Kia ora from New Zealand: Week Four Update

Hello once again from New Zealand!  This post marks the halfway point of my time here.  I can't believe I am writing that.  Wow, it is going by so fast.
This week, we were in Makarora running a camp called Mountain Madness with a group of eleven youth. 
I woke up Saturday morning with a high fever, which was less fun.  We decided that I would still travel to camp and rest there, hopefully waking up Sunday (when campers arrived) feeling better.  Well, we made it about an hour into the six hour drive until I threw up.  Paul called Robin and had her meet us to take me back home.  I only made a tiny attempt of resistance (something like "I think I'll feel better now that I threw up"), knowing that going back and resting was probably the right decision.  So I laid in bed all day Saturday.  Saturday night was the worst of it, when my fever hit its highest.
Thankfully, I woke up Sunday feeling much better.  I still had a mild fever and a sore throat, but at least my temperature was moving down instead of up.  We decided that I would rest Sunday and then take a bus on Monday to meet up with the group.  So I spent another day in bed.  It was rather rejuvenating though, and by the time Monday morning came, I felt good enough to take the bus and get to camp.  The seven-hour bus ride was quite scenic and therefore rather enjoyable.  I appreciated the opportunity to let my mind run free, reflecting on all that I have been experiencing here. 
I was warmly greeted when I arrived in Makarora at the house we stayed at for the week, and I stepped right into camp.  Monday evening was pretty relaxed; we just played some games with the campers.
On Tuesday, we left for our overnight backpacking trip.  We spent the morning preparing for the trip; I led a lesson on how to pack the backpacks.  By the end of our preparations in the morning, I felt quite worn and questioned if I should even go on the trip.  But we took a break for lunch and Bible study, and I felt much better after resting during this time.  So we enjoyed a 2-3 hour hike into camp.  We gave the campers opportunities to take turns leading the group as we coached them along the way.  It was awesome to see the group of campers take ownership of the experience.  When we arrived at camp, I felt exhausted.  I could feel the effects of moving back into heavy activity after laying in bed for the past few days.  My body had a hard time thermoregulating due to my fatigue, so I found myself starting to get cold.  I decided to lay down in my tent, and I remained there until the next morning.  I didn't feel disappointed by my inability to participate in activities that night; I was just grateful that I could come on the trip.
On Wednesday, we proceeded down the trail to hike out.  However, the river we intended to cross was too high, so we ended up turning around and hiking back out the way we came in.  We were greeted by a hot meal prepared by the cook when we returned to the house.  The afternoon then consisted of cleaning up from our trip.  Then campers left Thursday.  
One aspect of camp that was amplified this week compared to last week was the focus on our identity as a group.  The campers made a covenant with one another at the beginning of the week, committing to be inter-dependent, accept one another, share ideas, and value each other.  We used this covenant as a springboard for conversation throughout the week, encouraging the group to take ownership and responsibility, from leading each other during the hike to cleaning up the house each day.  There was an identity as "us" and it was clear that the experience was about the group, not about serving individual interests.  
This idea of group commitment has become one of my deepest interests in my studies of Adventure Education.  As I researched this subject for a paper my freshman year, I came across an article titled "Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam.  It described that more Americans are bowling than ever before, but membership in bowling leagues has completely plummeted.  Now, Americans bowl alone.  The article related this to the nation's declining social capital; people are less involved in social organizations and less invested in one another in general.  Putnam explored countertrends to his thesis, such as the fact that 40% of all Americans claim to be currently involved in a regularly-meeting small group.  However, Putnam emphasizes that these small groups do not generally play the same role as traditional civic associations, like bowling leagues.  He writes, "...small groups may not be fostering community as effectively as many of their proponents would like.  Some small groups merely provide occasions for individuals to focus on themselves in the presence of others...The social contract binding members together asserts only the weakest of obligations.  Come if you have time.  Talk if you feel like it.  Respect everyone's opinion.  Never criticize.  Leave quietly if you become dissatisfied...We can imagine that [these small groups] really substitute for families, neighborhoods, and broader communities that may demand lifelong commitments, when in fact, they do not."
I was deeply reminded of this research as we strove to get the campers to bowl together this week.  We constantly challenged them to be inter-dependent - asking for help and looking for ways to help others - and to uphold meaty commitments to one another.  I believe social capital increased this week in Makarora as campers learned to bowl together.  And I believe social capital is continuing to increase each and every day here as I have the opportunity to live in community with Paul and Robin.
For another fruitful week in New Zealand, thanks be to God.
This next week will consist of some office work as we clean up from the past two weeks of camp.  We also have a potential rafting trip and maybe a mountaineering trip planned.  Please pray for campers as they transition into life back home.  Pray that they may remember something from their week at camp and continue to be shaped by the new ideas they explored.  And pray for further relationship formation for me as well, that I may continue to grow and be challenged here.
Feel free to leave questions or comments below!

Some pictures of Makarora...






Comments

Dan Zearley said…
I've enjoyed hearing about how meaningful your camping trips have been Emily, but sorry to hear about your sicknesses. Glad you were able to endure and get the most out of the trips!
Emily Cowser said…
Thank you, Mr. Zearley. I hope you all had a great trip to Chiapas, and I look forward to hearing about it!