This past weekend I visited Covenant for the first time since I left. It was a very good weekend overall. I got to catch up with students and old co-workers that I have missed dearly. At the same time, I felt confirmation and affirmation that I made the right decision to work at Geneva. As much as I miss the people at Covenant, I realized that Covenant was difficult in certain aspects. Mainly, I didn't have any type of social life outside of my job. I worked very hard and enjoyed building relationships with students, attending activities, plays and sporting events. Outside of those things, I wasn't taking care of myself. I didn't have friends or a social network in the area to help me "get away"...
I have sat here for the last fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to express some of the other difficulties that I experienced. There really is no way to express them without sounding like I was not grateful for my time at Covenant. The fact is I am grateful for my time there. They took a chance on me, and I gained valuable experience. I made lifelong memories, and friends. Like all aspects of life, not everything is perfect, and there were things that were said, and actions that were taken that were not the best, in my opinion.
Like water under the bridge, Covenant has moved on and most importantly I have moved on.
That's what the weekend was about for me. To get some closure, see students and friends that I didn't get to say goodbye to.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Alaska
It has become a tradition for me to go on a mission trip during spring break with college students for the last couple of years. This year was no exception as I got the chance to go to Alaska. A fellow RD of mine Sarah, grew up in Eagle River, which is right outside of Anchorage. She started the trip last year and decided to continue the trip again. Sarah and I got to lead 9 students for a week and half to help serve troubled youth and homeless people in Anchorage. Here is a picture of the group...
(It was cold...and yes the sun glasses were necessary because the sun glared off the snow..)
We made the long trek last Saturday on March 14. We arrived in Alaska around 7:30pm local time. On Sunday a lifelong dream came true for me as I got to witness the start of the Iditarod (the 1000 mile plus dog sledding race that has been exagerated and fantasized through movies and books such as "Iron Will", "Balto", and a a short story I read in elementary school, about a kid who won the Iditarod to help save his house after his mother died...I can't remember the name of it, but it was a sweet story). Here is a picture...
The second half of th week our group got to help renovate a shower house ministry for the Downtown Soup Kitchen. The DSK is a Christian based ministry that helps feed homeless and the underpriveleged as well as give away clothes in Anchorage 365 days a year. They have 2 or 3 part time staff members and many volunteer workers. Because they only have a couple of workers, a function of their ministry the shower house has been slightly neglected. It is used once a week to give homeless people an opportunity to take a shower, wash their clothes and have a place to call "home" for at least an hour or so. Our group got the priviledge of remodeling the house to make it more welcoming and functional. At first I was overwhelmed with the project. I didn't think we would have enough time to finish the job, but by the grace of God and the hard work by all of our team members we exceeded expectations (We repainted the kitchen, living room and 2 bathrooms, put up new curtains and blinds, rearranged a living room counter and retiled a table, amongst lots of other stuff) Here are two before and after pictures. This is just one of the rooms we painted and redecorated...
(Before)
(After)
All in all it was a great week.
-Sarah's family the Dompier's were awesome hosts. Home cooked meals every night and lots of laughter, fun and fellowship. I got to experience first hand, a family that truly loved each other, that lived very simply and tried to glorify God in all that they did.
-Our group of students were awesome as well. I never heard one complaint about anything. They never whined, and trusted Sarah and I to make decisions on behalf of the group. They worked their tales off and God really used us.
-I got to go to Alaska for the second time in my life. This time it was without my parents and it was to serve. I don't know why it's such a big deal to me, but to go places that I have been before with my parents by myself makes me feel like I have accomplished something. Like I have achieved another step of independence (Granted my first and biggest step of independence was 9 years ago when I decided to move 3000 miles away from home to attend Gordon). In a sense I feel like it makes them proud too, because they have raised me and put me into a position to where I can go to places like Madrid, Spain and Anchorage, Alaska.
Things that I learned on this trip:
-God is awesome and created beautiful places like this...
-I totally could have been one of the troubled youth that lived at Covenant House or a homeless person in Alaska, but for some reason God had different plans for me. Because of this, I am CALLED to use the advantages of a loving and supportive family to serve others.
-Family is important.
-I want a dog.
-On the inside we are all torn apart, and ugly. We all have issues and struggles, some more then others. On the outside we can look fine, and sometimes beautiful. No matter how we are both inside and out, God uses us for his purpose.
So, if you can go to Alaska go. If you can do a mission trip do it.
(It was cold...and yes the sun glasses were necessary because the sun glared off the snow..)
We made the long trek last Saturday on March 14. We arrived in Alaska around 7:30pm local time. On Sunday a lifelong dream came true for me as I got to witness the start of the Iditarod (the 1000 mile plus dog sledding race that has been exagerated and fantasized through movies and books such as "Iron Will", "Balto", and a a short story I read in elementary school, about a kid who won the Iditarod to help save his house after his mother died...I can't remember the name of it, but it was a sweet story). Here is a picture...
(Before)
(After)
All in all it was a great week.
-Sarah's family the Dompier's were awesome hosts. Home cooked meals every night and lots of laughter, fun and fellowship. I got to experience first hand, a family that truly loved each other, that lived very simply and tried to glorify God in all that they did.
-Our group of students were awesome as well. I never heard one complaint about anything. They never whined, and trusted Sarah and I to make decisions on behalf of the group. They worked their tales off and God really used us.
-I got to go to Alaska for the second time in my life. This time it was without my parents and it was to serve. I don't know why it's such a big deal to me, but to go places that I have been before with my parents by myself makes me feel like I have accomplished something. Like I have achieved another step of independence (Granted my first and biggest step of independence was 9 years ago when I decided to move 3000 miles away from home to attend Gordon). In a sense I feel like it makes them proud too, because they have raised me and put me into a position to where I can go to places like Madrid, Spain and Anchorage, Alaska.
Things that I learned on this trip:
-God is awesome and created beautiful places like this...
-I totally could have been one of the troubled youth that lived at Covenant House or a homeless person in Alaska, but for some reason God had different plans for me. Because of this, I am CALLED to use the advantages of a loving and supportive family to serve others.
-Family is important.
-I want a dog.
-On the inside we are all torn apart, and ugly. We all have issues and struggles, some more then others. On the outside we can look fine, and sometimes beautiful. No matter how we are both inside and out, God uses us for his purpose.
So, if you can go to Alaska go. If you can do a mission trip do it.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Leadership Weekend
For several years I have wanted to be on Leadership at Summer's Best. I often heard of this mythical weekend called "Leadership Weekend" and often thought...I should be there! This past weekend was a great time and also a really encouraging time that allowed me to reflect and realize how far I have come since my first time at camp in 2002. Throughout the weekend we heard devotionals from full-time staff members. I could not help but think to myself..."I thought I was ready for this responsibility when I was younger, but I really wasn't. God has a purpose and he sees how I can serve in this role." My perspective changed from, I should be on Leadership, to I'm excited in the way God will use me on Leadership.
Throughout certain discussions and conversations about camp, I realized how much I have grown in maturity in the last 3 years. God has put me in College Administrative positions which have forced me to grow up. To constantly be on the lookout for others and not myself. To see the needs of college students. To learn how to be a more well-rounded man of God.
For example: Can I still be crazy and goofy? Yes, but do I need to be like that all the time? No.
All of this to say...I am super excited for this summer. I felt Satan trying to bring me down in little aspects of whispering doubt, or thoughts of pride, but I know that I just need to soak up this experience and make the most of it.
After being away from camp for a few summers, and getting this unique opportunity to come back and serve, I can't help but feel so grateful for an opportunity to "lace up the cleats again". I relate it to "The Natural". A movie about a baseball player named Roy Hobbs who had a ton of potential and God given talent. He is very young and makes some mistakes and eventually his life choices cause his baseball career to come to sudden halt. A couple of years later, he gets a second chance to resurrect his career. He knows how special it is and what a privilege it is to play the game so he makes sure to make the most of it.
I'm not saying I'm going to take camp to the World Series and hit a walk off home-run into the lights and cause sparks to fly all over the field...
Watch it Here, it's so worth it...
But I am going to try...ha
Throughout certain discussions and conversations about camp, I realized how much I have grown in maturity in the last 3 years. God has put me in College Administrative positions which have forced me to grow up. To constantly be on the lookout for others and not myself. To see the needs of college students. To learn how to be a more well-rounded man of God.
For example: Can I still be crazy and goofy? Yes, but do I need to be like that all the time? No.
All of this to say...I am super excited for this summer. I felt Satan trying to bring me down in little aspects of whispering doubt, or thoughts of pride, but I know that I just need to soak up this experience and make the most of it.
After being away from camp for a few summers, and getting this unique opportunity to come back and serve, I can't help but feel so grateful for an opportunity to "lace up the cleats again". I relate it to "The Natural". A movie about a baseball player named Roy Hobbs who had a ton of potential and God given talent. He is very young and makes some mistakes and eventually his life choices cause his baseball career to come to sudden halt. A couple of years later, he gets a second chance to resurrect his career. He knows how special it is and what a privilege it is to play the game so he makes sure to make the most of it.
I'm not saying I'm going to take camp to the World Series and hit a walk off home-run into the lights and cause sparks to fly all over the field...
Watch it Here, it's so worth it...
But I am going to try...ha
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The first half of the week we worked at The Covenant House. An organization that is set up in big cities across the US to help serve troubled youth. Most of the full time staff (4 or 5 of them) are professional counselors and social workers, who barely have enough time to keep up with the youth that come in and out of the facilities. That gave us a great opportunity to help do things that the staff never has time to do...i.e. wash windows, base boards, and walls, steam clean sofas and carpets, and organize a game closet.