The Beginning of Living in Community
God calls us to live in community but as Americans we learn to become so independent that we hardly rely on anyone but ourselves. If we rely on anyone else for support or help, we are stereotyped as “not independent enough” but that is not how God intended for us to live. He never asked us to do this life alone or save this world by ourselves. He asked us to live and work in community with one another, to love one another and become one body of Christ.
The new community that I am living in rocks my world. I am so in love with my teammates and the entire “M” squad. It has been a true blessing to work alongside two of our other teams on “M” squad this month and the staff at El Rancho. We have grown so close this month that it will be an adjustment to not see them and experience life with them on a daily basis.
This month, the definition of COMMUNITY is……
The sound of laughter and joy
Fun
Supportive
Waking up to friends as an alarm clock rather than electronics
Looking down to pull your teammates hair off your clothes rather than just your own
Washing clothes together
Washing dishes, toilets and dancing together
Holding each other accountable
Lots O’ hugs
Jumping on the trampoline to see who can jump the highest
Teaching archery, team building and rock climbing together
Playing pranks on teammates
Helping fit everything in each other’s bags
Falling in love with each other’s hearts and souls
Experiencing new things together
Encouraging each other and their dreams
Taking care of each other when we are sick or hurt
Realizing the times when laughter is the best medicine
Serving one another and putting others before yourself
Loving each other when it’s easy and when it’s hard
Working in spite of one another
Looking into each other’s eyes and seeing Jesus
Holding each other’s hand when it makes them feel at home
Riding bikes as fast as we can to relieve stress
Waking up to a praise and worship concert in the mornings
Singing karaoke
Worshipping together
Praying together and then, praying even harder together
Living in a city of tents
Learning new culture
Lots O’ laughter
Creaming The Shnyd at Phase 10
Praising God all the time
Moving 5 different times in one month
Watching a baptism in the river
Cleaning windows
Watching children accept Christ into their lives
Finding new family in New Zealand
Community is TRUE LIFE and TRUE LOVE J
