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