Wow, this summer has flown by. I have been kept very busy! And as I sit here, reflecting on all of my trips, I realize how much I have learned. My whole attitude and perspective has been shifted.
Through Fuge (church camp) I have learned that I need to start living like a Christian should. I have learned that I am much more selfish than I think I am. And I have learned that Jesus Christ is with me always, helping me through every obstacle. He has all the power and provisions anyone ever needs. He is all we need. May all glory go to Christ who has saved me.
Through both of my World Changers (but more so in Brunswick; a.k.a. "the Wick") I have learned how incredibly blessed I am and how capable I am of serving others. I am healthy and strong and young. I have energy and resilience. Heck, if I can spend two weeks working 9 hours a day off of 6 and a half hours of sleep and some pretty nasty food, then I have to be pretty well off! Oh, but those two weeks were the best of my whole summer.
Brunswick especially changed my desires about something. No longer do I have a hunger for the picturesque, Southern Living-type vacation. I have no longing for big, pastel beach cottages with expensive furnishings and frilly decorations. I don't want to spend a week surrounded by carefully manicured lawns and cobblestone streets and shops with cute clothes that are extremely overpriced. I'm not saying these things are wrong, I'm just saying that I don't want that. I would much, much rather be on a roof in 128 degree weather in (well, let's be honest here) the ghetto. Let me tell you, Brunswick was most definitely ghetto. At least, it was where we were staying (in an elementary school with cockroaches in the bathrooms, yum!). Some girls in our crew went on a prayer walk in the neighborhood we were working in and they saw a guy sitting on his porch smoking a joint like it was nobody's business. It was dirty, run-down and probably a little dangerous but I have never felt more at home. I am comfortable there. I simply loved waking up at 5:30 in the morning and hammering nails (and my fingers) from 7 to 4. Serving God is so much fun. :) Part of the reason I had so much fun is because of my amazing crew. Everyone got along so well and share so many inside jokes. ("Shingling, shingling, it's shingle time in the ghetto!" "Kangaroo pocket!" "Hot day, cold beer!" "Shangle!")
I am so looking forward to what God is going to do the rest of the year. He has inspired me to serve everywhere. I am going to be busy this school year too! I'm doing a middle school girls Bible study with two of my friends for my church, I may do a Bible study for my grade at my school (either that, or I'm starting a student leadership team at my school, but I'm afraid that is too big of a responsibility on top of everything else), I am going to get kids in my youth group together to serve on weekends and stuff (like prayer walks, visiting nursing homes, feeding the homeless even), and then of course I actually have to do school. I really want to do well in Spanish this year. I really want to be fluent in the language.
Anyway, now I'm just rambling on. I need to save stuff for me to write about later! I will probably begin writing more regularly as the school year begins.
A week and a half until school begins.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done for me." -- Matthew 25:40
Sarah
