The SF/East Bay chapters of Intervarsity had our annual Chapter Camp last week, and I am still processing. Like last year, I don't feel like Chapter Camp marked the end of the year, but rather the beginnings of many good things to come in the future.
I'd like to say Chapter Camp looked like this, but it was actually rainy for 3 of the 5 days and cold and much more indoors than this photo is letting on. But the lake and scenery was very beautiful when it was nice out.
The theme of the week and focus of manuscript study was my favorite book, Philippians.
Drawing helps me listen. My manuscript is underneath my hand that work of art.
I felt like I learned so much and was fed so much last year when we studied John, a book I'd studied very little of and just didn't understand most of the time. But Philippians I know quite well, so I was wary that I would not learn anything this week. God surprised me and showed me many new things and raised a lot of questions that I am still seeking answers to. One thing I dislike about having manuscript study with a hundred people at once is that there is never enough time to discuss all the questions, and I hunger for those conversations.
I was in the worship track for chapter camp. When people ask me how it was, I have been responding that we prayed a lot, and I will maintain that answer. We prayed pretty much every track time, learning more about what it means to worship and to lead worship, by being in worship. Compared to last year when we did more concretely practical activities, this year was no less good.
Even though every day was pretty full and I was stressed, it felt like people were seizing as many hours as possible to spend time getting to know each other more. Every night in the boy's cabin, this guy and I stayed up talking - about our day, life, and girls.
(He is the one without the colored hair.)
I had many conversations and several good ones that just seemed to happen on their own, and I am glad for them.
Oh, and before chapter camp, I bought a djembe!
It is the small one on the right.
On the last night I cried, a lot. I cried the tears of happiness, of emotions I can't name that just well up and press on my chest and start leaking out of my eyes because I can't help it. Because God is good and answers prayers for things I have hoped for a long time, and kept praying for after I lost hope.
But I guess for the seniors, Chapter Camp did mean good bye because everybody else there was going to see each other again next year. And it meant goodbye for me for some of them.
Though I guess I could not get enough of her. So I drove down to Milpitas yesterday with some frosting in the shape of a cake, to surprise her before she flew off to Hong Kong.
Happy Birthday, mom.
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