I have been so busy going from place to place I haven’t had
time to just sit and think about all the crazy awesome places that I have been
this summer. Being at the beach with my
family for a few days has given me some time to reflect on how Jesus has worked
through me in such a short amount of time yet has worked in large measures. My first trip this summer was life changing
to say the least. My home church, college
group, went to Honduras. We traveled there
and began the process of building a church for a local village that was in need
of a space to worship. When you are in
the comfort of your own home and even your own country, it’s hard to imagine
what life would be life anywhere else.
That is…until you witness it first hand.
Seeing life in a new light as it was shown in Honduras is the hardest
thing to describe. Yes, it is full of
poverty. But when our group sat down the
last night to talk about our experiences and our thoughts about our time there,
we realized something that is hard to grasp back home. There are three types of poverty: material
poverty, community poverty and spiritual poverty. Honduras lacks in material poverty. From the every day essential to us being a
bathroom, to the lack of clothes, food, and shelter. These things are just that to
them…things. They see these things as
extras. As far as community and
spiritual poverty, Honduras has abundant life.
Witnessing people love of each other and us so well is amazing. They have nothing, yet they rejoice in the
fact that they have each other and especially that they have a relationship
with the Lord. Life in Honduras is very
different, yet I find myself desperate to go back. We are desperate for a life that is full of
joy. While in Honduras I found myself
encountering Jesus in ways that might be a little more rare in the states. When I was building the church we were
working on, I found myself marking cement blocks to be cut, while at the same
time in deep prayer for the people who will one day stand in the very spot I
was working and fall on their knees and give their life to Jesus. I also encountered the love of Jesus through
the faces of the children in the village we were working. A simple piggyback ride lit up a child’s
face. When a little beautiful creation
comes running from across an open field into your arms looking for comfort and
someone to love on them and play with them, there is no better picture of
Jesus. Honduras wrecked my heart in ways
I never knew existed. Jesus truly does
show up in the most unexpected places and in the sweetest faces. I pray everyday that my sweet friends in
Honduras know that they are loved beyond belief, boldly prayed for everyday,
and little miracles to me and everyone who has witnesses the joy and love of
Honduras.
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the quiet one, yet loves to look at all the cute pictures that he takes |
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Deuteronomy 11:10-12 |
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Our Team |
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My favorite fútbol team |
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my wild child Anderson |
After Honduras and a few weeks of work back home, it was
time to head to one of the greatest places on earth. YOUNGLIFE CAMP. Western Wake Younglife spent the best week on
our lives at Sharptop Cove in Jasper Georgia.
I could not ask for a better week than a week with some crazy fun high
school kids at a camp that allows them to escape the pressures and pain of day
to day struggles and be released into this new atmosphere full of adventure,
fun and learning. Getting to lead the
BEST high school, Middle Creek High School, was so great! From a muddy obstacle
course, ropes course, jumping off a telephone pole to hit a bell, a hike,
volleyball tournament, zip lining, the hoedown, formal night, and pool Olympics
we had a blast. Its amazing to hear that
after all that exciting stuff though, the kids favorite parts of the week were
the times in club, real life, cabin time and just hanging out with their
leaders. This was the time when they got
to hear the great truth of the gospel.
When they were shown how life with Jesus could change the hardest heart
and the messiest of lives and give them full and abundant life with a God who
is crazy about them. Watching my high
school friends have the time of their lives this past week truly shows that we
have a God who is adventurous and one who shows up in the midst of any
situation. Getting to lead alongside my
best friends just adds to the joy of this ministry. Waking up every morning and sitting on the
porch while spending time with Jesus and looking next to you and seeing your
closest friends digging into His word is encouraging in it self. The Lord works in some pretty crazy
ways. One thing I love about camp is the
opportunity to talk with your kids one on one.
One night, after we had heard to truth about the cross and had cabin
time I realized one of the girls was still being quiet. She had not opened up as most girls had that
week during cabin time. I watched as she
went to the bathroom and then I followed.
There, I found a sixteen year old weeping in the corner. We decided to go on a walk that night. That is when she opened up. Telling me the struggles and the pains of her
life. But it was then, when she told me
that she realized that Jesus was the part of her life that she was
missing. It was then that we spent the
next hour talking about the mystery and the grace and truth of Jesus. The thing that happened next shows that God
shows up anywhere. By this time we had
gone to a coffee bar they had set up outside that night for campers who wanted
to talk more. In that moment my sweet
friend didn’t want to do life alone anymore.
She sat down her coffee, got out of the rocking chair and fell to her
knees crying out to a God who she desperately wanted in her life. My friend started a new life as a new
creation with the Creator that night. Her
brokenness and emptiness was no longer hers.
Watching a hurting and broken teen fall on her knees and giving
everything to a God that she realized loved her through it all, just shows that
Jesus is working all around. It also
shows me that the boldness of the Holy Spirit is captivating. It takes a lot for a sixteen year old to fall
on their knees in front of strangers at a coffee bar. That’s not an everyday sight. But it is a sure sign of a living God.
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ropes course was our favorite |
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my main homie Anna Grace, also known as "AG" |
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the best team eva |
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sharing with my high school friends the story of how Jesus captured my heart |
This next weekend I leave for Colorado. I am working for a month at a Younglife camp
called Crooked Creek. My sweet friend has new life because of the truth that
was poured into her at camp. I am so
grateful that I get to spend a month serving campers as they play and run and
hike and eat, but most importantly serving them as they experience the love and
grace of Jesus. Getting to do this along
side my best friend Sarah will be a month I know will change so many others and
me from the inside out. I pray that I
have the patience when I am tired to push through for those who are weary and
broken in need of Jesus to rescue them.
I pray that I have strength when I am weak to push through for those who
are wondering and lost. I pray that I
have boldness when I am timid to push through for those who are eager for that
moment when they meet the Savior.
and hey, I guess the view wont be that bad for a month!!
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favorite place at every Younglife Camp!!
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