In high school, I was a preschool teacher and also taught Sunday
school to kindergarten to 2nd graders. I loved little kids. Give me a room full of 3 to 7 year olds and
you’ve got a party. These kids were my forte; my comfort zone.
When I moved away for college, I started attending this legit
church and after a little while the youth pastor asked me to join the
leadership team for the youth group. Middle and High Schoolers. Instant panic.
I remember trying to explain to said youth pastor about how middle and high
schoolers scare the crap out of me and how I’ve only worked with little kids
and dang it, I’m good with little kids. Besides, I’m only 18 after all, and
some kids in the youth group are only a year younger. Most of them are definitely
taller than I am. I didn’t think they’d take me seriously.
Let’s fast forward and skip over the part where the youth pastor
didn’t let me quit (though I wanted to!) because he told me he saw something
in me that I had to offer to these students. No one has ever told me that
before. And before him, I never knew how desperately I needed to know that. But
that’s really another story for another day.
fall completely in love. My life has changed because of those middle and high
schoolers. Their hunger, their passion…their awesome awkwardness. The way I saw
these kids’ lives transformed by God’s love inspired me and showed me truly how
big God is. They taught me more about following Jesus than any theological
seminary could. Needless to say, by the end of my time with them, there was no
way I’d ever choose to go back to preschoolers. Middle and High schoolers were
definitely my comfort zone now.
Since being back from the World Race, I’ve spent the last (almost)
two years working with college students and mobilizing them onto the mission
field. They are so freakin’ cool and hungry to see the world change like it’s
their business. Just like before, I was intimidated big time when I first
started working with college students. But as the trend continues, they’ve made
their way somehow into my comfort zone and consequently captured my heart.
I’m just beginning to see now how God has taken me through these
age groups over the years. He’s stretched me through each one, and shown me a
different side of His character.
You’d think God is going to now move me on to some adult outreach or
something since I’ve obviously learned every thing there is to know about people 22 and under. But God is funny. He’s actually taking me back to spend time with high schoolers!
Next Monday, I leave to
Puerto Rico to lead a high school mission trip with our Ambassador program. Words
aren’t enough to say how excited I am! But to be completely honest, I’m scared
because although I’ve hung out with high schoolers a lot, it’s been a while. I
find myself out of my comfort zone again. I guess it’s time to brush up on some
Bieber and Twilight…is that still cool?
Please pray for us as we go! The kids arrive tomorrow to training
camp. Pray specifically that they would get everything that God has for each of
them. Pray for unity in the team and between my co-leader and I. Pray for
safety and deep, meaningful relationships to be formed over the next two weeks.
Pray for me to have peace and confidence as a leader. More than anything, please
pray for the greatest outpouring of God’s love over each one of us!
—
I’m proud and honored
to have a role in sending passionate people out onto the field! In order to
continue mobilizing this generation of Kingdom-bringers, I am in desperate need
of monthly financial supporters. Please let me know if you’d like to partner
with me!
