29 things that have made me who I am today...

1. Keith & Cindy being my parents
2. Holly being my sister
3. Understanding the power of the Gospel
4. Having cousins who are also dear friends
5. Being a part of an incredible legacy and family of believers
6. Growing up in CV
7. Having my grandma as my first grade teacher
8. Falling in love with reading thanks to my third grade teacher
9. Being a camper at Kids Camp
10. Playing volleyball and basketball for CVS
11. Going to basketball camp at Maranatha and then to the Bahamas with those same people
12. The death of my friend Rachel
13. Falling more in love with Jesus
14. Going to K-State
15. Learning the importance of loving people
16. Living on the 4th floor of West Hall
17. Meeting the Navs
18. Understanding the importance of discipleship
19. Going to STP
20. Being an RA
21. Going to Zambia
22. Going to Main Event
23. Going to Malawi
24. Moving to Wichita
25. Student teaching at Heights
26. Being a teacher at Southeast (on year #7)
27. Attending First Free
28. Buying a house and moving to Indianapolis (street)
29. Going to East Asia

back together again....

This past Monday night was the official end of summer... It was a night that I had been looking forward to since May. We all scattered about for the summer and THIS was the night that the MNGP's were back together again under one roof. 

 

 

We all wore shirts from our various summer adventures. Some of us left the country, some of us left the state, others headed up the road to another city, and still others of us loved on kids at camp. My prayer that we would each come back different was most definitely answered. We each saw evidence of the Lord at work in the places He took us. We all met people that challenged us, encouraged us, and walked along side us for a season. It was such a blessing to have everyone back together again. I am excited for our times together on Monday nights.

"Macho" Mandy

For a week of each summer I have the title of "Macho" Mandy. I have tried to change it but obviously have not had much luck. There are campers who turn into counselors who knew me as Macho Mandy and say, "You aren't handy. You aren't dandy. You are Macho." So since the summer of 1997 (with a few summers off during college) I have been "Macho" Mandy.

Here are some of the highlights from my week at camp.

These lovely ladies wrote me this little diddy.

"Mandy is tough.

Mandy is strong.

Mandy has been here SO long.

That's why we're singing this song...

If you let us in (to eat)

we will all get along."

I might have whipped cream on my face. 

Amy and Jason might be throwing cheetos at my face. Maybe?!? :)

It is always so fun to see campers come back year after year.

 

It is equally as fun to see campers return as counselors.

One of my favorite parts of camp is the time that I get to spend serving alongside the counselors and staff. 

The counselors love and serve their campers and each other so well. 

It is such a blessing to watch.

These lovely ladies have been a part of camp for their share of years now. 

It is so fun to have them back year after year. 

They encourage and challenge me. They love camp and do camp well.