Today at Camp Merri-Mac was a little different, because it was Staff Appreciation Day and boy, did we feel appreciated! The Sunnysiders (Sunny Side and Cloud 9) and Dreams (Dreams Begin and Dreams End) girls had the pleasure of dressing as their favorite counselors in their staff shirts and leading activities all day. The day started off with the Sunnyside and Dreams girls learning how difficult it is to wake up a cabin full of sleepy girls and making sure they finish their chores before breakfast! Watching these girls step up and lead was a very special thing to see! You should be so proud of your Sunnyside and Dreams daughters! They showed great leadership, patience, and wisdom today. It was beyond encouraging to see them beam with responsibility and confidence!

The most important meal of the day, breakfast, was pancakes with sausage, cereal, fruit, yogurt, and granola. Some of the new staff learned to appreciate the magic of a cup of coffee, as they received that perk with their new status. Chapel followed with sweet worship music. Watching the girls wrap their arms around each other’s shoulders and sing the camp’s psalm is probably my favorite part of the day. Tears are typically shed. A message followed about Romans 5:8 “ But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. We were reminded that no matter how broken we are the Lord is bigger than our sin and sees us as His precious Son.

I had the privilege of taking pictures of your sweet daughters today and captured some of the biggest smiles! The younger girls thrived being taught by the older Sunnysiders and Dreams girls. As counselors, it was a joy to see the older girls step up and lead! The energy was up all day and quite relaxing for the counselors, not going to lie. Your girls rocked it! Lunch today was Stromboli (a camp favorite) with cookies on a stick for dessert. Can’t get much better than that! Dinner was fajitas and cake for dessert. The new staff got to lead their cabins in their cabin songs and sing the staff song at dinner. It was quite entertaining.

We are all dressed up in our finest attire to attend Fine Arts Night! The red carpet is waiting for all of our talented Fine Arts such as chorus, drama, dance, and fencing to perform. It will be quite a show! Fine Arts Night is a great example of the diversity Camp Merri-Mac truly has to offer and more importantly, how many talents God’s children have been given to serve Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

In Christ,

Courtney Billions

Dreams End Counselor

Go Vols