Wow, 10 camps back to back, 6 straight weeks of summer ministry..... first a deep breathe and sigh of relief. Because I look kind of like this right now........
What an adventure this summer has been. I am just looking back and thinking about the special moments. Waking up with a little head sleeping on my shoulder, sharing a laugh, giggle and or hug with a special child; having my heart captured by a boy as tall as my hip. I think of how much these kids lives were changed this summer.
There were two teen girls I met the beginning of the summer, we shared our testimonies together, cried about broken hearts and hardships in our lives together, we bonded. Then after those wonderful four days of building a relationship and friendship they had to go back to their lives and I had to continue with other camps. Then during the last week of camps they came back for our short, mixed camps. And as I shared a devotional about what it meant to be friends one of them told me they had been praying everyday & not just praying but praying for me. They said that they had prayed since I had challenged them to before at the earlier camp. I saw their joy and smiles as they returned, and a joy that could only come from above. It was very hard saying goodbye to them the second time, but I also had a sense of peace that they left with the knowledge that they were not only and cared for, but had a heavenly Father to talk to and lean on in times of trouble.
I also reflect on one night as I share my personal testimony with the kids; a girl (17 years) old came up to me after and said that my testimony was similar to hers and wanted to share it with me and a few of the other girls on our team. Her story had two small similarities to mine, but was much more full of pain, suffering and abandonment. I felt so touched that she felt comfortable enough with me and trusted me enough to share all the pain of her history. What was also so encouraging was that she had big dreams.... a dream to be a zoologist (most of our kids don't have dreams & if they do they are very small, like being a cleaning lady). She also expressed the desire to make change around her, in the life of her brother and the others lives at her orphanage... it was a moving and encouraging conversation.
I think of the boys who seemed so hard hearted at camp sleeping on my shoulder in the car or reaching over to put an arm around me as we sand worship. I reflect back on the ways I felt the spirit move around, in and through me. There were so many kids that just needed to be loved on and held and I feel so blessed to have been those arms and feet. Whether it was holding a hand, kicking a ball, having a conversation or just giving a hug, I got to express love like these kids have never felt...... thank you God! Despite my emotional, physical and mental tiredness I know the impossible was possible this summer through the strength I received from above.... the strength that came in the form of team members from my church, letters from home with words of encouragement or a quick e-mail reminding me I was being prayed for. I am in awe and wonder of our Lord above.
