate" birthdays...you are just plum crazy! 

And you're lying because you know you love it!

It's a day all about YOU! 

What's not to love?

It's a day where the people in your life get to say 

"Hey I like YOU and Im glad you're around!"

It's a day we get to celebrate who YOU are and what YOU mean to us. 

We get to look back over the past year and see all that the Lord has done for YOU. 

We get to see how He's changed us.

What ways we have grown. 

How we've been tested. 

Relationships that have flourished. 

People we have encountered. 

And then we get to say Thank You.

Thank You Lord for how You've worked in my life this year. 

Thank You for how You've provided for me in ways I didn't expect or understand at the time. 

Thank You for Your personal interest in my life. 

Thank You for loving me.

Thank You for loving me enough to not let me remain stagnant. 

Thank You for making me grow. 

Thank You. 

So, now we get to celebrate YOU and who the Lord has made YOU to be. 

So in honor of birthdays everywhere....

celebrate someone today!! 

Can't think of anyone...

...ohhhh ya know it just so happens that today is MY birthday.

What a coincidence. 

Soooooo you can just celebrate ME. 

I think I can handle that. 

Conceited?

Nah, it's my birthday. 

No Greater Feeling.

I just want to say that it is hard to rival the feeling of coming home. 

There aren't many, if any, feelings that can quite match it. 

Can you think of any? 

At the moment, I surely cannot. 

So in case you haven't heard (of deduced on your own), I returned home today.

Yes, I am back!

In the good ole U. S. of A. 

And boy does it feel good to be here!!

It's been a LONG but a Good day.

Bethany and I were on the same flight from Manchester to Atlanta and so we were able to sit next to each other. 

That made those NINE hours move MUCH quicker. 

And it was nice to have someone watch your bags while you rested in the airport. 

Traveling with a buddy is ALWAYS better!!

We were both just a TOUCH excited to be home. 

Does it show?

She was trying to PTL Bernie...but it's hard on escalators...and when 29,472,732 are looking at you like you're complete morons. 

Oh well, I still like it. 

All in all, Im just going to reiterate that it feels good to be HOME. 

And that I am SUPER tired. 

Time to try and fight jetlag. 

Pray for me. 

Mini Reunions.

Welp, we are almost to the end of this here journey. 

I arrived in Manchester yesterday, along with the rest of the videography teams. 

One that was in Scotland, Bethany and Elise. 

One that was in Ireland, Daniel and Sam. 

Basically we've just been hanging out and we've had a few sessions to try and prepare us for going home. 

They've been warning us about reverse culture shock and jetlag and such. 

One thing they keep mentioning is the fact that some of us might have a hard time finding people that genuinely want to hear about our trip and our experiences here. 

Or that people might just not be all that interested and that can be pretty frustrating. 

And I just find that hard to believe. 

I know that I have many people who genuinely care for me and therefore want to know about what's going on and what's happening in my life. 

Thank you to all of you who are constantly investing and caring for me. 

You are all so wonderful and are such a blessing to have in my life. 

I know I am beyond blessed by the relationships I have. 

I thank the Lord daily for you and for what you mean to me. 

Thank You. 

It's a little bittersweet here. 

We've just been reunited with friends we made during orientation (not all, but some) and then tomorrow we have to leave them again. 

CRAZY. 

I go home TOMORROW. 

WOW.

Time has FLOWN by. 

The Lord has been SO GOOD this past month. 

It has been so incredible to watch Him work and move. 

I count myself blessed that I was able to experience it. 

Thank You Lord.

And thank you to all of you who helped make this possible. 

P.S. 

On a lighter note...

for those of you who know me well, know that I am prone to form habits. 

Especially with my wardrobe. 

Basically, if I have a sweater that I like a lot and is really comfortable, then I wear that sweater, A LOT. 

So, as some of you may have noticed, I have a pair of fake vans that I wear quite often.

Well, I am sad to inform you that as of tomorrow, they will be NO MORE. 

Yes, I regret to tell you that, they shall be disposed of. 

Fyi...that is a lovely grease spot on the left shoe from one of many family dinners

im not entirely sure what the yellowish stains are...sweat of some kind

those little white dots...yeahhh those are seagull poop...thanks Caernarfon

They have served their purpose. 

And they have done so admirably. 

They protected my delicate feet from wind, rain, heat, bugs and general yuckiness.

They have stayed strong all these years.

I bought them in the 11th grade.

At a Payless. 

For $11. 

So did Callie Quebedeaux Whisenhunt. 

I'd say I've gotten my money's worth. 

Right?

Fake Vans, I will miss you. 

You were magnificent shoes. 

You were comfortable yet still fashionable.

And although at times you smelled, I still loved you. 

P.S.S. 

My birthday is on Wednesday.

If anyone would like to ease my sadness...I wouldn't turn it away. 

The Last Hoorah.

Our FINAL day in Caernarfon. 

DANG. 

We had quite a fun last day here. 

We ran some errands this morning. 

(we went to the grocery store and bought candy)

(it was raining)

And then this afternoon we had a private guided tour of historic Caernarfon! 

Wanna know how we got that hook up??

I'll tell you. 

The man that does our laundry, Pete, he introduced us to Emrys yesterday. 

Emrys gives guided walking tours of historic Caernarfon. 

So he gave us one. 

And then he let us interview him. 

It was WONDERFUL. 

We got to see some cool stuff and actually know what it was. 

And we got to walk on the castle walls, which are off limits, but Emrys knows the code. 

BOOM. 

Emrys, our lovely tour guide. 

After that we had a bit of chill time and then it was time to head out to meet up with the California team. 

WHAT WHAT.

Our last event with them! 

So Sad. 

It's been so fun getting to know them and working with them this week! 

Tonight's family event was lots of fun! 

We got to kind of let the kids show off all the basketball skillz they had learned this week. 

It was great!

The Lord has been good during my time in Caernarfon. 

He has shown me so many things about Himself that I didn't know, or that I did know I just needed to be reminded of. 

He has been nothing short of INCREDIBLE. 

The Lord has used us to plant seeds and share His name and glorify Him in ways we never thought possible. 

Praise God for all He is capable of doing!

Praise God for how much He allows us to be a part of His fame!

Praise God because He deserves it! 

Praise God. 

Just because. 

Pub Crawl.

Dang. 

Only ONE day left in the field. 

WOAH. 

So today was a pretty easy going day. 

We slept in and ran a few errands before lunch. 

This afternoon we joined the California team at one of the primary schools!

We got to help with another basketball clinic, that was really fun!

After the clinic they had a question and answer time with all the kids, and their questions were 

SO PRECIOUS. 

After that we all felt like celebrities because they kept asking all of us for our autographs. 

We're a big deal. 

No big. 

Then Tara and I did a couple of interviews. 

One with Rhys and one with Andrew (a local youth worker in one of the churches). 

And then we all just hung out for a bit. 

Tonight, Andrew and Rhys took us ladies, Tara, Lauren and myself to a proper PUB. 

We went to The Black Boy. 

Racism?

Nah. 

It was fun and cool to get to see what a pub is like. 

And the food was DELISH.

Now we are back at Andrew's house watching Starsky and Hutch and eating ice cream. 

A perfect evening. 

Im a Baller.

Y'all might not have known this, but I'm quite a Baller. 

It's okay if you didn't know. 

I didn't know either. 

But this morning we got up bright and early and set out for the leisure center to play some bball!

Well we got lost along the way, but we eventually found it.

So for a few hours this morning we got to help out with some basketball clinics!

It was fun!!!

And then Tara and I had an interview with the Deputy Headmaster (= vice principal)!

It went REALLY well!! 

And then a few of us had a "friendly" with a few boys on the high school team (just a pick up game). 

Okay, let me just say, I don't play basketball. 

I'm only so tall. 

But I think I held my own. 

DEFENSE BAYBAY!!

Although I do want to say that here in Wales these folks don't really get the whole, "Im a girl I get special treatment" rule.

I miss that. 

After that we went to a kids club at the Pentecostal Church in Caernarfon. 

These Pennys know how to GET IT!!

It was sooo fun and exciting!

It was so humbling and encouraging to hear these sweet little kids singing to the Lord. 

It was PERFECT! 

After we had a lovely dinner, Indian food. 

T'was good. 

Now, it's movie/blog/ice cream time. 

Easy A and Chocolate.

Now all I need is Krista Doyle and it would be complete. 

The End is Drawing Near...

My time here is rapidly drawing to a close. 

Only THREE days left on the field!! 

THAT'S CRAZY!

Time is FLYING by! 

Today was a rather productive day!!

We interviewed one of the elders in Rhys' church, and then we ate lunch with Rhys and Menna. 

Then we interviewed Menna. 

After that we had to part ways...I won't get to see her again!

SO SAD!! 

Going to miss her!!

After that we made some Blackberry Butter!

DELISH.

(Thanks Pioneer Woman!)

And then we joined the California team...John made us Cajun food.

I was the true judge. 

He was successful. 

Kudos John Robinson. 

Also, I would just like to say that William Bowden and I had our first hug today. 

It was lovely. 

That's all. 

Our friendship is forever cemented. 

(consider yourself shouted out.) 

Soft Feet, Full Fish.

So today has been an interesting day to say the least. 

Let me just give you a little overview:

This morning we went to pick up a girl who is staying in Caernarfon for the week and working with Rhys. 

Lauren, she's super sweet! 

And we have an interesting connection, her brother is working K-West this summer!

What What!!! 

Represent!

And then we all (Tara, Menna, Lauren and myself) went for a little treat...a fish pedicure. 

So basically, what you do is, you stick your feet into this tank with all these fish in it. 

And then the fish nibble at your feet and eat away all the dead skin. 

Fun right?

Well you know what, IT WAS FUN. 

It tickled quite a bit.

But you got used to it and then your feet were SOOO SMOOTH. 

After that we went to Bangor University and hung out for a bit while Menna did some work. 

And the she totally got us the hook up to get an interview with the Tom Brokaw of Wales. 

LEGIT. 

After that, we went to a bit of a Fourth of July Celebration. 

There's a team in this week from California working in the schools so they had us all over to celebrate America's Birthday!

Burgers, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie. 

Delicious.  

Happy Birthday America!! 

Miss Ya!

Lazy Days.

Well, it's kinda been a lazy couple of days.

Yesterday we had a bit of a celebration.
Today, is our dear friend Rhys' Birthday.
Happy Birthday Rhys.
And so Tara and I said to ourselves:
"Selves, what shall we do to celebrate??"
And we came to the only possible conclusion....GUMBO.

So yes, I spent the greater part of yesterday slaving away in the kitchen...what else is new.
But let me tell you I loved every minute of it!
So I whipped us up some gumbo, Tara made a cake for our eating pleasure and it was all just so tasty.

The gumbo was a hit!!
(thanks for the Tony's mom!)
We invited some friends from the hostel, our friends that are serving in the area but on different teams and Rhys invited some of his actual friends.
All in all, last night was a fun night!

But sadly this morning we had to say goodbye to our roommates of the past week.
Yes, Susie and Alex left us.
Yes, it is very distressing.
They will be greatly missed!
It was so much fun having them around this past week!

So today Tara and I decided that the only way to cope with our sadness is to have a movie day at our supervisor John's house with some of the boys staying with him for the summer.
So far the menu has included Secondhand Lions and V for Vendetta.
Exotic choices, I know.

Now we are headed out for a walk to get some fresh air and sunshine!
I shall hopefully have more to tell yall next time I post.

Let me just say this starts my final week here in Wales.
This time next week I shall be at debriefing.
CRAZY!!

Pray that the Lord continues to use us here during our last week!
Pray that we don't lose focus and end our time here strong for the glory of the Lord.