In lieu of a journal entry

Where do I begin?  I am into my second week of school and already my head and my heart are filled to overflowing.  I really should be writing this in my journal, but right now there are too many thoughts in my head to try to use a pen and paper.  My typing can keep up with my thoughts so much better.  That being said, this entry is more for my benefit than anything else.

How do I put these thoughts into words?  Again, how do I begin?  I am experiencing so much from God's word and am continuing to realize all that He has been teaching me over the past year.  What has happened just since returning to school?  My perspective has been put to right.  My vision has been refocused.  I have come to grips with the fact that I have not been trusting the Lord as I should.  I've been trying to hold on to something that was not worth holding on to.  Something that maybe didn't even exist in the first place.  Perhaps?  Or perhaps (and this I believe is the case) I was not fully willing to open my hands and trust God with the direction that He is taking me.  Trust is scary.  Commitment is scary.  But why?  I know the character of God.  I know that His ways are so, so much greater than my ways.  I know that this life is extremely temporary.    

And I know that thousands of people are dying and going to hell because they do not have the opportunity to hear the gospel.  This is reality.  There is no way I can escape it.  I do not want to escape it. 

I was sharing some of these thoughts with my dorm mate and she asked if I really believed that, or was it simply from being back in the bubble of New Tribes.  Of course the "bubble" and the teaching has had a big effect on me, but if I am truly honest I know I have been stuffing this reality during the summer.  Missions?  Really?  As in very possibly leaving the states?  Learning a new language and culture?  But there is so much need right here in America!  My experience at camp was absolutely wonderful.  Being in full-time ministry was the most fulfilling thing I've ever done.  I could easily see myself doing camp ministry for the rest of my life.  And there are so many children who need to know about the love of God! 

But what about those who do not have the gospel in their language?  At least in the states the gospel is available and extremely accessible.  Does that mean that everyone in the states has heard the gospel?  No, of course not.  But at least they have the opportunity.  "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17

I am excited for what God has in store for me this year.  Where will He lead after I graduate in May?  Time will tell.  But I know that it will be in the work of spreading His gospel one way or the other.  I do not know what that will look like at this point.  It could be support work.  It could be tribal church planting.  But I am open to wherever He leads.  If I do not follow Him, my life will be meaningless.

Happy birthday, Alli!

Hugs from far away.

yet to be determined...

How does one condense 500+ pictures and seven weeks of memories and stories into a reasonable post?  I've been going through my pictures from camp, editing, deleting, etc. and trying to decide how best to share about my summer working as a counselor deep in the South.

HELP!!  Maybe I should just go to bed and try again tomorrow.  Yes, that's it.  Avoiding an issue always solves the problem. 

Good night.


.......oh, all right.  Here are a few sample pictures for now.  Enjoy!



Just like "The Parent Trap!" 



The first week a couple of my girls thought it would be fun to sleep on the floor in their sleeping bags.  By the end of the week ten out of twelve were no longer in their beds.  Interestingly enough, this was the only group of girls that asked if they could have a pillowfight.



Camp out night.  Alicia was my co-chief.  (The counselors were all referred to as chief.)



The early morning hike back into camp after camp out.  This was one of my favorite parts of the week.  As you get to the top of the rise the lake is just eye level and was always covered in a mist.  Beautiful.



My first week of camp turned out to be a lot different that I expected.  I was pulled last minute and sent as one of the counselors for the white water rafting trip the camp has for the 13- and 14-year olds. 



My fellow rafting chief Beth.  My hair is the result of a long bus ride with junior high girls. 

Incidentally, I came home with a very large dose of Mississippi in my blood.  I can't wait to go back again.

Big Esther Joy and Little Esther Joy

 

You know you've spent the summer at camp when...

...you see a spider in your room and think, "Oh, cool!  A spider!"

I had the most wonderful time at camp.  I love Mississippi!  I am so thankful the Lord allowed me this opportunity.  It was one of the best summers I've ever had.  A more detailed post will soon follow.  (With pictures!)