Today as I was reading and working through the book that I am reading one of the questions that was asked was what have I learned this week about God. There are so many things that I have learned over the course of the week, but one of the things I have really been grateful for is the way that the Lord places people in your life. In times when I feel like I am constantly meeting new people and continually having to say goodbye, I am grateful that the Lord gives us people to walk through life with and ways to stay in touch with the people we are close to.
Every night after session we all get together to talk about what we need to do differently and what we need for the next day. A lot of times these meetings are short and everyone just wants to get them over with. We are busy all day and everyone just sees this as one more thing to do. During my week as PC in Ohio one of our nightly meetings wasn't the normal business lets get out of here meeting. My director, Jayson French, had us each grab someone we didn't really know and share our stories of a time we were in a pit and pray with one another. At first I was like really, tell someone I don't know my story of being in a pit? That's not an easy thing to do. But I was way wrong. After Jayson said to break off and do that, Maria, who I had been with for a week and a half but never really had a conversation with grabbed me and asked if I wanted to pair up with her. We shared parts of our stories, we were vulnerable with one another and we spent time praying for one another and since that day we haven't stopped praying for one another. It's been a huge blessing! We have known each other for 3 weeks, but really didn't start talking until half way through the 2nd week and I feel like we have known each other forever. We aren't in the same place all summer, but we have stayed in touch and we have another week together in California. I am so grateful for her. And I am so grateful for the reminder that God gives us people to walk through life with. It is amazing how when we are vulnerable with people and when we are committed to praying for people that God can use that to draw you together. I am also amazed that no matter what your story or experiences that God can use you to encourage people.
It's hard to be open to getting close to people when you are from different places and only together for a short time, but I am reminded time and time again that I shouldn't be closed to this or doubt that God can work in those ways. When I allow God to do what God wants to do I get to meet incredible people and hear their stories. Never doubt what the Lord can do.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Traveling Life
Traveling and being on the road is exhausting, but I love it! Every week I get to pack, unpack, and then pack again. I'd say I am getting pretty good at it. I still have no idea where half of my stuff is, there is a good chance it is at school or in Joplin who knows? In three weeks I have been to Indiana, Ohio, and Colorado, all great places. All 3 weeks have been busy, so I haven't had a ton of time to enjoy all of those places. In Ohio though I spent many hours at the local coffee shop on the back patio, whic I loved. I love the landscape here in Colorado, it brings back many memroies from my first summer with CIY. Today, we took a little hiking adventure. We wound up at a lake and climbed a mountain that definitely didn't have clearly defined hiking trails. It was definitely fun and makes for a great story!
I have heard story after story this week and last about how the Lord has been working in the different groups that are at my events. It is super encouraging because last year I wasn't able to be a part of many of those conversations. A lot of what we do it behind the scenes so to be able to hear how the Lord is working really reminds me of why I do what I do.
Today, I head back to Joplin. This is my "week off" for the summer. I will be around the office a few days and get to hang out with the next team I will be with. Most of all I am excited to have my mom visit for a few days. I haven't seen her in so long, so it will be great to spend some time with her. I am excited to sleep and to have time to read and relax. It won't be a long break, because I get in late Sunday and then fly out to California super early Friday morning. I feel like I am constantly on the road to somewhere, these make for long days, but they are worth it in order to do conferences in all types of awesome places!
Transitioning from place to place is always a challenge. Going from the midwest to Colorado was a complete new group of people. I have gotten to work with a different team and meet a whole new set of reps. I got to be back with Mercedes who was on my team last summer. We stayed together at the beginning of the summer but haven't gotten to talk to each other much since we both headed out. It's been fun to be with her team, but todayI leave and say goodbye to a whole new group of people. The amount of people here this week was triple what we had in Ohio, so it was definitely a busier week. Still really smooth, but just more going on. Definitely didn't get to go sit at the coffee shop on the patio for hours every day!
My dad stopped by school Friday to pick up my key for my new apartment. Him, Cam, and Cam's friend helped move my furniture and boxes from the apartment directly next door to my apartment. They did this without asking me or telling me they were going to do it. It was a huge blessing. It has been a little stressful for me to think about having to go back at the end of July and paint and unpack in just a couple days. It is so exciting to me that the keys are in our possession. This is the first "home" I will have by myself. I am really looking forward to having everything in one place. I am excited to decorate and to be able to maybe feel "settled" for the first time in a while.
This seems like a really random post, but that's kinda what life is right now is really random!
I have heard story after story this week and last about how the Lord has been working in the different groups that are at my events. It is super encouraging because last year I wasn't able to be a part of many of those conversations. A lot of what we do it behind the scenes so to be able to hear how the Lord is working really reminds me of why I do what I do.
Today, I head back to Joplin. This is my "week off" for the summer. I will be around the office a few days and get to hang out with the next team I will be with. Most of all I am excited to have my mom visit for a few days. I haven't seen her in so long, so it will be great to spend some time with her. I am excited to sleep and to have time to read and relax. It won't be a long break, because I get in late Sunday and then fly out to California super early Friday morning. I feel like I am constantly on the road to somewhere, these make for long days, but they are worth it in order to do conferences in all types of awesome places!
Transitioning from place to place is always a challenge. Going from the midwest to Colorado was a complete new group of people. I have gotten to work with a different team and meet a whole new set of reps. I got to be back with Mercedes who was on my team last summer. We stayed together at the beginning of the summer but haven't gotten to talk to each other much since we both headed out. It's been fun to be with her team, but todayI leave and say goodbye to a whole new group of people. The amount of people here this week was triple what we had in Ohio, so it was definitely a busier week. Still really smooth, but just more going on. Definitely didn't get to go sit at the coffee shop on the patio for hours every day!
My dad stopped by school Friday to pick up my key for my new apartment. Him, Cam, and Cam's friend helped move my furniture and boxes from the apartment directly next door to my apartment. They did this without asking me or telling me they were going to do it. It was a huge blessing. It has been a little stressful for me to think about having to go back at the end of July and paint and unpack in just a couple days. It is so exciting to me that the keys are in our possession. This is the first "home" I will have by myself. I am really looking forward to having everything in one place. I am excited to decorate and to be able to maybe feel "settled" for the first time in a while.
This seems like a really random post, but that's kinda what life is right now is really random!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
An Afternoon Overlooking the River
I can't begin to understand how the summer is already in full swing and over halfway over for me. I love what I get to do day in and day out. I love that I get to play a small role in so many High school students getting away for a week and experiencing God in new way. I love hearing the unending stories of the students that attend MOVE. I love that I don't only show up at these weeks to watch God work in the lives of others, but I too show up and get to meet incredible people and be challenged in my own walk with God. It doesn't do to just show up and do my job. If I'm not seeking God then I find that I'm not capable of doing my job and it becomes work instead of something I love. I am beyond grateful to be here this summer. I can't imagine spending my summers any other way. My Father is faithful, He knows right where I need to be. I can't recall the last time I was in a place where I was so content and not looking toward what was next. I'm grateful to know what it feels like again to be in a place of total peace. I am still excited about the fall and all that it holds but definitely not wanting to rush this summer along at all. I do often think about reconnecting with residents as well as meeting new residents and getting to know my team and I know that when it is time to make the transition that I'll be ready for that but for now I love where I am and what I get to do!
Another way that God is working in my life is evident in the way he has provided a job for me. About 2 weeks ago I got a phone call asking me to interview for a job. I was busy and not thinking a ton about the fall but I had a skype interview and then went about my normal day. I hadn't though much more on it, it's hard to think too far ahead and so I've just been sitting back and waiting on the Lord. Well yesterday I got a phone call and the job was offered to me. Wow! I wasn't expecting to find that out the day before I turned 22. I wasn't quite sure what to think or what to say. But it is obvious to me that this is a gift that God has placed in front of me. There is no answer aside from the fact that God is a provider and that when we trust Him and wait patiently we don't have to worry about the next step.
This week has been awesome. I love the people I get to work with. I've gotten to meet some really great people. While I won't be with a lot of the same people the rest of the summer it is cool to see how quickly you can become friends with people when you all have the same purpose and one focus. That's one of the many things I love about my job, is getting to meet people who I'd never meet otherwise. There is just an awesome community in a group of people who are working together to put on a conference for students to get to know God in a real way.
I've been so blessed this week by the time I've had to dig into the Word and the time I've had talk to friends from school and to be able to continue to share life with them. God continues to use them to encourage me and speak truth into my life. God has really put some awesome people in my life and I know that no matter what path we take that He will use us to challenge one another. Four years ago I didn't trust that God could protect those friendships and strengthen them when we were on opposites sides of the country, I now am in a place where I know that it doesn't matter where I am or they are but He does protect those friendships. The doubt I carried for so long is gone, praise Him.
Once again I get to spend my birthday with a new group of people. Last year it was in Joplin with my team. The year before it was registration day in Colorado with my team and the rest of the staff. Every year makes for a new experience with new people. This year I was blessed to celebrate my birthday again doing what I love to do. A new team, a different role, but another great birthday. We went to this cute little restaurant on the river with a watermill. The view was beautiful. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon down at the coffee shop out on the patio. It was a great, relaxing day with some great people.
This week my key thoughts are
-Be Still
-Thankful
Another way that God is working in my life is evident in the way he has provided a job for me. About 2 weeks ago I got a phone call asking me to interview for a job. I was busy and not thinking a ton about the fall but I had a skype interview and then went about my normal day. I hadn't though much more on it, it's hard to think too far ahead and so I've just been sitting back and waiting on the Lord. Well yesterday I got a phone call and the job was offered to me. Wow! I wasn't expecting to find that out the day before I turned 22. I wasn't quite sure what to think or what to say. But it is obvious to me that this is a gift that God has placed in front of me. There is no answer aside from the fact that God is a provider and that when we trust Him and wait patiently we don't have to worry about the next step.
This week has been awesome. I love the people I get to work with. I've gotten to meet some really great people. While I won't be with a lot of the same people the rest of the summer it is cool to see how quickly you can become friends with people when you all have the same purpose and one focus. That's one of the many things I love about my job, is getting to meet people who I'd never meet otherwise. There is just an awesome community in a group of people who are working together to put on a conference for students to get to know God in a real way.
I've been so blessed this week by the time I've had to dig into the Word and the time I've had talk to friends from school and to be able to continue to share life with them. God continues to use them to encourage me and speak truth into my life. God has really put some awesome people in my life and I know that no matter what path we take that He will use us to challenge one another. Four years ago I didn't trust that God could protect those friendships and strengthen them when we were on opposites sides of the country, I now am in a place where I know that it doesn't matter where I am or they are but He does protect those friendships. The doubt I carried for so long is gone, praise Him.
Once again I get to spend my birthday with a new group of people. Last year it was in Joplin with my team. The year before it was registration day in Colorado with my team and the rest of the staff. Every year makes for a new experience with new people. This year I was blessed to celebrate my birthday again doing what I love to do. A new team, a different role, but another great birthday. We went to this cute little restaurant on the river with a watermill. The view was beautiful. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon down at the coffee shop out on the patio. It was a great, relaxing day with some great people.
This week my key thoughts are
-Be Still
-Thankful
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Humbled.
I've been back in Joplin for 3 weeks and I still am in awe of how the Lord worked it all out. Tomorrow starts our first week of MOVE for the summer. I'm excited to get to see the program and get a glimpse into what the summer holds. I haven't gotten to just be a participant at MOVE since I was a student. It's crazy that the week of the Joplin event is already here and that I leave Friday for Indiana.
I love my job. Being a program coordinator is a new challenge for me and I love using what I know and have learned over the last couple summers. We had orientation this past week and have had many training sessions, I definitely feel well prepared to get out on the road. I know there are still things to learn but that's how I learn best is by doing it.
I have had more time to myself in the last 4 weeks then I have had in years. There are days when I love it and other days when I don't. It has been good for me though. Something that I think was definitely necessary in transition from my responsibilities at school to this summer and in preparation for being an RD in the fall. My parents used to think I didn't know how to entertain myself, but I'm discovering things that I really do enjoy. It's been so nice to have time for some of these things, and I am encouraged because I am hoping to have time for some of my new found hobbies in the fall.
I've been learning a lot about myself over the past few weeks. Over the last few years a huge part of who I am and what I'm good at is found in being able to have people over, to host them, and to show them love in that way. I can't even keep track of the numerous awesome conversations I have had with people on my bed in my dorm room or on the couches in my various apartments at school. This is something that comes easily to me and something that I absolutely love about my life. I'm the planner, and usually the one to host get togethers or building parties. Not being able to have a place to invite people over to has been a challenge. I felt at a loss for knowing how to make friends, because this factor was missing. It's been humbling though to come to a realization that when the quality that I consider a strength is taken away from me and I no longer have control that I have to depend on the Lord. I've had to let go of the pride inside of me and allow myself to learn to depend on others and not be so independent. The past couple weeks I have been very blessed by couples and families who have invited me over, have hosted me, have fed me, and have most importantly just spent time with me. Everyone here is preparing to be away from their spouse/family for multiple weeks this summer and so having a random 21 year old who is only in town for a month "invade" their houses is probably not the first thing on their list of trying to get ready for their summers. I am SO grateful though for the love and kindness they have shown me over the past few weeks. There have definitely been challenges, but I wouldn't trade that in for anything else. I love my job, I love the lessons I am learning, I love what God is doing. I told Him I would follow Him wherever He wanted me to go, and I definitely know I am where He wants me in this moment.
The big question hanging over my head is still what I am going to do for "work" when I get back to Olivet. While the questions comes up and I think about it on occasion, I am not worried. For now my job when I go back is to be an RD. A job I am STOKED about. I am saving some money this summer so that I can focus on that role until the Lord provides something to supplement the RD position. When people ask if I am excited about making that commitment even though it's part time and because I love my job this summer, I have no hesitation. I KNOW without a doubt that God wants me back at Olivet in the fall and that he wants me here this summer. The rest is in His hands.
I love my job. Being a program coordinator is a new challenge for me and I love using what I know and have learned over the last couple summers. We had orientation this past week and have had many training sessions, I definitely feel well prepared to get out on the road. I know there are still things to learn but that's how I learn best is by doing it.
I have had more time to myself in the last 4 weeks then I have had in years. There are days when I love it and other days when I don't. It has been good for me though. Something that I think was definitely necessary in transition from my responsibilities at school to this summer and in preparation for being an RD in the fall. My parents used to think I didn't know how to entertain myself, but I'm discovering things that I really do enjoy. It's been so nice to have time for some of these things, and I am encouraged because I am hoping to have time for some of my new found hobbies in the fall.
I've been learning a lot about myself over the past few weeks. Over the last few years a huge part of who I am and what I'm good at is found in being able to have people over, to host them, and to show them love in that way. I can't even keep track of the numerous awesome conversations I have had with people on my bed in my dorm room or on the couches in my various apartments at school. This is something that comes easily to me and something that I absolutely love about my life. I'm the planner, and usually the one to host get togethers or building parties. Not being able to have a place to invite people over to has been a challenge. I felt at a loss for knowing how to make friends, because this factor was missing. It's been humbling though to come to a realization that when the quality that I consider a strength is taken away from me and I no longer have control that I have to depend on the Lord. I've had to let go of the pride inside of me and allow myself to learn to depend on others and not be so independent. The past couple weeks I have been very blessed by couples and families who have invited me over, have hosted me, have fed me, and have most importantly just spent time with me. Everyone here is preparing to be away from their spouse/family for multiple weeks this summer and so having a random 21 year old who is only in town for a month "invade" their houses is probably not the first thing on their list of trying to get ready for their summers. I am SO grateful though for the love and kindness they have shown me over the past few weeks. There have definitely been challenges, but I wouldn't trade that in for anything else. I love my job, I love the lessons I am learning, I love what God is doing. I told Him I would follow Him wherever He wanted me to go, and I definitely know I am where He wants me in this moment.
The big question hanging over my head is still what I am going to do for "work" when I get back to Olivet. While the questions comes up and I think about it on occasion, I am not worried. For now my job when I go back is to be an RD. A job I am STOKED about. I am saving some money this summer so that I can focus on that role until the Lord provides something to supplement the RD position. When people ask if I am excited about making that commitment even though it's part time and because I love my job this summer, I have no hesitation. I KNOW without a doubt that God wants me back at Olivet in the fall and that he wants me here this summer. The rest is in His hands.
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