Springdale Intern Spotlight: Rachel Oliver

The Ozone Intern program is purposed to develop college-age leaders who have a passion to positively impact the youth culture of Northwest Arkansas by providing them with opportunities to coordinate local peer volunteers and connect with Camp War Eagle campers. Former Camp War Eagle camper Rachel Oliver has joined with Springdale Ozone as an intern this year. 

"My name is Rachel Oliver. I am from Springdale, Arkansas. I attended Williams Baptist College and currently attend NWACC.  I plan to earn my degree in early childhood education. I enjoy reading, hiking, hanging out with friends, and science fiction movies!"

What originally attracted you to interning for CWE365/Ozone?

I was extremely into Ozone in high school. I grew so much as a Christian at that time and it was extremely good for me to be around strong Christian influences. When I was told about the internship, I knew it was something I would like to do because I love getting to know people and encouraging spiritual growth.

What's been your favorite part of the internship so far?

Fellowship with the campers and my fellow servants has been such a blessing and encouragement to me. Through this internship God has been challenging me in many areas of my life and I believe I am learning to lean on him a little more every day.

What's been your favorite camp or ozone memory?

Bonding with my Lisa West [former Springdale Ozone Director] was one of my favorite camp memories. I was timid when I first attended camp and she encouraged me to come out of my shell and get to know people and allow them to get to know me. She made a huge difference in my life by just sitting down and talking to me, generally interested in what I had to say. She made me feel really special.   

What do you hope to take away/learn from your time as an intern?

I hope to learn how to balance everything in my life. Since becoming an intern my life has been crazy.  Going to school full time, holding a job, and doing the internship is sometimes overwhelming. I’ve had to really depend on God’s strength this semester instead of my own because there is no way I wouldn’t have gone insane without giving  my worries and fears to God. 

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day would begin with getting plenty of sleep the night before so that I am well rested. I would wake up in the morning and have biscuits and gravy (my favorite breakfast food!) and go for a walk with my dog, Sally. I think I would spend the rest of the day riding roller coasters. I love the adrenaline rush I get when I do something I am afraid of! Then I would head home and watch some TV and go to sleep early. It doesn’t take a lot to make me happy. : )

There's a ton happening with Springdale Ozone, as well as Ozone in all other cities. To learn more or to get involved, visit our website at www.cwe365.org.

Springdale Lady Lifeliners: Operation Christmas Child, November 2011

The following is written by Erin Wiltse, Springdale Ozone Director.

WOW!  The experience began with a night of snacks, games, dance parties and movies until the girls fell asleep one by one tucked snugly into their own sleeping bags.
 
After sharing breakfast together, we got the girls rounded-up to watch a video from “Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child.”  The video outlined the vision, goal and hope of packing boxes to give & bless children in need all over the world.

 Leaders Hannah Posey and Kelsey Maynard, shared with the girls how we can do our part in serving girls like them all over the world.  Pointing them to John 3:16 & Matthew 28, they outlined the love God has for each of them individually and the love God has for people all over the world.  As girls who are aware of His love, we have a responsibility to take and share His love with others.  The message of Christ is too important to keep to ourselves, so we look for opportunities to share it.

Going through an assembly line, the girls were able to pick out gifts and items consisting of toys, candy, soap and school supplies for the boxes young girls would receive.  The girls wrote a Christmas card and “John 3:16” verse card to put in the boxes with the items.

As a group, we sat with our boxes and took some time to pray over them, wanting to help the girls understand that the gifts will be a blessing but the greater blessing is to intercede and ask God’s favor over the lives of the girls who'll receive them.  During our next Lady Lifeliner event, we will take time again to ask God’s providence over our efforts as the boxes will not be received until Christmas time. 

A crazy sleepover and packing a box full of good, fun stuff is great to do together, but our hope is to allow our girls to see the greater vision, to understand the heart of God to know, to believe and to be compelled by the truth that:

"…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

May each of us be motivated by this truth to love: with a box, with speech, with action.  May we never tire of doing good. 

Great Pretenders 2011 Recap

The glam of the red carpet. The blinding flash of Paparazzi lights. Fans, yelling the names of superstars they can't believe they're seeing. VIP passes that make even the most intimidating bouncer step aside. And a show unlike any other.

On October 25th, the four cities of CWE365 came together for the biggest, most anticipated Ozone event ever. Great Pretenders, the annual lip-sync event, took on a fresh life with a red carpet theme and new energy. In it's fourth year of healthy musical competition, Great Pretenders has become a staple in the yearly calendar for Ozone students.

The evening began as attendees were greeted by voracious fans on the red carpet and Paparazzi just dying to take their photo, while bouncers blocked entrances and made the way for "VIPs" to enter. Students smiled for the camera and answered the questions of the red-carpet interviewer before heading in to the main event. The opening act took the stage as Ozone directors from all four cities performed a choreographed number to "Somebody to Love." Acts varying from heartfelt country songs to jazz tunes, pop hits to movie soundtrack favorites followed. The audience cheered as performers continued to wow the crowd!

In the end the victory went to Ashley, Wendy and Katie from Fayetteville. Their rendition of "Fireworks" was a total show stealer, complete with awesome outfits and complex choreography. Their recommendation for future Great Pretenders participants? "Go big or go home!"

We can't wait for next year's event!