Sometimes it can be hard to really appreciate how far we've come.
One year ago I was across the world, living in a different culture, completely unaware of where God was taking me after graduation. Since then I've biked halfway across the US, preached enough sermons that I've lost count, met more new people than I can recall, and embarked on the new journey of camping ministry. What an adventure it's been!
This last month I had the privilege of organizing my first 2 programs, the High School and Jr High Winter Retreats. Each had it's own set of challenges, learning curves, and rewards.
For High School we almost maxed out our sleeping capacity with 130 youths and sponsors. I saw God at work in 2 major ways. The first was in the amazing way the youth interacted across church boundaries. Everyone seemed to mix well and meet new friends from other churches transcending denominations, ethnicities, cultures, and sometimes languages. It was a hint of the amazing gathering that is coming at the final return of our Savior.
The second way that I was touched was in the unexpected work of the Holy Spirit throughout the weekend. I have many examples, but the one that impacted me the deepest was when our speaker, Jeff Ressler asked the youth groups Saturday night to come up with something to offer during worship Sunday morning. They were instructed to discern what they felt led to bring for the service. The groups split up, and some smaller youth groups combined to make larger ones. Soon groups called me over to say what they felt led to offer. (I was in charge of organizing what the groups were bringing.) Some groups felt led to sing a song, others wanted to do a skit, dramatic scripture reading, a call to worship, offertory, communion. Every element of a traditional worship story was present in some form, and all the scriptures and songs fit thematically together! Only the Spirit of God could have worked so beautifully as to call each group of High Schoolers to offer independently all the parts of a full worship gathering. It gave me goosebumps and I was almost on the edge of tears at how beautiful and amazing God is!
The Jr High Winter Retreat was a bit smaller, but it worked out well with the energy of the age group and the size of our indoor space for games. Mariah Martin, first year student at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, really connected with the youth and really opened them up to the realization of their identity in God and God's love for them.
I am heavily indebted to Hannah, Ryan, and the other Menno Haven staff for making the Jr High Retreat run so smoothly. In my confidence from high school weekend I left some things hanging loose, which forced me to run around with a lot of last minute preparations. Without the help of great volunteers it would have been a much more chaotic weekend. A huge thank you to everyone!
Now the retreats are over and summer camp is on the horizon. Summer Staff is on my mind. (Apply online! http://www.mennohaven.com/summer-staff1.html ) The days are getting longer and warmer (except for the occasional cold snap), Lent has begun. Spring will come soon. This is the time of muddy and windy days, of anticipating warmth and new life. Let's not forget the winter and what we have learned. In the solitude of dark winter evenings, the fun of snow day shenanigans, or the gathering of friends and family we each have been formed by some experience or memory. What have you learned this winter? How has God been present in your life? Though we look forward to the coming Spring, let's remember the journey that has gotten us to this point. It's amazing how far we've come.
