Phewwphhstaaa...what a long and challenging week this past week was! I dove into the life of a shores counselor working with elementary children for the week. I can definitely say I have a huge respect for my fellow staff friends who have been shores counselors the whole summer. My word does it take dedication, commitment, and patience to tap into the hearts and minds of that age range. I switched with my friend Brooke for the week because she really wanted to try out being a pines counselor so I decided sure why not even though I wasn't super excited for the switch up. It is hard for me to reflect on the past week now that it is over because I still have no idea why God wanted me over on the other side of camp. I had, by far, the most difficult cabin of camp this week...five out of the ten of my girls were homesick the first few nights, I had one who was adopted recently, and one that was on the verge of being sent home towards the end of the week for being incredibly disrespectful and offensive to me and several other staff. I definitely question what God's intent in this past week was but am so quickly reminded that His fruits aren't revealed automatically after the week is over and sometimes I may never see the result of the ministry that happened for the past five days but I must trust that God is a God who is intentional, living, and active in His purpose for every single one of my campers. After all, it's nothing about me but rather ALL for the glory of Him.
John 15: 1-17 speaks directly on this subject in the familiar passage of Jesus teaching about the vine and the branches. Apart from Christ we can do absolutely NOTHING, in fact we are nothing. Everything I am passionate about, everything I live for, everything I believe, everything about me is because of Christ. The only good in me is God. I love the song Jesus Paid it All...I have often found myself leaving out the basics of the Gospel in my own walk with Christ this summer. I get so excited about all the new stuff I am learning that I've never discovered before and tend to brush over the fact that Christ died to make my crimson stain of sin as white as snow. How awesome is that? "My strength indeed is small, child of weakness watch and pray, find in me thine all in all." This song hits every realization I have had this past week in a crazy cool way. I challenge you to go back to the basics this week! Find in Christ your all in all, actively be living and pursuing a life of forgiveness, owe Jesus everything you have. He deserves all we are because all we are is Him.
I have two weeks left here. I am 12 days away from seeing Jake (my boyfriend) and my dad. I am 13 days away from returning to college. I am 14 days away from switching my summer of camp ministry with middle school kids to my school year ministry with college students. Transitions seem to be bubbling all around me and countdowns seem inevitable even when I try to avoid them. I honestly cannot put a name to the massive amounts of emotions I am celebrating yet also struggling with. I am ready to bring my all these next two weeks. I feel as though I am starting to hit my wall as far as energy and excitement, but I have decided to take it one day at a time and continually be reminding myself that even though it's my 70th time polar bearing at seven am and 9th time playing Where's Waldo it's my campers very first time and they deserve it all! A phrase repeated very often here is "for the kids!" Couldn't be more true, especially coming into this home stretch.
Prayer Requests:
-ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!
-My college friends and I that this year wouldn't be solely about academics and friendships but rather pursuing Christ in everything we do and falling more in love with God in our everyday routine of college.
-Prayers of thanksgiving to every single person who has been praying me through this summer, absolutely incredible support and encouragement! THANK YOU!
-Transitions back into my relationships at home and college. I am a new and changed person and I pray that my friends and family's hearts would be open and receptive to the new Laura.
-Safety for my dad and Jake coming out here to pick me up :)
-My sister...i miss her.
Thank you, I love you! Enter in the the basics of the gospel this week! Don't forget the foundations to your faith...you can't build a skyscraper without a sturdy foundation. Instead of skyrocketing into the details of your faith check to make sure you have a sturdy foundation and stronghold rooted in Christ!
In our powerful Heavenly Father,
Aunt Laura
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (AWESOME PASSAGE, it's really been on my heart lately!)
P.S. You can still email me through the Camp Geneva website...these emails encourage and uplift me in a huge way! Please connect with me and let me know how I can be praying for you!
Also-here is the link to the song I mentioned above. PLEASE listen to it and meditate on the gospel of our Lord Christ Jesus. So powerful :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeAfKCC2ng
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