Even though I stepped off a plane onto U.S. soil on July 12th, my summer did not end there!! It's really crazy to see how God mapped out my summer perfectly! When I felt God leading me to serve on the Women of Worth project in South Asia, I was a little bummed because I would be returning so early. However, the same day that I was appointed to that team, I was asked to serve as a team leader on a trip with a Houston, Texas youth group to Bimini, Bahamas two weeks after I returned home from South Asia!!! :) I accepted and was all excited about my summer!! Then about a month before I left for South Asia, my children/college pastor, Robin Popplewell, asked me when I'd be returning from South Asia. When I told him that I'd return on July 12th, he asked if I'd want to come lead Worship for Fusion Camp (West Jackson's Children's Ministry) at Camp Linden from July 14th-17th! Most people would probably say, "Ya know Pop, I should probably take time to rest before I leave for the Bahamas on the 20th." but I knew that I needed to take this opportunity to not only lead children in worship but to also serve my church family whom I've grown to love so very much over the past year!!
Leading worship at camp is pretty explanatory as to what I did so I don't feel the need to go into much detail. I was able to meet lots of kids and families from my church that I had yet to meet in my year of attending West Jackson Baptist Church. I saw the beauty of children crying out praises to our Lord. I saw children worshiping through crafts as they spray painted cardboard with graffiti declaring the Glory of God. I saw children being children and having the faith that we're all called to have. I felt the love of God poured out on me as I received BIG HUGS from a precious 4 year old who was just recently adopted from China by a precious family from my church. I received more blessings than I could count at Fusion Camp and I was reminded of the beautiful church family that I missed so very much while in South Asia for 7 weeks!
I would like to share a story of a girl named Marva that I met while serving in Bimini, Bahamas. My job on this trip was to serve the Texas team; to maximize their ministry opportunities by washing dishes, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning and transporting the team and their supplies to ministry sites via golf cart. On the first day of the camp the team was leading, I stopped by and visited the sign language class. The camp was intended for youth from ages 7-12. I met Marva that first day of camp. She was an 18 yr. old girl that was just full of life but I could tell just in conversation with her that she felt empty. There was just something that seemed to be missing. As we continued talking, she asked if we were all saved and we said yes. It was then that I realized that the thing she was missing was Christ in her life. She told us that she'd never been saved and that she would accept Christ one day but right now, she is having fun. While sitting with her at camp, I felt an urgency to share with her a piece of my testimony; that at one point of my life, I was indeed living for myself and just "having fun" rather than striving for Christ. I told her that yes, those things were fun at the time but at the end of the day, I felt empty and until I got to college and met people who were living for Christ and who shared with me about their own personal relationship with Jesus, I wasn't even sure of what I was missing. We talked a little more that day and then I didn't see her for several days. She didn't come back to camp after that day and I'd not seen her in town.
On Saturday, we were told that we could go to any church in town that we'd like on Sunday morning. God laid it on my heart that I should ask Marva if I could go to church with her, to whichever church she wanted to attend that day. I knew I had to find her but I wasn't sure how I was going to do that. That Saturday night, her friend LaTravia ate dinner with us. I asked her if she could text Marva and let her know that I was looking for her. About 20 min. later, Marva showed up and sure enough, we went to her church the next morning. It was a beautiful service and I could feel the Holy Spirit moving in that place. I worshiped the same way I would in any setting and I could feel Marva watching me. It was like she'd never seen anyone around her age really worship. I didn't do it for show but I did pray that as I was praising Jesus that Marva would realize that having a relationship with God is not something that you do when you get older but it's something you NEED in your life now and forever!! Marva didn't make a decision to give her life to Christ that day, nor did she engage in any conversation about Christ. Instead I went home knowing that I'd done what God asked me to do and that HE is powerful enough to save her in HIS timing! I can't do anything and HE can do everything!! I know that the Holy Spirit is powerful enough to convict her heart of her sin and draw her into the loving arms of Jesus Christ. "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."-William Carey.
So yes, that is why it is now August 12 and I feel like I am just now getting settled. I've had time to reflect back on my summer and see how perfectly planned out it truly was! I've seen how God has changed my heart for people more than I ever imagined possible! I've become aware of the "mother hen" I can be in practically smothering people that I care about. I've experienced the true joy that comes from seeing the faces of children purely and innocently worshiping our creator! I've worshiped with all of my heart in a setting I've never truly been a part of before. I've ached to be back in places I've served in the past because of what I've learned and what I want to apply in those ministry settings. I've learned what it means to truly invest in someone's life and it's truly addicting!
If I could sum up the main thing or maybe high points of what God taught me from each endeavor this summer, it would go something like this.
South Asia: The power of prayer and expecting God to show up, the joy that comes from seeing God show himself faithful and how to invest in people's life without an agenda of how to share Christ .
Fusion Camp: That yes, God has gifted me with talents that He wishes for me to use for His Glory and that there's not a more beautiful way to use it than leading others in worship and being blessed in return.
Bimini, Bahamas: God created us all with different spiritual gifts and His plan is meant for us, as Children of God all gifted with different spiritual gifts, to unite together with those gifts to accomplish His purpose...that His fame be spread among the Nations!
Thank you for all of your prayers during my travels this summer and for your constant love and support in so many areas in my life!!!
<3 C
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