Basically, we didn't even try to get this youth leader to follow the schedule. Despite multiple reminders about the 4th of July their group still came back at 1 am that night. I was so happy to see the back of their vans on Friday morning. What did happen though is that as the week went on I started paying less attention to the overwhelmingly large North Dakota group and began to interact with the other three and realized that they were actually having a good time. Once I began to see things clearer I could notice the value there was in not letting the ND group and how I felt about them affect how camp was run. Those three groups were some of my favorites yet. We went to the fireworks show with one, got $10 Starbucks grift cards from another, and got taken out to breakfast by the third on Friday morning. In the end we were so blessed by the other groups that the large one didn't even matter anymore. I'm really thankful for that change in perspective.
This week was the best yet. We had 4 equally sized groups and 67 wonderfully kind and serving hearts. I was overwhelmed by the way these campers came together this week to serve with patience and dedication. It was great! Both Kaitlyn and I were blessed by the enthusiasm and energy of the adult leaders, their leadership helped our camp so much. It was a joy to serve these campers rather than the work it can sometimes be. We also had the wonderful opportunity to work with Nicole, who served as our volunteer this week and was just hired to work full time at Group. We had a great time showing her the ropes of Week of Hope and getting some quality bonding time with the newbie. She was so great. Nicole brought an energy and joy to this week that I feel like I had lost from doing this for so long and she was a great reminder of what it looks like to serve God and serve others whole-heartedly. I am really going to miss her and the rest of the campers from this week.
One incredible thing that happened this week was Wednesday night. I feel like this was the first week that God not only moved in the lives of campers but also in my life. For the first time this summer I got to sit and watch His work unfold as people stayed in the chapel for over and hour after program, talking, receiving prayer, and all of that. I also got a chance to talk with one youth leader and have a conversation I never would have expected. At first Kat really intimidated me, she's got a very short way of talking and is a little rough around the edges but I realized Wednesday that her heart is very heavy but oh so soft. She got to talking to me about how the theme was hitting her and all the things she and her family were struggling with and then asked how she could pray for me. A) just cool. Why pay attention to me? Your kids need you more. So of course I got to talking to her about my future and how it very much scares me and how I don't know where I should be going and etc etc. She explained how she also had those feelings in college and someone told her this analogy that I'm telling you all: Jesus wants to buy us shoes. So he takes us to a shoe store and says "Buy some shoes." He doesn't say buy the red ones, or the Velcro ones, or the ones with the light up stars. He says "Buy shoes" and we get to pick. It's our choice and when we're serving The Lord and following the Word then the shoes we pick don't matter, it's the heart that does the work through the shoes that does. B) wow. Most of you know how much I've struggled with this and how little peace I've had about the direction my path is going and how I love analogies. Kat's words spoke straight into my heart and not only that she prayed over me. I'm so appreciative of her and her caring heart that even with everything she is going through she took the time to sit with me and give me someone to talk to. She might not have given me all the answers but she brought me a lot of peace. That's what happens when you let God use you.
These last few weeks are gonna be tough ones. Kaitlyn and I are definitely feeling the stress and need a good amount of sleep and God in order to make it and make it strong.
"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 1:3
A dark (but still quality!) picture of Kaitlyn and our favorite youth group from week 3, watching fireworks from the top of the van!
Getting the chance to watch the sun set on Tuesday night!
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