Craziness

Craziness is the title of my newest blog post. The reason I chose this title is because for the past 4 weeks, I have been to a different state every week. Aka, i've been ridiculously busy.

The first week, I went on a much needed "mini-vacation" to the Warren Dunes in Michigan with a couple of my friends. We were there from Fri-Sun and just had a blast hanging out on the beach and sleeping in tents.

The next week I went to Camp Timberlee in Wisconsin. (see previous post for more information).

Last week, I was blessed to get to go to Arkansas to see my family. It was so great to see all of my family. My nieces have both grown so much, so I spent as much time as I could with them. I also got to see my "group" from high school during a baby shower for an old friend. Sometimes you forget how much you need to stay in touch with people you grew up with. Those old friends helped me through my formititve high school years and I love all of them. I also got to go hiking and fourwheeling, two things I never get to do in the city. I was only home for a week, but I really wish it could have been longer. (Although i felt like i gained 10 pounds from all the wonderful food my mom cooked me)!

Finally, this week I went back to Wisconsin for another camp. This camp was Camp Dawan, a camp for High School students. We had 20 kids and had an absolute blast. I really enjoy being with high schoolers because you can have deep conversations with them. For example, one night I had an almost 2 hour conversation with one student and an hour conversation with another student.

I think the best thing about Camp Dawan was seeing 16, 17 year old young women and men who LOVE the Lord and really were seeking to learn and grow in him. I was sitting there one night listening to the speaker and just started looking around the room. It was so wonderful to see the students really engaged and listening to her.

It's so encouraging to see teenagers living in this place who are really living for the Lord. It reminds me that what i'm doing here is not in vain. I sat up with one student till 2 in the morning listening to her story. I have grown close to her and her sisters over the past year, but I still was broken to hear some of the stories of her past. She talked of how hard it is to grow up without a father or a mother. She talked of how hard it is to hear from people how she was nothing and she would never be anything and how alone she feels at times. And we sat there and we talked about how she wasn't alone. How God not only lives inside of her but also how He has given her people in her life that love her and that love the Lord. We talked about how her identity is in Christ, not in what others say she is. That she is a somebody because she is of the Lord.

And as i sat there, talking and listening to her...I couldn't help but think of two things. Why? Why does God allow some kids to grow up in amazing homes with 2 loving parents and allow other kids, like her, to grow up with almost no one. I look at this beautiful, mature, loving young lady and it breaks my heart and makes me wonder why. The second thing I think is, after all she's been through...the days she spent as a 8 year old girl standing out in the rain cuz she was locked out of her house, listening to people tell her she's just gonna end up a druggie like her parents...ect, the thing I think is, after all of that, she isn't bitter...she is SAVED and God has given her the strength to overcome it all. I think, where would I be if I had lived a life like hers? Would I be living for the Lord like her? She, along with so many of my kids are young people whom I admire and am blessed to know and to get the opportunity to pour into and love everyday.

As I sit here tonight and think back over the week at Camp Dawan. I think back over the conversations I had, over the talks our wonderful speaker talked about and there is one thing that keeps coming back to me. Our speaker said these words and it really just resonated with me...she said, "understanding can wait; obedience can't."

I don't understand why things happen the way they do. Sometimes I don't understand why God asks me to do certain things...but I must obey. I must choose to be obedient to my father, no matter if I understand it or not. Because, obedience cannot wait, but understanding can. This young lady may not understand why God has placed her in a situation where she feels like running away everyday, but she must choose to be obedient to God and stay and continue to be a light to all those around her. I may not understand why God has called me to do certain things, but my obedience to God cannot wait.

Anyways, yeah. Craziness definitely explains my last month. I am moving again...this Saturday. So for the 5th time in 4 weeks, I will be packing once again. Please pray for me that God continues to double my rest and to strengthen me as I am feeling very drained and tired. School starts soon for my students so please pray for them to start off the school year with a bang and pray for their teachers to enjoy teaching these students and realize how amazing and talented they really are. Pray for our high school students as they enter back into the hallways of their high schools that they would share the light of Christ and that they would find Godly friends who would encourage them throughout the year.

Oh, and please pray for a young lady in our program. Her father passed away last night from a long battle against cancer. This young lady holds a very special place in my heart and she loved her daddy very much. She is entering high school this year (9th grade) so I know she has already been stressed and nervous, now I know she must be a wreck. She is a very tough young lady who holds things in so please pray that she would find someone, anyone who she could confide in and that she would go to Jesus with her pain and find the strength to go on from Him.

God bless you all....