Sunflower Silliness.

Hi! I don't post very often these days because I'm busy with school, relationships, life, etc. but this is a long weekend for Labor Day, and I had a great photo shoot with my friends Sarah and Alex yesterday afternoon so I just have to share a few photos from the session with you all. :)

This was a special session because it was one of the first times for me to use my new 18-135 mm Canon lens. I decided to buy the lens after the auto focus on my 18-55 mm lens quit working. It got too much use this summer as I was the camp photographer at PVM Camp for the majority of the camp season. I definitely have to say that I'm very satisfied with this new lens - it has a great focal range. This afternoon I brought along my old film camera, which is also a Canon. A friend of my mom's offered me the camera last year and I haven't really used it much yet. It has film in it now and we took a few pictures with it yesterday. I can't wait til the roll is used up and the photos are developed! Those are just a couple of reasons why the session was special and tons of fun, too. Alex, Sarah and I couldn't help laughing as we looked through the pictures afterwards and saw our goofy expressions. It was a memorable time for sure!

PVM Summers are the BEST.

What an amazing summer it's been! God taught me a whole lot, and my faith grew, too. I wrote about some of those experiences on my other blog, Jessica's Journal, and I still have more to write. If I was to summarize what I learned this summer it would be this: God is the only One who can completely satisfy our deepest longings and desires. He created us for his own glory, that we might worship him with lives lived in surrender to his will.

I worked with a great group of people who are committed to serving Jesus with all of their hearts. They blessed me in countless ways this summer, and I can't say thank you enough. Until next summer...I love you all and miss you so much!

PVM staff wearing Minion t-shirts

I never wanna leave.

I love this camp so much. God has taught me a whole lot while I've been at PVM, and the recurring theme has been and continues to be surrender. Surrendering to God isn't easy, but God has taught me to, "Surrender everything you are to the LORD and let Him lead you in accordance to his will. His blessings abound to surrendered hearts."

And I've certainly experienced God's blessings this summer at PVM. God has given me great relationships with people I only just met at the beginning of the summer. He's allowed me to share my testimony with a couple of friends and be an encouragement through words and time spent with others listening to what they have to say.

Some days are difficult and I struggle to control my life, but then I have to take a step back and say, "God, I surrender to your will. Be the LORD of my life today. I will go where you send me." Yesterday was one of those days where I was struggling with several situations in my life and I talked with God about them while taking a walk around camp. It was peaceful and I could freely share my frustration and misunderstandings with God. He understood and led me to 2 Corinthians 12 which talks about Paul's thorn in the flesh and how God's power works best in weakness. Verse 9 says: Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

I'm so encouraged that when I am weak, God is strong. My achievements may not amount to much, but  through Christ, I can do all things.

I'll end with a quote that I read in the book, "Surrender" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss earlier tonight. It speaks volumes about what has been on my heart lately. God wants you and I to be fully surrendered to  him and to live lives of obedient service to him.

Surrender isn't the surrender of the external life, but of the will; when that is done, all is done. There are very few crises in life; the great crisis is the surrender of the will. -Oswald Chambers

God bless you all!
Jess

And here are some pictures of camp for your enjoyment!

Oh, it's June...time for a quick hello.

Sorry you haven't received an update from me for a long time, but I'm afraid that camp has taken over my life (at least on week days). From the time I finish breakfast til the time my head hits the pillow, I've got a camera around my neck or a laptop on my lap. Every day is busy, busy, busy and even though everyone technically gets a break from 3:30-5 pm, I use that time to upload pictures, edit them, start on slide shows for the weekly DVD, and edit video footage. Often at night I'm needed to take pictures of the nightly skits, pool parties, and dance parties.

My job really is amazing, and I still can't believe that I'm getting paid to take pictures! It's a dream come true, but it's also stressful, so please pray for wisdom, strength, and endurance for me as the summer goes on. Thank you!!

Camp life may be hectic, but it's also fun and rewarding. Derek knows how to make campers smile with the funny stories and jokes he loves to tell.

It's great having another photographer around, even though she's a counselor so she spends most of the time with her cabin kids. Sarah is such a loving friend and I've enjoyed talking about photography stuff with her. She's pictured above surrounded by the girls she counseled last week.

So that's what I've been up to this past month, and what I get to do for another seven weeks. It's a blessing being able to work here at Pleasant Vineyard Ministries Camp, and already God has worked in the lives of campers and staff in so many ways. I'll try to pop in every once in while to share what's up with me, but for now, ta-ta. xx