May 28-Aug. 1, 2022, I spent in Brentwood TN, serving with the Deaf Church at The Deaf Camp. This was for my internship for my college degree: a combination of children's ministry and ASL. It seemed to be the perfect fit for what I needed, and I thank the Lord for dropping it in my lap. I experienced a lot this summer, and grew in many ways from my time in full emersion and Deaf community.
Our first Sunday, the service was held at a beautiful park, with a picnic following.
We played some games in the afternoon.
Orientation Week
Teaching us new games.
Brentwood Baptist Church, where the Deaf Church is apart of, and where The Deaf Camp is hosted.
Staff suppertime at Chick-fil-A
All the staff at Beech Bend Park during Orientation Week (a fun trip for us, but also prepping us for when we brought the kids here for a field trip).
Helping with a Color Run
Sunday morning
Bible study at Beryl and Scott's house, every other Monday evening.
Ready for our first day of camp!
After our first day was done, decompressing by playing ball together.
I enjoyed getting to help with the Imagination Room, a room that we changed weekly to be a store, restaurant, movie theater, doctor's office, and store again. The kids came in to this room for learning vocabulary, manners, etc, as well as getting to experience doing the activities that went with each room: shopping, giving and taking orders (restaurant), doctoring or being the patient (dr office), etc.
Church on a Sunday morning.
In the mornings we had classroom time, in the afternoon we had lots of games/activities time.
I got to go home for Father's Day weekend!
I enjoyed the time with my parents!
It was also so special to meet up with my friends the Harms for a bikeride at Lunken Airport!
It was such a great evening!
Father's Day Sunday dinner!
Back at The Deaf Camp!
Someone took this picture of me teaching in my classroom, through the window.
Field trip to the Chattanooga Aquarium - lunch time before going in.
Another staff meal at Chick-fil-A after surviving a long day.
Movie Day in the Imagination Room
Staff outing, celebrating 4 weeks of camp done!
Staff planning on Sunday afternoons...
Another afternoon of 1-on-1 time with the kids!
More creative time in the classroom.
Afternoon play time.
My mother's cousin, Darla, was in the Nashville hospital for 1 week, because of being in an accident. I went to visit her 5 evenings, which was a blessing to me.
Someone took this picture of classroom time.
Playing a large game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
A new, sweet friend of mine, on her last day at the camp.
Playing Human Battleship
Some evenings I spent sketching to relax to do something creative.
The very nice apartments where we were blessed to stay.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the Crepe Myrtles!
Evening with staff friends, playing games.
4th of July in Nashville with this crew. We had the week of July 4th off: for the kids and staff.
One day the staff helped a lady move furniture, and I found this beautiful spot in her yard.
The Harms came to visit on their way thru TN. It was so fun to catch up over some Chick-fil-A milkshakes!
Another evening when some staff got together for supper and games.
One day during our off-week, the 4 of us went hiking at Cummins Falls State Park.
It was a beautiful day and we had a great time together!
The hike was extra fun because once we got down to the bottom, we had to hike along/through/in the river all the way back to the falls. :)
Getting closer!
The falls were so beautiful!We jumped off of that flat rock into the water below.
Waterfalls are one of my favorite things.
The 4 of us under the falls
This was one of my best days in TN! I loved this hike so much!
Another day during that week-off, 4 of us went horseback-riding.
For almost 2 hours, through the woods. It was beautiful!
I really enjoyed riding a horse again. It's been years since I have.
The doctor's office in the Imagination Room.
Teaching in the I.R. before playing.
Playing a big group game
We got to take the kids on a field trip to Beech Bend Park one day! Everyone had so much fun!
Gathered for supper under the tree.
I finally got to do a drop-tower ride.
Our group picture at BBP.
Another week just the younger kids went on a field trip to a Discovery Center.
It was lots of hands-on fun!
Trying sculpey clay with my kids; they did really well with it and loved being creative.
One Sunday afternoon I checked out Radnor Lake State Park. It was a very enjoyable and restful walk.
Playing Uno with my kiddos.
An all-staff picture
Explaining a game called OMC (Organized Mass Chaos)
Another supper time at Chick-fil-A
The Imagination Room again, ready for the kids to get all their school supplies.
Out of order, but this picture shows a little of the USA themed Imagination Room.
One day the kids all just decided to sit down with books and read for half hour.
Sculpey Clay time with all the younger kids together.
My mother and our friend came to visit me for a day one weekend.
I showed them Radnor Lake.
Then we went zip-lining - something that Mother has always wanted to do!
Our last day in TN was Sunday, July 31. It was a service in the park, just like how my summer in TN started, except now I knew all the people who were there.
It was a nice time together, then we had to say all the goodbyes.
Pastor Aric and his wife - very sweet people.
Scott and Beryl - very sweet people who put so much into The Deaf Camp and us staff this summer.
Well, that wraps up my summer in a nutshell, or rather, a blog post! I'm so thankful for God's help to me during my time in TN, God's faithfulness and that He was with me. There were wonderful times, as you can see in the pictures, and times when things were very difficult. But God is good, and He grew and stretched me from this whole internship. I learned a lot.
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