Great Day!

Oh man, today was a great one on so many different levels.

I laughed so stinkin much.
The weather was beautiful.
I didn't have to go to walmart or the bank.
I got to spend time with students.

We also did a staff vs. campers battleball tournament. I reffed, but the staff totally held their own. We played "Lifeguard" with a twist in the rules that if you made a basket from the other side of the court, your whole team could stand back up. So one of the games, both lifeguards are out and there's about 10 students and 3 staffers still in the game. One of those crazy 9th graders throws the ball up and over and sinks that mess into the net. You should have heard the cheers erupt from those students. Their excitement, almost made losing worth it.

The next game, our staff kicked booty. There were 14 of us out there on the court, and they killed the bajillion campers they were playing against. It was so much fun to watch, and I think, despite being super tired, the whole staff had a great time.

Pray for us this week though... we are starting to get super tired. This last week was a double week... where we had one group of students leave saturday and a new group come sunday. We didnt have much time to recuperate in between. We need energy!

Worship tonight was another powerful night. Ryan's message was awesome and it was another incredible night of seeing students broken, and making decisions that will change their lives. As we sang "Hosanna" tonight, and we got to the second verse, I couldnt help but get excited at the words, "I see a generation rising up to take their place. With selfless faith. I see a near revival, stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees, we're on our knees." I prayed that over them, that week 3 might be that generation that changes the world. Ugh... this job is so convicting and so humbling! I had to go for a walk after we dismissed to church groups because I didnt want the people on my staff to see that Ryan's sermon and worship had pretty much ruined me. Where does a Fuge staffer escape to when they need to process, think, and regroup? There are people everywhere!

I feel like I've got a lot to think about right now, a lot of refocusing to do. It's hard to do that when you've got to be "on" 24/7. I'm looking forward to our 3 day weekend and some alone time this weekend.

THEN after worship, Bonsack Baptist from Roanoke, VA invited us to come upstairs to their church group devo room. We walk in and there are chairs set out for us and then 2 other chairs in the middle of the room. We sat in the chairs wondering what was going on. Their youth minister told us that we had been a blessing to their group (of about 70 students) and that they wanted to bless us. Then they took us 2 at a time, washed our hands and washed our feet and prayed over us. Their church group is big enough that each of our six Bible study leaders had their own group of students pray over them specifically. Oh man. We were all crying like babies I was crying because one, it was a blessing to be ministered to like that, but also because I was so happy that our bible study leaders (who are all 1st year staffers) got to experience that. It was beautiful to see and it made me proud of their hardwork. Students, adults, and staff were all crying. It was another one of those camp moments that I'll never forget.

Today was awesome. As I watched students ministering to our staff, I turned to the person sitting next to me and whispered, "Can you believe we get paid for this stuff??" I'm humbled that He's given me this opportunity. I love my job.

The students charging the line in my battleball track.
I think this is the round I made them yell, "Cowabunga dude!"

Jeremy, about to jump in on the game.
I'm obviously not so sure about his game face.
The 7th grade girls were afraid.

During the Staff vs. Camper game.
Only one lonely 7th grader still standing on the camper side...

And a whole lotta awesomess on the staff side.

Our first organized hangtime battleball game = success!

What Can Wash Away My Sin...

I've been carrying around this dang popsicle stick in my pocket all day today. Last night Ryan did his popsicle stick illustration, and as I passed them out to students, I was praying for them. I hoped that as they wrote their baggage onto the stick, that tonight might be the night that they let it all go, and leave it at the foot of the cross. When I finished passing out the sticks, I had one left, and so I thought that maybe tonight, I'd think about what was holding me back, and write it on the stick. I definitely got that far. I know what's holding me back, but when it came time to break it and throw it on the floor, I just couldn't do it. I tucked that bad boy into my pocket. I knew that I could go through the motions of the illustrations, but I just am not ready to part ways with something that's become a part of me.

lame.

Ryan has been bringing it this summer. I told him last night that I've loved having him as our camp pastor, but that it would be great if he could stop preaching his sermons specifically to me, and focus more on the students. :) Seriously, sometimes, after worship, I just want to find a dark corner on campus and process... unfortunately though, the show must go on, and after we send students to their church group devotions, we as a staff have very little time to get ready for the next element. It's about the students though... and we want things to be great for them. My first summer working camp, my director called transitioning from worship to night life, "Turning the Knob." Switching gears quickly is just kind of how camp is.

Anyway,

Last night's worship was amazing. I ran pro-presenter (the computer and lyrics) which I hate doing in worship because when you're sitting back behind the computer, it's hard to really focus on what's going on in the room.... but holy cow, last night you had to have been crazy not to notice it. The band finished their set with "Hosanna" and then went into "What Can Wash Away My Sin". Last week our light person accidentally turned off the lights early, and we did that last song in the dark... and it ended up working out well... well this week we were intentional about it. When Olivia started singing, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." The stage was dark, the background on the screens was black, and the band kind of faded out. All you could see were the silhouettes of the band on stage, and hear the 200+ voices in the auditorium. It was beautiful and the presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelmingly strong. Despite the dumb computer in my face, just hearing those voices, and seeing my good friends silhouetted on stage truly worshipping... I cried like a baby. We're blessed to have a band that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and who truly have hearts for the Lord.

After the song ended, I had to start a video but I soooo wanted to make the band stay out there. During the video, the person running lights told me on the headset that everyone backstage was crying, having the same reaction those of us out front were having. We were in awe of the majesty and awesomeness of the Creator, in awe that He would allow us to be a part of this. Ryan came out after the video visibly broken over what the Lord was doing in that auditorium, and he felt led to hold an invitation right there before he even preached his sermon. As the band played "Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone" students got up, went to the back to their youth ministers, and prayed prayers of salvation. It was incredible.

We could have packed up and gone home right then... but Ryan wasnt done. After the invitation, like I said, he preached on letting go of our pasts and the things holding us back, and again this week, the sound of those sticks breaking was one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

God is so good. He's here at Carson Newman this summer and big things are happening. Praise the Lord for our new brothers and sisters that were welcomed in to the family last night. That was night one of worship... we've still got 3 more nights. Let's pray for more...

Wooo pictures.

Dude, the boys got bubble swords and I was forced to wear a tiara.
What the heck?

I forced Ryan to be my friend once.
He's such a nice camp pastor.

"Let me hear that Purple Thunder!"
A great group to have on the rec field.
We dominated and our hardwork paid off when we won the Fuge Cup!

Jeremy and I co-led our group this week because our leadership roles take up a lot of time.
This is my reaction to Courtney calling me a "homewrecker" because I wanted a picture with her husband. Not cool. ;)

Don't worry, it's okay because they're married.

What it really came down to, was that she was secretly jealous and wanted a picture with me.
So we're good now.

Jeremy, Molly, and Georgia.
The Fuge dream team.

Look how hardcore he was!

and yes...

I was devastated to hear of Michael Jackson's passing, because we all know how much I loved him. I knew something was up when my phone started blowing up during our pre-worship meeting with missed calls and text messages. I may have cried. I work with some amazing people, but they just don't understand my love of all things MJ.

BUT... as we sang in worship last night about God's glory going beyond all fame, it kind of put things into perspective pretty quickly, especially as I sat in the balcony and looked down on 300 and something teenagers, many of whom still don't really get the big picture. This life is precious, unpredictable, complicated, crazy, and completely not ours. As reports are surfacing about a possible drug overdose, my heart is sad at the emptiness so many people must feel, and it spurs me on to live a life that matters, a life that doesn't seek fame or self gratification, but one of love.

INTRODUCING!

Awesome Alex

I have been blessed with a financial assistant this summer and he's pretty much great. Alex, has helped me so much in the store the last few weeks, and I really don't know what I'd do without him. Not only is he great with our customers and the cash register, but he's also really good at counting the moolah.... counting money is not my spiritual gift. So... yay for Alex!

This is us doing the "Ghetto Electric Slide" before we opened doors for night life.
Gotta get pumped!

I'm a Slacker.

Actually, I'm not a slacker. I've just been extremely busy with the madness that is Centrifuge at Carson Newman.

Week 1 of camp is over, and week 2 is in it's final hours.

First of all... week 1 was amazing. We had INCREDIBLE adults that were so patient and understanding as we worked out the kinks of our programming elements and scheduling issues. Our first day was rough, across the board. Our computer was jacked up in opening. I think our tracks were rained out. It just seemed like one thing after another. We got to worship that night and finally, everything seemed to go perfectly. It was a powerful night, the Seth Medley Band rocked and Ryan totally brought it as far as the message was concerned. Ryan laid it all out there and students were broken... let's take care of business the first night of camp... know what I'm saying? Finally we could breathe! Little did we know, our little director was on the phone with security because Jefferson City was under a tornado warning. So after worship, the lights came up... and we were locked down in the auditorium for awhile, praying that the weather would pass without incident.

Thankfully the first day was not a reflection of how the rest of our week would go. Programming got progressively, and dramatically better, and our Bible study leaders really began to get into the groove of things. None of our Bible study leaders have ever worked camp before, and they all have other jobs on staff in addition to leading groups each week. They are some of the hardest working people I know, and have maintained such a good attitude in the midst of craziness. I know they've got to be tired. They're awesome.

The week was incredible. I didn't have a Bible study group, but I did get to host a church from Fredericksburg, Salem Baptist. I'm so excited to go visit them in August when I get home. They were too much fun and nicknamed me "Motown" the first night of church group devotion time, and then proceeded to yell it across campus anytime they saw me. It really helped fill the hole in my heart left by my lack of Bible study group.

At closing, the adults sort of stormed the stage and called all of us staffers up on stage. They thanked us for our hardwork and encouraged us. So many of them told us they saw how intentional we were with their students, and that completely blessed us as a staff. If anything is our heartbeat, it would be to be intentional with students in sharing the Gospel.

It was hard to see that group leave.

Week 2 has been pretty good too. I turned in all my paperwork from week 1 on Monday, and it's definitely been confirmed that financial directing is NOT my spiritual gift, but I'm hanging in there. I've got a bible study group this week.... Well our program director is actually teaching Bible study, but I've got them out on the rec field. We're having a GREAT time. Our group is the loudest, most enthusiastic and encouraging group. Today, we won rainy day rec and we got booed by some of the other Bible studies because they're tired of hearing our cheers. We haven't won a ton of stuff, but their attitudes are awesome. Well actually, thats a lie. We've won 2 spirit cups and rainy day rec, but we bombed on the night life stuff. Oh well... we'll see how Mega goes. Maybe there's a Fuge cup in our future??

My throat hurts. I can barely talk. But its been worth it.
Week 2... almost done and its been pretty great.

Here We Go...

Today was our first day of our first week of camp and it went exceptionally well. We have such a small staff that I was worried that we'd be spread too thin during registration, but from what I've heard, it sounds like it went well. The past few years, my job has felt super crazy busy.. because I was on the team of putting 800 students into tracks and bible studies (PIT) and sometimes that gets a little hectic. So you can imagine how nice it was to sit back behind my laptop waiting for 8 churches (about 160 people) to arrive so that I could go over financial stuff with them and then send them on to our director Megan.

I was super worried about my job, just because it seemed too easy to be true... but so far I think everything went well.

Opening went really well. There were a few things we need to workout, but nothing that churches probably noticed, and then it seemed like the students came back from their Bible study group time pumped about camp. woohoo! I dont have a Bible study this week, but I do get to be a church group host. I specifically asked for one of the churches here this week because they're from back home and I thought it would be fun to build relationships with them. They are a hilarious bunch of people and within 10 minutes of our time together had already nicknamed me "Motown." I'm excited to get to know them this week.

I'm just excited about camp in general.
way excited.
when those doors opened and students started flooding into the auditorium, I felt like I was home. I love my job.

Georgia on Facebook

Add Georgia as a facebook friend.

"Georgia Fuge" is who you should search for.

Get excited and stay up to date in more than one place!

Why Georgia

Today, while we're doing run throughs, Georgia helped Courtney with the missions wall. It's looking great! Courtney did a wonderful job the last week and a half teaching us about the Roma people and about Canada's need to hear the Gospel, and then she had us each paint a canvas expressing what "Missions is..." to us. It was so awesome to see just how different each of us viewed missions, but how ultimately it all came back to Christ. We really want to be a staff that has a heart for missions and a global perspective on the world. We pray that our students live here with a Christ centered, Greast Commission kind of world view.

Missions is....

Obviously, I was struggling in the area of being artisticly awesome,
but Courtney was super encouraging and helpful.
We want students to know places we've been (or going) so they can ask us about it.
Plus, the background is purple AND you can't go wrong with a John Piper quote.

Georgia Rain...

Georgia's doing fine. Don't you worry. She's hanging out in the store right now while I'm in the auditorium. I'm pretty sure I can trust her not to take anything... especially since she doesn't have any arms. She loves being a Fuge staffer though.



Today and tomorrow are our two long days before camp starts. Today we're in the auditorium running through transitions and then tomorrow is our day of dress rehearsals. It's a long day for our program director, our band, and our actors, but it's definitely something we've got to do to make sure we're presenting a professional program before our students get here. It's important to each of us, that our week 1 students not be our guinea pigs. We want week 1 to be done well and then the following weeks we continue to make things even better. We like to call it, "bumping the lamp," thanks to Disney and Roger Rabbit.

Last night while the band was practicing, their female vocalist, Olivia was working on something else, so I sat out in the audience (because I was too scared to go up on stage with the boys) and sang with them. They're all super encouraging, and hoping that I'll lead worship with them a few times this summer, but we'll see. I'm so wimpy. BUT it was fun sitting out in the audience and taking it all in. The stage looks awesome and our band is incredibly talented. It's going to be a great summer.

Here's the cute little staff I'm serving with at Carson Newman this summer.

He's Leaving on that Midnight Train to Georgia.

For all of you that have been worried about her, Georgia is doing just fine. She did get kidnapped last night, and someone gave her eyes, a nose, and a mouth made from masking tape. The whole experience traumatized her just a bit, but in all, I think she's happy with the results.

In other news...

Yesterday was our day off. We've been working non stop since Monday, June 1st and so that day of rest was definitely needed. I did a little bit of work for camp in the morning, but for the most part, enjoyed my day. We did have some crazy weather though!

On Wednesday night one of the guys on our staff, Jeremy (who is married to Courtney) told us that he and our camp pastor Ryan (who is married to Katie, who is sadly back home in Texas) had something planned and that anyone who wanted to take part should meet on Thursday (our day off) in the office at 5:30.

Ooohhh I love surprises!
I had no idea what they were planning.

So all of us girls wiped the sweat and dirt of the last 2 weeks from our faces, put on non-camp clothes and made our way to the office around 5:30. Most of the guys were oddly missing, but we assumed they opted to play basketball or go into knoxville rather than partake in the night's festivities. It was our day off, so it's no big deal. Two of the other guys waited in the office with us, and when the time came, asked us to hop in some cars and follow them.

Drew, leading the pack, drove us across campus to one of the rooms we'd been using all week. Outside the door was a big sign that said, "We love our chiks!" and when we opened the door, the room was decorated in pink and white streamers and balloons and a dinner of chik fil a mixed with some KFC was set out before us. It was precious. After we all sat down, and the guys got our drinks, Jeremy told us girls that the guys had gone through our favorite things lists (something we filled out at the beginning of the summer) and that most of us had said our favorite fast food was chik fil a... and so they wanted to do something special for us to let us know how much they appreciate us. He even said that it was convenient that we all picked Christian Chicken, but that they were fully prepared to go out and find all of our favorites.

Then we were informed that after dinner, the guys had rented a movie for us all to watch. So we ate our meal, laughed and talked, and then sat together as a staff and watched, "The Little Mermaid"!!! Anyone who has worked camp with me knows that Ariel's song, "Part of that World" is my 'go to' song whenever I find myself alone on an empty fuge stage. I cant help it. You can't even begin to imagine how wonderful it was to sit around singing Disney songs with my staff. Last night was definitely one of my favorite Fuge moments... in all 5 summers that I've worked. It was nice to be appreciated and cared for and it was nice to be able to spend time with people that are quickly becoming like family.

The guys on my staff are amazing. They're funny, godly men who are excited about serving the Lord with everything they are this summer. I cant wait to see how He uses them to grow His Kingdom and change the lives of students.

Yay for the Carson Newman Fuge Guys!

Whitney was my singing buddy throughout the movie....
although on a staff like ours, there wasnt a non-singer in the bunch!

I don't know when, I dont know how, but I know somethings starting right now...
watch and you'll see. Someday I'll be, part of that world!

This would be Alex.
We have an exclusive club.
People are jealous.

Georgia on My Mind

So...........

In the storage closet, we found all sorts of things that FD's of the past have used to make the Carson Newman Fuge Store a flippin sweet place to hangout. One thing would be this one hat stand that uses big heads to display the merchandise. It's pretty much amazing... but slightly creepy. I opted not to use it in the store.

My friend Whitney is a bit jumpy, and so I decided to bring one of the heads out of storage to hangout with me this week, and mostly I just wanted to freak Whitney out. I named the head, Georgia. She's really nice and adapting well to the team.




This is what sleep deprivation and sun exposure can do to people late at night. Don't hate.

Also, aside from Georgia joining the staff as our special teamer, I'll also give you a little insight into the humble abode that is our staff office...



This is our sweet wall decoration that Whitney and Courtney worked super hard on. Our theme this summer is called "Move" and so that's what we're all doing. I'm apparently dancing on the hills. They're probably alive with the sound of music.

And then here's some of us hanging out before Bible study training or a meeting.

Whitney, our fearless Development Director preparing to lead Bible study training

Kevin (one of our Bible study leaders and video guy) and Ryan (our camp pastor) watching something funny and really interesting.

Seth, our worship leader and me hanging out and pretty much being awesome
. I look like a freak in this picture.
Perhaps its because I look soooooo tired.

I really do have the best job on the planet.
I can't wait until Monday when churches get here.

Today I went with our missions mobilizer to her mission sites so she could introduce herself to her contact people. We went to the local boys and girls club and while she was talking to some of the people that work there, I got to sit down with two little boys who told me all about the books they were reading. It was precious. One of them turned to me and said, "Who are you looking for? Ms. Theresa? She's not here, but you can stay here with me and I'll share my book until she gets back." He was adorable. I hope I get to go back and visit Courtney's site again. I have been so impressed and so humbled by her love for missions and for the nations. With a heart like hers leading our staff in the area of missions, it's hard not to get excited about having a global perspective and reaching the world for Christ.

Tomorrow we've got another busy day ahead, but then Thursday is our day off. I can't stinkin wait to sleep in! Then, Friday, saturday, and sunday we're doing run throughs and dress rehearsals. Pray for us... those are always long days.

I need to go to sleep now but first, in case you were wondering, or wanted to love me:

Carson Newman College
Centrifuge Camp
Attn. Molly Bostelman- Financial Director
2130 Branner Avenue
Jefferson City, TN 37760


I mean, I'm just sayin.
The summers are long.
Encourage me, people, encourage me. :)

How Beautiful the Blood..

Tonight was a real sweet time of staff worship. We sang a song by Fee called, "Beautiful the Blood" and it's awesome.

I'll post the lyrics at the end of this post, and you should check it out.

Our staff worship tonight was great, but humbly uncomfortable. When we walked into the auditorium, there was a small circle of chairs and notecards in front of each chair and notecards behind them as well. So, I sat down in the chair with my notecard in it, and our rec director, Stacy stood behind me, and the rest of the team did the same.

First our worship leader Seth started with "How Beautiful the Blood" and then our pastor, Ryan posed the question, "If you had no fear, what would you do?" and then he'd read a passage that reminded us of God's power and presence, and then he'd ask us again, "If you had no fear, what would you do?"

If I had no fear... what WOULD I do?
How is fear holding me back?
How is fear going to hold me back this summer?
How do I let go of it?

I was so worried about what it would be like being placed on such a small staff this summer... but I'm quickly realizing the blessing that it can be. After Ryan got us thinking about fear... he had us go around the circle and encourage one another. We encouraged the people whose chair we were standing behind. So first round, Stacy encouraged me...and then later on, we all switched places and encouraged others. It was amazing the things we have all seen in one another in just 6 short days.

6 days.

Why dont I tell people, people I've known years, the things I see in them? Why don't I encourage others the ways that we did tonight? These people are practically strangers, yet it felt good to see the body of Christ loving like that.

It's going to be a good summer.
I can feel it.
Training week is never fun... mostly because I just cant wait for students to get here. I'm probably going to get to teach bible study week 2! I'm a little nervous because it's earlier in the summer than I thought it would be, and I just hope I've got a good enough hold on my financial director responsibilities, that that's possible. I dont want to feel distracted when I've got students.

A couple things I would love prayer for....
*Confidence in my job as FD. I am so nervous about this new job.
*My attitude and for humility, as a lot of my job is behind the scenes and serving the staff
*The 9 churches coming next week, that the students will already begin to prepare their hearts for what the Lord has in store.
*Staff unity
*Opportunities to be intentional with students and adults, despite not having a Bible study.


Beautiful Blood by Fee

I never knew death could be so sweet
I never knew surrender could feel so free
I never seen such meekness in majesty
That the blood of Jesus was bled for me
And now I sing
Freedom for all my days
It's only by
The power of the cross
I'm raised
The King of Glory
Rescued me
How beautiful the blood flow
How merciful the love show
The King glory poured out
Victorious, I'm weeping
Never knew through these nails
Would love unfold
And never knew these wounds
Would heal my soul
I've never seen
Such beauty and sorrow meet
The blood of Jesus
Was bled for me
And now I sing
Freedom for all my days
It's only by
The power of the cross
I'm raised
The King of Glory
Rescued me
Now I'll sing
Freedom for all my days
It's only by
The power of the cross
I'm raised
The King of Glory
Rescued me
How beautiful you are
How merciful you are
How glorious you are
Christ the Savior
How beautiful you are
How merciful you are
How glorious you are
Christ the Savior

Yo.

So, I got to camp on Monday afternoon.

Good ole Carson Newman.
This place has changed some.

We dont have to live in the ghetto dorms anymore, but instead got set up in some pretty nice apartments. I am thankful for that.

On Monday, there were 8 of us here. The leadership team and our missions mobilizer.
On Tuesday our 18 wheeler of awesome showed up. That mess definitely didn't go as planned, as we had some problems with the truck's ramp thingy. We had to unload the truck on one side of campus, pack into a U-Haul, and take multiple trips to the other side of campus. It was A LOT of work. Did I mention it's hot as mess here?

But we got everything where it needed to go.

Today I spent most of the day doing inventory in the store and running errands to walmart and lowes. The rest of our staffers arrived as well.

So now we are 14 strong.

Things are going great.
This staff is great.
I have laughed a lot over the last few days.
That's a good thing.

I'm tired.
Will post more when more exciting thing happen, that dont involve opening boxes and counting its contents.

I'm going to sleep now.
Goodnight world.
yay camp.