What has this month meant to me?
Making great friendships with my squad mates, some of these girls I would literally call my sisters! And I am going to miss my squad when we split up into just our teams.
(Janice, Me, Tiffany, and Katelyn–AMAZING women of God)
It has also been about serving in whatever way that I can. This didn’t always look the way I thought it would when we first got here or when I thought about the World Race. But some of my fondest memories about this month was serving the Light Force leader of my team. All the kids get broken up into teams and each Light Force staff member takes a group for the week. First off this woman is AMAZING!! I have never seen a teacher pour into kids more than she does. She is so kind hearted toward them but also firm when need be-the perfect balance! She loves on these kids so much that they cry when they have to leave at the end of the week–and so does she because she cares that much. You literally see Christ’s heart when you see her work. Then there is the fact that she poured into us as well. She loves on us in every way-she even got my team mate a birthday cake and flowers because she had her birthday this week. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher to lead us at this camp and I will miss Matilda dearly!!!!
(My team with Matilda-the amazing teacher!!)
I also have loved serving the kitchen ladies (I wrote about them in my last blog). I just love the way they hug and kiss us on the cheek just for doing our jobs in the kitchen. They are like aunts that love on you all the time!!! It was such a blessing getting to pray over them and help them. It was also a great time to have conversation with everyone else who worked in the kitchen. Some how washing dishes in SCALDING water (I don’t think these ladies have feeling in their hands) will bring you so much closer to a person!!
(Me with some of my squad mates and the kitchen ladies)
This month has also been about being humble. Some times when you throw 16 girls into a room there will be a time or two that you will want to tell people how to do things and ask them to stop whining and be respectful. But instead of doing my carnal instinct I chose to keep my mouth shut and pray. For those of you who know me well this does not come naturally to me. But some amazing things happened in my life because of it. First off I have kept some relationships intact instead of needing some unnecessary repairs along the way. I also have grown closer to Jesus through this. If you don’t want gossip flying around a squad the only thing you can do is cry out to Jesus and vent your frustrations to Him. And it also allowed me to see that God really does know what He is doing and that my opinions usually aren’t really needed or necessary. He knows what is best for his beloved-far more than I ever will. What a reassuring place to be in! If the Father takes care of other people’s bad attitudes how much more He wants to do for me, or take care of for me.
This month was also about giving up some comforts that have been standing in the way of my Father. I never realized how much I relied on the comfort of waking up in my home, having a hot shower, the kind of breakfast I like to eat, coffee, and a variety of clothes to wear, internet at my finger tips etc. Without just those few items I have had to rely on God so much more. I can’t have a bad attitude everyday because there is only glacier water coming out of the shower at a trickle. Literally between living with 16 girls, a new environment, less comforts (and this place is really comfortable!), and being away from home I can’t go a day without spending time in the word. It has been amazing having a new passion for Christ that is based off of dependence instead of trying to reach a standard or get something from Him.
And only more are to be taken away as we move to more impoverished countries!!
So my question for you is what comforts are you holding onto that you rely on instead of Christ?
Love you all!
Jody
