I Surrender All

It is amazing how much I have been stretched and grown in the past 8 weeks. Today the sermon at church was about surrendering and submitting to God and his wisdom. As the summer is starting to come to a close I can't help but think about the year ahead. The fact that I am going into my last year of college and that this time next year I could be moving somewhere or have a "big girl" job lined up freaks the crap out of me. Kial and I have been talking a lot about this lately as we are both in the same boat. The reminders through our devotions this morning and the sermon to surrender it all to God and let him take control seems to be something that He has taught us both a lot about this summer. Our prayer for both of us is that we can keep up our faith and continue being intentional with what God is doing in our lives and not what we want to do.

Sunday's are always hard for us as a team as we are still recuperating from the previous week when the next group of participants come. When they told us during RAMP (training) that we need to try and have the same energy week 8 the same amount as we did week 2 they weren't joking how hard it would be. But, we have 2 more weeks in this wonderful city and I am super excited to see how God provides and continues to be faithful :-)

Week 7 was another wonderful week. The groups came around 4:30. Mac and Cheese was being stirred, pulled pork was in the oven, salad was being chopped, we were ready. The first impression of students are always funny. They are always quiet and shy and as the week progresses they become completely outgoing and crazy! It is so fun to get to know these students and see them grow week by week.

These groups came in hard working as ever and ready to serve.They came with craft supplies and games ready for kids clubs and excitement to start. Monday morning orientation went as it normally did. The kids club at Glenwood Rec Center went swimming Monday morning so that was a nice change for the participants. The kids swarm our youth like ants! Its so funny to see and such a testament to the childlike love that they so evidently shown. Even though there is a new group every week that comes in and runs kids club, these kids love them as if they were there the whole summer! It is so wonderful to see. Here are some pictures from the Glenwood crew that went swimming.

This past week was probably one of the most frustrating weeks in the area of kids club for me. Because we are running our kids clubs through already established rec centers, there is a higher chance of miscommunication. Unfortunately, this seemed to be the week for it. One of the kids club crews only got 2 full days with the kids because of miscommunication. Others only got 3. It is hard for me to run this program in a place where other programs already exist. I know that they are grateful for us coming to their rec centers and I am eternally grateful for them letting us be there however, it proposes frustrations that don't come from running just one kids club. Yet, God is good and the students still had an amazing week and he taught me how important communication is and how being flexible is something that I need to work on. That funny guy, always teaching and reminding me of things :-)

This coming week is our last week at the Boys and Girls Club. It is going to be so hard to leave them. They have given me such hope and love this summer. Through working with them and the other kids club sites God has really deepened my passion and desire to love on children from rougher home backgrounds and "inner city" life. It has been a blessing to work with these kids and love on them even if it is only for 20 minutes a day at each site.

Our team was blessed this weekend by church members. We were invited over to Dede's house for pizza Friday night and were invited onto the McAfee's boat yesterday. It was probably the most relaxed we have felt all summer. It was so nice just to hang out, swim, and sit on a real couch in a real home! Praise God for both families :-)

Welp, as our laundry is almost done and Sunday dinner is needing to start we are off to week 8 out of 9. I know God has amazing things in store for this week and I am praying for open eyes and hearts from both the students and adult leaders who are on there way from Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee to Chatty!

Prayer Requests for the week:

• energy for John, Garrett, Kial and I as we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually tired from the past 7 weeks
• that God would really work this week in the lives of the participants and their leaders, especially as it is a lot of their first mission trips
• for both the Boys and Girls Club and Avondale Headstart, as we close the summer at these two sites this week that they would have gained something from us serving there and that the staff at those sites would continue pouring in to the children they work with daily
• for MLUPC as they travel to Panama City Beach, FL for BigStuf today. that they would have an amazing experience and that God would work through the lives of the youth going

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, 
faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

3 to go!

Week 6 is done and our week 7 groups from Arkansas, Ohio, and South Carolina are currently on their way due to arrive in a short hour and a half! Each week comes with new challenges, excitement, joy, and fun. It is absolutely incredible the amount of growth that is seen particularly in youth from Sunday night to when they leave Friday morning. One of the cool things about being a middle school only site is that this is a lot of the youth's first missions trip. Many of them will come into the week wrapped up in their friends, seeking out that attractive opposite sex from another church, or scared not knowing what to expect. By the end of the week all of this is still happening yet, they have a new sense of service and spreading God's love. They have been exposed to people and things that they might not have been before and have a love that is new and fresh. It has been so refreshing to see this growth week by week!

This past week at Kids Club was peace week. This concept was a lot harder to teach for four days than I had thought. The youth did a good job portraying peace through their skits the first couple of days but I just didn't feel like the kids were grasping the concept. God has yet to fail me though in showing that these kids are really understanding and that the youth are thriving in their role of leadership. At each site on Thursday God showed how he worked through the week. At Glenwood as the kids were lined up to say the bible verse for the week, a little boy came to the front of the line very sad and confused because he didnt know the verse. I asked the boy Randy in front of him who knew the verse if he could help and teach the other one who didn't quite know it yet. Randy took him over right away and then others flocked. I sat there and watched a 6 year old teach others the word of God. Boy did my heart melt! Afterwords Randy came over and I thanked him and asked him if he wanted to be a teacher. He responded with, "No! I want to be a police officer!" I asked him why and he said so he could help others but that he wouldnt put them into jail because they might've not known they did something wrong. There is that childlike faith which I am constantly reminded of and utterly thankful for!

Here is Randy teaching the other children!

At the Boys and Girls club a youth was reading a story with one of the kids. The word peace was in it and the kid pointed to it and said that that was what we were talking about! Also, at Avondale, a youth was able to talk to one of the kids about peace and his anger. She pulled out the bible verse and everything! Its the little things like these that I know God is working not only in me but in the youth and the kids as well!

This weekend my team and I were able to go to Atlanta for an area retreat. We met the Birmingham team, Atlanta team, and our area director Courtney there and spend  Friday night and all day Saturday. It was such a nice time to laugh, dance, and just relax as we are all experiencing very similar things this summer. We went to a Braves game Friday night, dressed up as cows to get free chick-fil-a (and yes, at the original restaurant!), went to the MLK museum, went swimming, and then went to a really cool food truck place for dinner! 

Chatlantaham!

MLK and Corretta Scott King's graves

Food trucks!

MLK's birth home

The church MLK preached at

Week after week all I can be is thankful. I am thankful for the friendships that God has given me through this experience. I am thankful for the laughter and fun that I've had. Im thankful for the ways I have seen youth glorify Him and teach children. I am thankful for the ways children have grown to know the Lord's love. But mostly, I am thankful for how God is so evident here in Chattanooga and I am so excited to see what he is going to do in the last 3 weeks to come!

God's Timing is Funny

Week number 5 is complete! This summer is just flying by way to quickly! This week was one of the best weeks we've had all summer. First off we were blessed to invite John, our new site director to our team. God truly provided by giving us such an amazing, fun, and exciting man to lead us and work alongside of us. He has brought so much relief and taken away so much stress that I didn't even realize I had by his leadership! We are already wishing we had more than 5 weeks with him but are thankful for the time we do have! Here is our first team picture together after a wonderful meal at a BBQ place downtown called Sugar's.

Garrett, me, Kial, John

Because of the 4th of July we only had 45 people total which compared to a normal 65-70 it was a huge relief. Kids Club was closed at all but one site Monday and Tuesday and then at all sites Wednesday and Thursday. Also, this group of participants were absolutely wonderful and such an amazing group to work alongside.

Monday:
Although the rest of the week looked a little different than normal, Monday was pretty much the same for me. In the morning we had about 3 hours of orientation/prep time for Kids Club. The only site that was open for the week was the Boys and Girls Club so I was very excited to have the opportunity to stay just at one site for a change versus traveling between all four.

This weeks focus was faithfulness. The youth did an amazing job coming up with perfect skits and songs to perform for the kids. They also easily came up with fun crafts and games to lead the kids in. It was such a blessing to me to be able to hang out with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club and really get to know them better. Because I have to travel between 4 sites everyday, I don't have the extra time to sit down and color with the kids or throw a ball around. I was very thankful for this time this week. Here are some pictures from Monday afternoon!

 John getting his hair done by some of the girls :-)

Reading time

Bailee (a very outspoken 5 year old) drew a picture of herself, Courtney (coco) and I 

Monday evening we went to Rock City like normal but because of the weather we couldn't go in. We waited for a little bit and played some games but eventually had to leave early. But hey! We got ice cream sundays out of it and the youth and adult leaders were so flexible, it was wonderful!

Our team and wonderful Area Director Courtney hanging out on the mountain!

Tuesday:

Tuesday morning was my time off which is always a wonderful and relaxing time. Then off to Kids Club at the Boys and Girls Club in the afternoon! Again, it was so nice to stay at one site and focus on just those kids. Not only was it nice to get to know the kids but also to have that time to hang out with the youth more and get to know them better too!

Tuesday was Chattanooga's big firework night! We were able to move things around a bit, have club right after dinner, then head down to Coolidge Park on the river to hang out and watch the fireworks. This was such a fun night. There were bands playing and so many people. It was nice to have a little change up as well and throw in some excitement!

Team Chatty ready to watch fireworks!

One of the youth that looked so much like a friend from home (a younger version of course!)

Wednesday:

Wednesday I was able to be Kial's right hand girl and help her out with service sites because there was no kids clubs. Because it was the fourth and not many sites were open, she sent me to one of the life care centers in Chattanooga. This was such a fun experience to see a service site and serve in a different environment. It was also such an encouragement to see the youth serve and work so well with the elderly as I only get to see them serve with the kids.

Hixson had a super fun day full of events for the residents. Some of these events included bubble blowing, flag decorating, water balloon tosses, and ended with songs, a skit, and ice cream! Such a fun day!

At night we were able to head back to Rock City where we were one of the only people there and really able to enjoy God's creation at the lookout. It was so relaxing and amazing to see the youth really connect and worship God in this way.

Thursday:

One of the service sites that I have been longing to go to is Avondale Headstart. I volunteered at one by my school this past year and really wanted to see another one. I was able to go there on Thursday morning and hang out with the younger kids and youth! It was again, so encouraging to see these youth really love on these kids. I could've just sat and watched the whole time because it was just so beautiful to see!

Thursday afternoon our region director and her husband and daughter came to check out Chattanooga and check on how we were doing. We went out to lunch with them to a good mexican/american restaurant called Taco Mamacita. Kial and John then took them out to some service sites while Garrett and I headed to another elderly home called St. Barnabas. Then it was quickly off to shower duty and back to the church for dinner prep. We had our community cookout as usual Thursday evening. Thursday's are one of my favorite days because the youth get so much free time. Also, we do a Thursday night footwashing service for club which is just such a special experience. The staff are able to wash the adult leaders feet and then the adult leaders are able to wash their youth's feet. After we as staff are done, we go to the back of the sanctuary and pray over the students. Kial and I were able to observe siblings wash each other's feet and then wash their mom's. Needless to say we were both in tears. This brought me right back to being able to wash Mary's feet last year when I went as an adult leader to Toronto with MLUPC. An experience I would never take back!

Well off to week 6 and the challenges and excitement God has in store! All 4 Kids Clubs start up again this week and I am super excited to show John around and let him see how it all works! We are headed to Atlanta this weekend for our area retreat. We have been super blessed with such an amazing area and amazing people to spend this experience with. Plus, Kial and I cant wait to introduce Garrett and John to the rest of Chatlantaham! 

This week's theme at Kids Club is peace. Its funny how the fruits of the spirit line up to what I am needing reminded off in my life. God is funny :-)

Blessed are those who work for peace, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9