With A Heart of A Child

So something that I've been meaning to post lately has been my thoughts on interactions with young kids.

I recently returned home from being a counselor at the Crimson Wave Swim Camp at Grove City College from June 13-17. Now if you know anything about me, swimming is most definitely one of the things that define who I am. So from there I already am quite a good fit to be a counselor at a swim camp. Also I've always wanted to be a swim coach and thus this experience helped me see the drier side of swimming. Lastly it's always a joy to work with kids and as the years have gone by I've come to realize that I really do enjoy spending time and taking care of younger ones around me.

Now I'm gonna admit that I absolutely loved the time I spend there at the camp. I worked with kids ranging from 10 to 13 in age for our "Little Kids" camp and for the "Big Kids" camp the ages were 13 to 17. Decent range to counsel to but the kids overall were just great. The little kids were just so adorable and my two favorites were Luke and Jenny. These two were probably two of the youngest but they were just absolutely a pleasure to be around. Luke was just a cute redhead and his mood was just so infectious. While Jenny was just a smart little girl who was also oh so polite and knew what to do in any situation.

Then for the big kids it's always easier to communicate with those of an older age since they can actually comprehend what you're saying. For this camp I'll have to say that my favorite swimmers were Maddie, Makenna, Emily, Stephen, and Ben. Now nothing against the other campers, but it was these five that somehow piqued my interest and I attempted to get to know better as the week passed.

Overall the camp reinforced for me one of the possible ideas for the future I've been having. The past few years I've been realizing that I thoroughly enjoy working and hanging out with kids in the 13-18 age group along with some of the 13 and unders as well. I really have no qualms against any kid. Therefore I've been thinking about possibly working with kids as a potential job after college. Ideally a swim coach, but a camp counselor or PE teacher would work as well.

Not sure how this has come into my head, but I can only say that this is the Lord telling me something. Now I'm not gonna drop whatever I'm doing and just go into working with kids. To do something without a plan is pretty dumb. How I'm interpreting things here is that I should keep my options open and let the Lord just guide me to whatever job I come to in the days after my graduation in a year. Nonetheless that doesn't mean I just sit here waiting for the Lord to give me what I need, rather instead I need to be exploring all my options and be confident that where ever I go, I'll be in good hands and that all is for the glory of God.

Back to the kids though. I'm not sure what really that makes me happy to hang out and work with them. It's probable that its my inner child at work here. Or perhaps I'm just destined to be one of those older brother figures the rest of my life. I tend to find myself in the situation of fulfilling that role for others around me. But then when with high schoolers I not only do that role but also fit right in with them somehow. Weird huh?

Well my thoughts are just wandering everywhere and my apologies if I bounced around so much. I can see that I'm going here and there right now so I'm just gonna stop here. I'll probably talk about this in another post soon. Until then.

Oh here are a few pictures from the "Little Kid" camp

Rose is in pink, Jenny is in blue

And here's Luke :-)

The Comprehensive Camp kids (ages 10-13)

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part Finale

Day 10-12 (Rome, Vatican, and Florence)

Greece being over with and now Italy was in our sights. We got to Rome and checked into our hotel. From there we set off for the Vatican and explored that area along with the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. That same night we then went to see the city by night. Boy was it a sight to see those landmarks in the dark and all lit up. Then the next day we got to see all the national landmarks: Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and the Church of St John. We then went exploring around the city and managed to find the amazing gelato place that Richie and Jane had gone to before two years ago. The cones were huge and people couldn't stop taking pictures with us. Later Kirk and I separated from the group and went to the Spanish steps and saw the overlooking landscape from there. The following day we made an excursion to Florence where a group of us went all the way up to the Duomo and saw the overarching shot of the city. We then visited the Academy and saw the statue of David. On our last day we were given a free day in Rome, with some other people we went to see the Catacombs of St Sebastian. We then ate lunch near the Coliseum, I then went solo and found the place that two of my friends recommended to me, got a free glass of wine and a sandwich out of it.

The time in Italy though short-lived was definitely an exciting experience. Rome such a huge city there were so many things to see and experience. Seeing all those natural landmarks at night gave it a whole different meaning and then once again seeing them in daylight just made it that much more amazing. Then in Florence being at the top of the Duomo was just a terrific view and just awe inspiring on how this man-made structure could be just so impressive along with all of the sites seen in Rome. Overall this trip opened my eyes to such an awesome new experience and would highly recommend it to anyone to go out overseas and experience the world.

Vatican/St Peter's Square

 

Lacoon Group

Coliseum at night

On top of the Duomo in Florence

My free meal :-)

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 6

Day 8 & 9 (Athens)

The next day we arrived in the port of Athens and proceeded to spend the next two days in this city. Following the departure from our cruise ship we went to visit the Temple of Zeus, a museum and then just got to roam the city for a bit. Our hotel accommodations were nice and our sister hotel had a roof garden which was perfect to sit out and enjoy the weather. The following day we got to go to the Acropolis museum and then to the actual Acropolis where we saw the Parthenon and Erecthion as well as the Theater of Dionysus. As we came down from the Acropolis we got to go up to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) and once again saw the sights where Paul was and walked. Later in the day we were set free to do our own roaming and I managed to buy a kilogram of cherries and a kilo of strawberries both so very delicious. We then ended our time at Athens atop of the rooftop garden again by gazing at the Parthenon at night.

Being in Athens and to see all the sights like the Parthenon and Mars Hill was just incredible. Not only did you get to witness the ancient site of the Greek life that we all read and study about in school. As for Mars Hill its just one of those sites that Christians review over but once there it was just so neat to be on top of where Paul spoke to the Athenians. Overall our time in Greece was not a disappointment and then could not wait to see what Italy had in store for us.

Temple of Zeus

Acropolis Museum

Parthenon

Mars Hill

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 5

Day 6 (Ephesus, Turkey and the island of Patmos) & Day 7 (Crete and Santorini)

Into Asia Minor we sailed, landing in Turkey we set off for Ephesus. Once again getting to walk on the roads which Paul walked on. Then we got to go see some wonderful (and very expensive) rugs. So astounding to see that all of them were handmade, oh the patience one must possess! Then getting to wander around before heading back to the boat we were accosted by numerous Turkish salesmen who were just absolutely relentless in their drive to sell. We set sail for Patmos and then walked to the grotto in which the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. Yea no words could explain the silence and respect the group as a whole shared in that place. The next day, Sunday, we sailed into Crete and observed a Greek Orthodox service. Seeing that is was Sunday all the shops and stores were closed, but luckily a group of us found a playground and spent our time there til we had to head back to the ship. Then we headed for the island of Santorini. Once there some of us being cheapskates opted to walk up to the town instead of riding the donkeys or cable cars for a fee of four euros. We beat the donkey and got there in 15 minutes! Saw some fantastic art there and just some beautiful architecture. And then headed back down to once again reboard our ship for the night.

Phew Ephesus it was just amazing to see the sites and then at the rug store how incredible it is for a single silkworm cocoon can supply enough silk for a mile! Only our God would design such an intricate fashion. Next up in Patmos, again words cannot express how unfathomable it was to stand in the cave that John wrote Revelation in. Our minds couldn't grasp what had happened even right after we'd seen it and boy that memory I plan on keeping alive with me as long as I live. Then in the Chapel of St Titus, just being in the presence of such an orthodox service was a really awesome experience. Not my particular cup of weekly tea, but a once in awhile thing wouldn't be so bad. The reverence in that room was just so thick and as our group was filing in to observe, felt we took away from that aspect of worship (us damn American tourists). Lastly in Santorini, I could definitely see why so many people dub it the most beautiful place on earth. Truly is one of the most picturesque towns I have ever laid eyes on. But then a topic rose up in conversation in how would it be any fun to live in a town like this? All the tourists and the hustle and bustle day in and day out. Frankly I would grow tired of seeing tourists everyday and would most likely get rather annoyed. Also its location does not bode well for travel off the island or even to the bottom of the island to the top. But thats my personal opinion, not to take away anything from that experience of course, it definitely was a sight/site to see.

Welcome to Turkey

Ancient Ephesus

Turkmen Rug Store

Grotto of John in Patmos

Crete

Inside the chapel

The playground we found

Santorini

The mode of transportation up to the town

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 4

Day 5 (Mykonos)

Today we boarded our cruise ship and headed towards the island of Mykonos. Once there we toured the island, got to see the picturesque Greek coast town. The white houses, the city by the water, streetways, and all the food places/shops. Got to go to this absolutely amazing crepe shop and got a nutella, strawberry, and banana crepe, so delicious. Afterwards a group of us watched the sun set from an outcropping of rocks near the windmills. Such a beautiful sight.

Now being on that island and witnessing that sunset was just spectacular. A sunset is a sunset, but out there on the rocks away from the lights of urban civilization; it was just that much more beautiful. Something as simple as the setting of the sun that we often overlook in our daily lives can be just amazing when given the time to sit back and enjoy the sight. Just goes back to the my earlier point in standing back and living in the present is something that humankind in this era has so easily forgotten. Always thinking of the past and the future, we rarely think of the present just brushing it aside as a formality when in reality it is the most important thing in our lives. What we do now is what affects our future, and is what we look back to in the past. Such a duh understanding but seems the easiest things in life are always overlooked. But it was that sunset that made me realize that fully and even now I plan to hopefully to apply that lesson in my daily life now and the days to come.

Our Cruise Ship

Mykonos

The yummy crepe!

Horizon with setting sun

Sunset

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 3

Day 4 (Corinth and Nafplion)

On this day we first visited the ruins of ancient Corinth. It was here at this excavation site that we partook in communion. Next we headed towards the highest point of Corinth, the Acrocorinth! We only had an hour and of course the mentality of us ambitious ones was to get to the top. But of course we get there in a ridiculous short amount of time (15 to 20 minutes I think). The sight from this natural pinnacle was breathtaking, even more the natural landscape was indeed beautiful. Here we got to climb onto other rocks and just soak in this wonder. Then we drove to the town of Nafplion and were given free time to explore the city and so we did. Visited the shops, beach and just had a good time in this small town. We got back to Tolo and had our last dinner there. Afterwards we made sure to say bye to our awesome gelato lady and left her a generous tip and countless thanks.

Communion is something we've all been a part of. But in Corinth it was just a whole different experience. Perhaps it was the open air, the group I was with, or the ruins on which lay beneath and around me. All that aside this moment showed me just how powerful the Lord can move in this ritual we in the church have unfortunately at times made "trivial".  I know that it's not supposed to be an all exclusive thing, however the sacredness of communion I feel has been deteriorating. But it was in ancient Corinth that made me think of all this and made me wonder on what we could possibly do to bring the level of sacredness that the Lord deserves. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that we are totally disrespectful to God in our actions. In fact I'm just saying that the church should give more reverence to the Lord, externally but most importantly internally.

Then once again on the Acrocorinth the wonders of God's creation came alive once more. How amazing it is to just see all that He's created and how he has gifted man to be able to forge such structures. I'll say this again the view from the top was just breathtaking.

Communion at the ruins of Corinth

On the top of the Acrocorinth

Just wandering on the top of the Acrocorinth

The town of Nafplion

Last night in Tolo with our loving gelato lady

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 2

Day 3 (Mycenae and Epidavros)

Our first site in Greece was the Mycenae. There we went to see the Palace of Agammemnon and here we got to see the ruins of that and witnessed the speech of Agammemnon re-enacted by Dr Dixon. Oh the enthusiasm he put forth in that legendary speech. We then headed toward a restaurant named Agammemnon which turned out to be a quite nice establishment that seemed to be used for wedding receptions. Next we arrived in Epidavros and were there to see the epic theater. We witnessed the ridiculous acoustics of such an ancient theatre. Here is where I got into trouble first for throwing my frisbee a quarter down the theater. Hoped that Kirk would throw it to me from the very top but unfortunately he chickened out on me. Back to Tolo for the night and we just spent it eating dinner at the hotel and of course getting more gelato in town.

That day I think it finally began to sink in that I was actually in Greece. At the palace it was just amazing to see such ancient architecture and a decent amount still intact. But then in Epidavros seeing the theater was just eye-opening. So ridiculous to see how civilizations from back then could engineer an environment that was capable to seat so many people and able to project the acting troupe's voices to even the nose-bleed section. So once getting settled in, not even the assigned course writing was gonna hamper me on this trip.

Dr Dixon during his dramatic speech at the Lion's Gate

The tomb of Clytemnestra

The Theater of Epidavros

Grecian and Italian Reflections - Part 1

So the blog has been a bit dead for the past few weeks mainly due to my absence from the states and lack of internet access.

However now being stateside again I'm gonna do my best to recount my overseas experience via blog posts. I'll most likely document a day or two along with a few pictures and my recollections and thoughts from those days.

Alright without further ado here goes Days 1-2:

We left Pittsburgh 9:30 AM on May 16, layover in Philly til 4:20 and then Greece bound we were! We got into Greece roughly nine hours later and then got onto a bus to take us to the quaint little town of Tolo. There we checked into our hotel and had lunch at a local pizzeria which was quite delicious. We then headed for the beach right by the hotel and four of us (Nate, Kirk, Jenny, and me) decided to swim out to this little island approximately half to three quarter mile away. Getting there we explored the little area, the little church building that was there, and etched our names into a cactus. Swimming back of course was so much easier due to the aid of the current. Then after a wonderful dinner we went and got some fresh gelato and boy was it tasty.

Now all this happened in the very first day we landed in Greece, crazy huh? Kirk made that astute comment and especially since we did that whole island swim we were pumped to see what was in store for us in the following days. Other than that it was just so amazing to see the beauty of the Lord's creation and the blessing we had to just even be there at that time. Little did I know that I was in for one heck of an adventure.

The little island we swam to.

Our lovely hotel for the next few days

The proximity of the Agean Sea to us