End of Week 2!

This week was surely a rollercoaster. There were days when the campers definitely tested my patience, especially cocky teenage guys. And then there were days when God completely blew my mind. Like Monday, when I had to poke and prod people (figuratively of course) to get their hospitality tasks done. And then we get to Wednesday and Caitlyn and I get to witness Presbyterians, Methodists, and Catholics worshiping and praying together, AND watch a church celebrate the coming of a student to Christ! The highs of this week were so incredibly high and encouraging while the lows were definitely challenging.

Personally this week I realized that we are all so broken and that everyone needs love and compassion despite the mask they put on. When we keep our mask on and pretend that we have everything together, we miss the incredible work that God can do. While we always need God in our lives, the lows are oftentimes where people learn the most from what God is doing. Without the frustrations of Monday, I wouldn't have been able to experience the joy that was Wednesday and Thursday.

As for myself, I'm broken beyond repair. I cannot possibly fix myself, or act like I have it all together. Because when I do it all builds up and I fall apart. I know this week alone, I fell apart three separate times. Truth is I'm just like the students this week that I identified as being "too cool" for all this. I've been learning a lot from God these past few months all while keeping my brokenness behind closed doors. I've gotten so much strength this past week from listening to the broken stories of the adults from the groups that I know God is trying to tell me something. I need to listen in the broken because God's work it rarely neat and tidy. I will learn so much more if I am healed by God rather than keeping my hurt to myself. Even though that means trusting and letting myself be vulnerable, it also means that I am one step closer to being the person I am meant to be.

So the saying for the rest of the summer is not "fake it 'til you make it" it's Philippians 4:13.

For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.