I really have too much to say to write a blog over, to be completely honest. I should just write a novel instead filled with the things that have happened in my life since the last time I blogged (notice that was BEFORE camp). But, I will spare you all, and not share everything that has happened in my life, but only highlights for now and I'm sure things will be revealed and expounded on as my blogging life continues.
Basically, this summer was the best summer of my life thus far. I met 18 amazing people (as well as many others that I worked with at various points in the summer) that were chasing after Jesus, and whenever I say chasing, I mean that in the most fundamental way. It was literally a race daily to get as close to His face as possible for CK7, and it was one of the most blessed experiences of my life. We weren't a team, we were most definitely a family. I talked to fellow staffers about things I hadn't talked to anyone else about and heard stories from them that no one else knew. It was the most intense example of community I have been involved in. What a blessed thing community really is. I got to daily pour the life God has given me into camp. I poured it into the children I was ministering to, the leaders I was serving, the family I was walking life with, and the videos I was producing. Daily it was a pouring out of Him. Daily. Hourly. Minute by minute. Every single second. I got to see kids "get it" every single day through some type of intentional relationship a team member or myself was building. It really was like a perfect little world.
Things I learned (definitely not inclusive of everything, just the jumbled thoughts I have at the moment):
1.) I am blessed beyond measure to have what I have at WKU. I am surrounded by a group of people just like CK7 who are searching after the Lord, daily. Not everyone has that, and I wasn't aware of that until I met my staff this summer. I am so, so blessed to have my WKU community.
2.)The Lord's provision is perfect--if we give Him control of providing for us. I have never experienced such provision as His overflow of energy, patience, and grace every single morning after getting anywhere from 0-4 hours of sleep. I have never had to FULLY depend on the Lord as I did in those moments. Definitely some of my sweetest moments with Him.
3.) That the Lord can work in someones life in a MOMENT. Yes, I said a moment. I didn't fully believe that before camp, I have learned, because I had never witnessed it. But I witnessed it twice on a very personal level this summer with people that gave their life over to Him. It was an INSTANT life change. What a powerful God we serve.
That isn't anywhere close to everything I learned this summer, but that will do for now.
I am back at WKU now, in the middle of the busiest time of my short life thus far. Being surrounded by my friends and the ministry we have through CRU is a reminder of who God is in my life and the plans He has for His people. I am so thankful to be here...knowing this is exactly where God needs me. I am interning at Hillvue Heights church for the youth ministry and God is using that job to wreck me in so many areas of my heart...one of the best construction sites around :) it has been/is such a blessed learning experience for me. I get to still be with my wonderful girls that I had the privilege of meeting last year and new ones have been added this year. They are such a blessing and I even get to lead a Bible study with some of them..watching us grow together is such a special blessing from God.
Basically, I'm just keeping my head above water, because that's really all God wants from me. He hasn't given me this life to waste it, He has given me it to fill it up with HIM. Even though I'm still a work in progress, I can feel Him working in me. As painful as it is, it is the best pain anyone could ever experience. Life is exactly how it is supposed to be...and I'm at peace with my Father.
