This past week was AMAZING! I was signed up by the two youth pastors to work at a camp all week with several of our 4th - 6th graders. The camp was in Hillsdale, Michigan and is called Camp Michendoh. I absolutely loved it. I have never been a summer camp counselor and I had so much fun! The girls in my cabin were from two different churches and they were great. I did not have any problems with people being mean or cliques...by the middle of the week I couldn't even remember who was from what church. This week was great and spiritually stretching. The speaker was Matt Tucker and did an excellant job. He challenged the kids and then after every chapel (2 times a day) we had what was called "Reality Zone." This was the time when we a counselors got to sit with our cabins and talk about what they were retaining from the talks. I was absolutly amazed at the spiritual understanding that these girls had.
Wednesday night was our "Salvation Night" and 6 of my girls recommitted their lives to Christ and one said she understood it for the first time. I was brought to tears by these girls. Hearing them whisper prayers up to their Heavenly Father was almost too much. I can honestly say that my week would have meat nothing if my girls hadn't gotten anything out of it with eternal purpose.
Sunday: 6:00-9:30 Orientation
Monday: All day training and camper registration
Tuesday: All day
Wednesday: All day
Thursday: All day
Friday: 1:00 was when we were done
Sunday: 8:20-11:30 Sunday school and Church, 3:00-9:30 Crud War Senior High Event
This week has been emotionally draining but totally worth it. Although I maybe didn't have devotion time every single day...I definitely felt close to the Lord. I learned a lot this week about leading others towards Him but getting out of the way. I could sense Him in the worship and during chapel as I was watching my girls jump during the songs. The Lord did some amazing things this week and I have to ask myself why I feel surprised sometimes when He shows up.
This is our last full week of work! It is a bittersweet feeling. We have our last youth group event on Wednesday...so your prayers would be appreciated!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
WEEK EIGHT
This week has been absolutely stretching. I have been touched, used, and moved by God and am very excited about it! There have been times this week where I knew the Lord had used me and it was the most amazing feeling and the most humbling experience. There was a time on Sunday in my Sunday school class where I just felt like the kids needed to start hearing about worship and that it is more than just the music...then the worship pastor stressed that in the big service an hour later. It was the Lord using me to prepare those girls' hearts. I am in awe of what He chooses to do through people like me. I am more thankful after experiencing this week to be here in Indiana!
The schedule this week was pretty nice. Two of the interns and one of the youth pastors left after youth group and went on the senior high missions trip while Christian and I stayed behind with the other youth pastor to work.
Thursday, July 12: 10:30 - 3:30 worked on Sunday school lesson
Sunday, July 15: 8:15-11:15 Sunday school and Church
Monday, July 16: 9:00-4:30 Worked on outlines for this week and next week
Tuesday, July 17: 9:30-430 Worked on outlines
Wednesday, July 18: 8:45-? Working on outlines for next week
This will be my last post through next week due to the fact that I am leaving to be a counselor for a week at the 5th and 6th grade summer camp. I was signed up for this as part of my internship and I can not wait! I am so excited knowing that the Lord could use me to change a life this next week! We leave on Sunday and get back on Friday..so I will be posting after I get back from that.
Tonight is youth group and it is my turn to speak. I am very fired up and excited to discuss this battle for the week. We are talking about the battle within our culture. I have noticed so many things in my 2 months of being here and this is one of the weeks that these kids need to hear. Our culture has become so good at getting to kids younger and younger and this church is exhibit A. Anyways, I am excited to speak the truth to these kids tonight and I just pray that they hear it and that it pushes them to change.
Spiritually speaking, this week was outstanding. I felt the Lord more this week than in a long time and it was such an awesome experience. I went and bought a prayer journal and it has been a great asset to my devotional time. Also, I came to a recognition as to why I have been struggling and although I am not completely over this...recognizing it began to set me free. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life this week and can not wait to see what happens in these last 3 weeks here in Grabill.
The schedule this week was pretty nice. Two of the interns and one of the youth pastors left after youth group and went on the senior high missions trip while Christian and I stayed behind with the other youth pastor to work.
Thursday, July 12: 10:30 - 3:30 worked on Sunday school lesson
Sunday, July 15: 8:15-11:15 Sunday school and Church
Monday, July 16: 9:00-4:30 Worked on outlines for this week and next week
Tuesday, July 17: 9:30-430 Worked on outlines
Wednesday, July 18: 8:45-? Working on outlines for next week
This will be my last post through next week due to the fact that I am leaving to be a counselor for a week at the 5th and 6th grade summer camp. I was signed up for this as part of my internship and I can not wait! I am so excited knowing that the Lord could use me to change a life this next week! We leave on Sunday and get back on Friday..so I will be posting after I get back from that.
Tonight is youth group and it is my turn to speak. I am very fired up and excited to discuss this battle for the week. We are talking about the battle within our culture. I have noticed so many things in my 2 months of being here and this is one of the weeks that these kids need to hear. Our culture has become so good at getting to kids younger and younger and this church is exhibit A. Anyways, I am excited to speak the truth to these kids tonight and I just pray that they hear it and that it pushes them to change.
Spiritually speaking, this week was outstanding. I felt the Lord more this week than in a long time and it was such an awesome experience. I went and bought a prayer journal and it has been a great asset to my devotional time. Also, I came to a recognition as to why I have been struggling and although I am not completely over this...recognizing it began to set me free. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life this week and can not wait to see what happens in these last 3 weeks here in Grabill.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
WEEK SEVEN
This past week has been very stressful. We came back from the youth convention and had just a couple of afternoons to work on our first Sunday school lesson. This part of the job is always stressful for me. Writing a message or a lesson always weighs on my heart and mind until I am completely done with it. I worked hard on my first lesson which was about the Woman at the Well...and it went well! I brought doughnuts in for the kids and we sat and talked about what we could learn from this UnNamed woman in the Bible. This next Sunday, I talk about the sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet. I am very excited about it and just finished working on it this morning. I really hope the kids begin to understand that even the smallest story in the Bible is put there for a reason and just looking at the "big" Bible stories will not give them the full picture that the Lord wants them to have!
My hours this week were a little crazy as my boss gave me Tuesday off to be with my family since we are going through some major changes. So here it goes:
July 4, 3:00-10:00 (service project at fireworks)
July 5, 9:00-4:30 (working on Sunday school lessons)
July 8, 8:00-11:15 (church) 6:00-9:00 (Senior High event)
July 9, 9:00-10:30 (worked on decorations for our theme), 12:00-4:30 (decorating), 6:30-10:30 (junior high event)
July 11, 2:30-4:45 (decorating for theme), 6:15-8:00 ( youth group)
So my hours were a little mixed up, but this past week was one of learning, frustrations, and growth.
My spiritual life, still has not been where it should be. In all honesty, I hate this paragraph of my blog because I feel like I shouldn't be here at this internship when I have not been spending adequate time with my Lord. It has been one of those things where I feel like all I do in the day is for the Lord so when I actually have a moment of free time I want to do something else. I know this is no excuse but just being honest! I just bought two new journals as I ran out of room in my last one and am excited to see how this tool puts my prayer life back into the top of my priority list.
Overall, I have enjoyed this internship so far. It is not what I expected but I have been learning way more than I ever thought I would. I get frustrated sometimes with how the two youth pastors handle things but have come to grips with the idea that I am only here for 3 months so I'd better stop worrying about how they handle things and start investing more time with the kids. I have been having a blast getting to know the youth group and have found a love for junior high kids. I love their openness and honesty that senior high kids seem to be lacking sometimes. Junior highers seem to still be innocent enough that they are excited to tell you all about them! This is where I am at right now and can't wait to see where this last month here in Grabill, Indiana takes me.
My hours this week were a little crazy as my boss gave me Tuesday off to be with my family since we are going through some major changes. So here it goes:
July 4, 3:00-10:00 (service project at fireworks)
July 5, 9:00-4:30 (working on Sunday school lessons)
July 8, 8:00-11:15 (church) 6:00-9:00 (Senior High event)
July 9, 9:00-10:30 (worked on decorations for our theme), 12:00-4:30 (decorating), 6:30-10:30 (junior high event)
July 11, 2:30-4:45 (decorating for theme), 6:15-8:00 ( youth group)
So my hours were a little mixed up, but this past week was one of learning, frustrations, and growth.
My spiritual life, still has not been where it should be. In all honesty, I hate this paragraph of my blog because I feel like I shouldn't be here at this internship when I have not been spending adequate time with my Lord. It has been one of those things where I feel like all I do in the day is for the Lord so when I actually have a moment of free time I want to do something else. I know this is no excuse but just being honest! I just bought two new journals as I ran out of room in my last one and am excited to see how this tool puts my prayer life back into the top of my priority list.
Overall, I have enjoyed this internship so far. It is not what I expected but I have been learning way more than I ever thought I would. I get frustrated sometimes with how the two youth pastors handle things but have come to grips with the idea that I am only here for 3 months so I'd better stop worrying about how they handle things and start investing more time with the kids. I have been having a blast getting to know the youth group and have found a love for junior high kids. I love their openness and honesty that senior high kids seem to be lacking sometimes. Junior highers seem to still be innocent enough that they are excited to tell you all about them! This is where I am at right now and can't wait to see where this last month here in Grabill, Indiana takes me.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
WEEK SIX
I mentioned in my last blog that I would not be able to post last week because I was at a youth convention for the entire week. So, this is my blog that covers that! We left from the church parking lot on Saturday morning (June 23) and drove for 3 hours to get to Calvin COllege where the Missionary denomination has their youth conference. The first three days we were with the Junior high and it was amazing! I was able to have two really in depth conversations with three fringe students...I am excited to connect with them when I see them again at a youth event. THe speaker this week talked about being a revolutionary for Jesus.
The second week was with the Senior high. The speaker of this convention was outstanding. He works with Kingdom Building Ministries and did an excellant job. He talked about different "Why" questions. Why Jesus? Why me? Why CHristianity? It was a great series and the kids seemed to respond really well. Overall, it was a great week...I am very tired :) However, I am anxious to get back and hear at the share night about how the kids are doing with it now. I will be posting again later this week to catch up!
The second week was with the Senior high. The speaker of this convention was outstanding. He works with Kingdom Building Ministries and did an excellant job. He talked about different "Why" questions. Why Jesus? Why me? Why CHristianity? It was a great series and the kids seemed to respond really well. Overall, it was a great week...I am very tired :) However, I am anxious to get back and hear at the share night about how the kids are doing with it now. I will be posting again later this week to catch up!
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