How about a little summer update?
For teh last month I have been serving at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Mo., a high-intensity Christian sports camp organization, doing PR work - mainly sports and feature photography. It has been exhausting, to say the least. Every morning begins around 7:45 a.m. and I work hard and play hard until my head hits the pillow in my un-air conditioned cabin called Pebble Beach around midnight.
I remember back in the spring taking this job because I wanted to serve God this summer and have some fun doing it, especially since I graduate next May and will have to buckle down. I would say that I am accomplishing that goal so far.
Since Kanakuk opened for kids on June 1, I have taken over 4,500 pictures to post on the Internet for parents to peruse and purchase. I have had a chance to get to know a few of the kids really well, even a couple guys from back in Oxford and a really great baseball player from Starkville. We sat up late the other night talking Mississippi State football, which was a nice relief from the stress and tiring work of Kanakuk. The little girls in the most recent group of kids have been hilarious. I have received six love letters from different kids ranging from 7- to 9-years-old, saying things such as "Steven, your big shiny camera is so romantic."
When I'm not shooting pictures or working in the office, I'm either out playing sports with the kids, hanging out in the pool or reading/writing. I'm also working on LSAT prep for the test on Oct. 1.
On my nights off (about five or six per month, depending on the schedule) or days off, I get to explore Branson, usually with five to 10 other college kids from Kanakuk. It could quite possibly be the biggest redneck town on the planet, with Hillbilly Kitchen over there and Hicks from the Sticks country store over here, along with other similar establishments dotting the luminous and bustling strip through downtown. However, my distaste for country music doesn't mean I don't find Branson fascinating. They have comedy shows (including Jeff Foxworthy on July 3), magic shows, a lot of throwback stuff and plenty of water parks and putt courses - not to mention the beautiful vistas of the Ozarks and many lakes just outside of town.
A drive about 20 miles southwest of town will take you to the camp I will be staying at in late July and early August, K2. There you will find amazing views of the mountains and valleys that give the Ozarks its reputation. During staff training week, we all went to an upscale resort on the side of a mountain called Big Cedar Lodge for its evening Memorial Day celebration. The resort was essentially located in the bottom of a valley on a lake between two tall mountains. On one side of the lake, a mountain was covered with old-style stores and restaurants, and on the other side of the lake small cabins and luxury condos dotted the hill, while an orange and purple sunset spilled into the valley and shot up vibrant colors off Table Rock Lake. It was awesome.
So that's just a glimpse of how my summer is going so far. Needless to say, it is a lot more fun and has been much better for spiritual growth than my time in Jackson last summer working for the Clarion-Ledger. But, I do miss the freedom and flexibility of a regular 40-hour a week job.
My Internet access at Kanakuk is limited, but I can access Yahoo mail each day, so send me a message at stevenjgriffin@yahoo.com! I would love to hear from you.
I remember back in the spring taking this job because I wanted to serve God this summer and have some fun doing it, especially since I graduate next May and will have to buckle down. I would say that I am accomplishing that goal so far.
Since Kanakuk opened for kids on June 1, I have taken over 4,500 pictures to post on the Internet for parents to peruse and purchase. I have had a chance to get to know a few of the kids really well, even a couple guys from back in Oxford and a really great baseball player from Starkville. We sat up late the other night talking Mississippi State football, which was a nice relief from the stress and tiring work of Kanakuk. The little girls in the most recent group of kids have been hilarious. I have received six love letters from different kids ranging from 7- to 9-years-old, saying things such as "Steven, your big shiny camera is so romantic."
When I'm not shooting pictures or working in the office, I'm either out playing sports with the kids, hanging out in the pool or reading/writing. I'm also working on LSAT prep for the test on Oct. 1.
On my nights off (about five or six per month, depending on the schedule) or days off, I get to explore Branson, usually with five to 10 other college kids from Kanakuk. It could quite possibly be the biggest redneck town on the planet, with Hillbilly Kitchen over there and Hicks from the Sticks country store over here, along with other similar establishments dotting the luminous and bustling strip through downtown. However, my distaste for country music doesn't mean I don't find Branson fascinating. They have comedy shows (including Jeff Foxworthy on July 3), magic shows, a lot of throwback stuff and plenty of water parks and putt courses - not to mention the beautiful vistas of the Ozarks and many lakes just outside of town.
A drive about 20 miles southwest of town will take you to the camp I will be staying at in late July and early August, K2. There you will find amazing views of the mountains and valleys that give the Ozarks its reputation. During staff training week, we all went to an upscale resort on the side of a mountain called Big Cedar Lodge for its evening Memorial Day celebration. The resort was essentially located in the bottom of a valley on a lake between two tall mountains. On one side of the lake, a mountain was covered with old-style stores and restaurants, and on the other side of the lake small cabins and luxury condos dotted the hill, while an orange and purple sunset spilled into the valley and shot up vibrant colors off Table Rock Lake. It was awesome.
So that's just a glimpse of how my summer is going so far. Needless to say, it is a lot more fun and has been much better for spiritual growth than my time in Jackson last summer working for the Clarion-Ledger. But, I do miss the freedom and flexibility of a regular 40-hour a week job.
My Internet access at Kanakuk is limited, but I can access Yahoo mail each day, so send me a message at stevenjgriffin@yahoo.com! I would love to hear from you.
posted by Steven G. at
5:11 PM
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