The last two weeks in Chattanooga were wonderful. We were able to get our end of the summer paperwork done (for the most part) with late night paperwork parties. Dozens beyond dozens of cookies were made for our service partners and staff at the rec centers where kids club was held. Many "lasts" were had from the last time at lookout mountain (after 10 times Kial and I were not very sad about this one), the last meal cooked, the last trip to SAMs Club, to the last sleep on our air mattresses. It was a very surreal time and wierd at that. Saying goodbye to our friends who became family for the summer during our time in Chattanooga was anything but easy. I knew that saying goodbye to my team and Courtney was going to be hard so in typical Hope form I ignored that fact.
For the last days at each of our kids clubs we were able to do something extra special. At Glenwood there was a water day full of drip drip drop, water-guns, and balloon fights. At Avondale we were able to go downtown to Coolidge Park where there is a huge fountain where the kids could play in (and of course I was pushed in). At the Boys and Girls club there was a talent show and fun and games and at Carver there was lots of swimming in the pool! Each site had its own ending of the summer which made planning of course a challenge but that was what came with the job and a perfect description of an amazing summer :-) With the help of YouthWorks, my team, and the students I was able to make bookmarks for each child which each of the weeks theme on it. It also had a bible verse for each week as well! I gave away bibles, storybook bibles (for younger kids), little books titled "Jesus Walks" and a goodie bag. Of course all of the kids loved their gifts and it felt so good to be able to give it to them! It was funny; at Carver all of the kids came up to John and I asking us to sign their bibles almost like a yearbook. I hope that whoever has this job next year can give each kid a full bible because I know most of them do not have one! It was very hard to leave these children. They taught me so much about love and loving unconditionally which is ironic because week 9's theme was love. They loved me and every student that came in week by week with no judgement and with such purity. What a lesson for us all, why can't we love like this all the time. Oh the childlike faith that is so important to have yet so hard to at times. Here are pictures from each site's last day! Gosh do I miss them :-)
Carver holding up their bibles!
Glenwood before water fun!
Avondale
Throwing up some love at the Boys and Girls Club
My staff and Courtney knew that leaving these kids would be hard so they gave me one of the best presents I've ever received. Without me knowing they went around to all 4 kids clubs sites and had the kids write a little note to me in a journal. Some of the notes were funny and some were simply encouraging. Here is one of my favorites, one that will be my go to for a pick me up :-)
We said goodbye to our week 9 crew at 8:30 in the morning that last Friday and spent the rest of the day packing and doing inventory. Me being me, loved organizing and coordinating the storage room (yes, I am not normal). After about 8 hours of packing we were ready to take a break and enjoy our last night together as the YouthWorks Chattanooga 2012 team (as John had to leave early Saturday morning to be in a wedding). It was a night of bitter sweet memories, walking downtown, eating at Applebee's, and watching Michael Phelps win gold (anytime there was a TV we were all glued to it, especially the boys. #firstworldproblems) We sent John off in the morning with a goodbye that was very characteristic of our team, no crying necessarily but lots of laughing and goofiness. That Saturday was our last day in Chatty. Kial, Garrett, and I did some odds and ends to make the church look good as new. Multiple moppings of the kitchen, cleaning of the cars, putting away the grill, and sorting the papers we would need for exit RAMP (debriefing in BHAM). The three of us ended the night with some Thai food downtown and just enjoying each others company. I was sad to leave Chatty and all the wonderful people we met throughout the summer but was excited to join with the rest of our area, Courtney, and other friends back in Birmingham.
After a great service at The Gathering, we said goodbye to our summer home, stopped at Subway for a quick bite and were off on our easy 2 hour drive to Birmingham. While Garrett rocked out to his hardcore music in the van, Kial and I rocked out to Justin Bieber in the Versa, only getting lost once (and yes, it may have been because we were distracted talking and laughing, sorry G-money!) We arrived in Birmingham and were sent to a hotel for a night of area time, good BBQ, laughing, the Olympics, and a real bed and shower. Monday was a day of more debriefing. I was/am very impressed with how YouthWorks! debriefs us. It is hard coming from a summer of going 24/7, seeing God move in amazing ways daily, and serving every moment with incredible Godly men and women to "normal life". As someone who does not do well with change, I knew this transition would be challenging. We were able to begin our process of transition that day; talking as an area, as a team, and with ourselves figuring out what to do next and how to process a life changing summer.
After one last snuggle session with Kial and Courtney and tearful "see ya laters" I was on my way home to the 'Berg with many mixed emotions and feelings. I was leaving the people that became my summer family, who supported me and loved me and who experienced the same things as I did. Thankfully, I was coming home to a family who loves and supports me too. I was so excited to see them yet so sad to leave. This past week has been a transitioning time. I've spent a lot of time remembering what was and being thankful for the life changing summer I experienced. I would wake up at 7 am the first couple days thinking I needed to rush downstairs to make sure breakfast was going ok, only to remember I was home. Having nothing to do was a weird concept! I still feel like I should be rushing somewhere!
God taught me so much this summer about flexibility and HIS time. What perfect timing it was too (haha ironic!?!) :-) As I am entering my senior year of college, totally oblivious to what my life will be this time next year, I am reminded time and time again that God has a plan and that He will provide, just as He did so abundantly this summer. After reading a blog of a girl going through a similar transition process I was reminded of this verse; "What you grip and refuse to let go of, you tend to lose...what you trust me with, I'll keep safe for you." (Luke 17:33). I think that this is such a wonderful verse for transition. I struggle with forgetting and trying to remember everything I felt and experienced this summer. What I need to do instead of "refusing to let go" is entrust it to God. He gave me this experience and He will give me more. The door of my summer is closing but He opened so many new doors of relationships, experiences, as well as doors for growth. Doors are opening and closing all the time and I can't be anything but thankful for the opportunity to shut a door and open a new one.
So as I shut the door of my YW summer 2012 I open a new one of my senior year of college. God only knows (literally) what is in store for me this year at Westminster. I am so excited to see how He is going to use me and grow me, how my relationships from this summer will grow along with my Westminster friendships, and what new doors He will open and what doors He will close. All I can say is I am grateful. I am grateful for this experience, the friendships made, everyone who prayed over me and my team, the wonderful city of Chattanooga, and for how God moved in me and around me. This door is shut and other one opens!
