My Summer Lessons #1

Summer has flown by far too quickly and is coming to an end. However, as I look back on my summer, I see something different than I ever had before. At the beginning of the summer, I sat down before my first mission trip and looked at the other four that would come after that, and I took a second to think and simply said, "All right God, this is all for You." From that moment on I decided that my summer was dedicated 100% to Christ.

But, I came home from mission trip #1 and sat confused. Although I had an awesome time, I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to take out of that trip. Sure we had done mission work, but I hadn't spent time with kids, as I had thought I would, I hadn't built a house for someone, and I hadn't converted anyone to Christ. However, I had built relationships with those around me, I had laughed many good laughs, I had picked up a couple pieces of trash, talked to an old person, and painted a house. But these things, had just been things. What was the purpose of me doing them? Why had I done them? This wasn't my idea of mission work. As time has gone on, I have learned that it was not there that I learned the importance of sharing the Gospel or helping out a person simply because they had a whole lot less money than I did. It was there that I learned the importance of community and support in whatever I was doing.

For a long time before that, I had convinced myself, or more so allowed Satan to convince me, that doing everything I did on my own would be much better for me than it would be to do it with someone else on my side. However, I came home from Tennessee, and felt loved and supported in everything I was doing. Because of that, I ended up stepping out of my comfort zone and learned how to take initiative and serve Christ while free-falling into things that I did not know the outcome of. By having this support system, I knew that I could go out and try something and fail and still be loved and supported for trying.

This wasn't just something that applied to me on the trip but has continued throughout life. As summer has gone on, I have taken steps in building new relationships, reforming old ones and building a support team. Now having that support team, whom I know has my back in prayer, love and encouragement, I have done things I never thought I would see myself doing. I built relationships with Chinese students and allowed them into my life, although our time was short. I was a leader on a Junior High mission trip, I wrote, recorded, and posted one of my own songs on myspace with a friend, and I am currently playing soccer on a varsity level at my school, something I had convinced myself I would never do.

This being only the first mission trip, God has continued to teach me so much more throughout the summer, but to write them all out right now would be draining for me and way too much for anyone to sit down and read. But, I'm here today to tell you, that no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, He has not given up on you and He cares about you and every detail of your life. He wants to change you, but you need to be willing to allow Him to do so. He has a plan for your life and awesome things He wants you to do in life, if you would just listen to Him and follow His will. Don't give up on God, but even if you do, He will never give up on you. Live not just 95% for God, but live 100% for God and He will change your world and the world around you.

Blessings, love and JOY in Christ.