In conversation with one of the customer service reps at my favourite lab to visit, we determined that there might be some merit to the childhood method of counting down or counting days. There is simply something fun about declaring “this many sleeps!” rather than how many days remaining. Proof of that, from the words of a child, is found in my 3 ½ year old niece whom upon arrival at Grandma’s must declare how many sleeps she is there for. “Grandma, I am here for two sleeps!!” or one of my favourites and one you know was clarified in the van before arriving at grandma’s house, “Grandma, I am not here for any sleeps”. So in honour of this methodology of count down,
3 more sleeps!!!
Yep. In just three sleeps I am going to catch a ride to the airport where I will meet up with 16 teenagers and two other leaders (and for a departure prayer and I am sure a few teary goodbyes at least a handful of parents or relations as well) to check in, move through customs, and wait to board our flight to Phoenix where we will be picked up by a representative from Praying Pelican Missions and drive down to Hermosillo, Mexico.
It is hard to believe that it was already ten years ago that I was sitting in their shoes- in high school and preparing to go on a mission trip with a group of my friends from church. I love that over the course of those ten years I have gotten to the point where I now get to supervise what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience, a chance to witness the glories and wonders that epitomize the grace, love, and mercy that is our Father.
One of my favourite passages in the Bible can be found in the words of Matthew 25:31-46. Captioned ‘The Sheep and the Goats’, for me, the words in these verses are one of the most direct call to action of Christ to His followers
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV)
I am so unbelievably excited to witness the acting out of Christ’s directions in the actions, in the words, and in the hearts of these teenagers; for the opportunity to be present as a group of teenagers, one of the age groups most often associated with a lack of awareness of others, step out and together act as the body of Christ. To watch as they do for others as Christ has commanded us not only as Christians, but I believe as mankind- believers and unbelievers alike. To reach out and help those in need, those hurting, those crying out simply to find someone who cares.
Now, because I am Laura, and short and sweet is a lesson I have never really comprehended, the story behind where I am at as a youth leader =)
I’ve been volunteering as a youth leader at the church for the last four years. If you were on my Facebook last summer, you might remember a ton of posts relating to youth and loving my job, and those stemmed from a short stint I did as a summer youth intern at the church, planning and running summer youth events. Over those four years, youth has gone from something I did originally as a favour for one of my best friends to something I now can’t even imagine my life without.
I won’t lie, at the very beginning, the very first time, when my dear friend Mike asked me to drive for a youth event and I quite literally laughed at him for suggesting it- I don’t like teenagers, they are way too much drama for me- or something along those lines, he said, just do it this once, just for me. Next thing I knew I was signed up to help out every two weeks and the following year after his tragic passing, as badly as I wanted to quit something that I so associated with him, I figured I’d keep at it for just one more year, kinda in his honour I suppose, for the kids who would miss his undeniably energetic presence, so I volunteered to help attempt to fill the void at youth and lead on a weekly basis.
Needless to say, it didn’t take long to realize that I wasn’t just doing it for him. I was doing it for me. I was doing it for the youth. I was doing it for God. I realized that when I was in youth I had a couple of leaders who left such significant impacts on my life (and I can only hope they realize it) that I wanted to have the chance to do that for the youth. Suddenly, they were filling a void in my life, and to be honest, they still do.
I know that sounds cheesy, but I am ok with that. I suppose it is the kind of statement that only some people can ever comprehend. When I meet new people and they learn that I spend nearly every Friday night (Tuesdays in the summer), and at least a couple weekends a year, hanging out with anywhere from 5-60 12-18 year olds, they think I am nuts. I’m ok with that too. Considering doing so has brought me innumerable younger ‘brothers and sisters’, people who think I am funny and entertaining and who look forward to my hugs. Teens who love to talk about what is going on in their lives and who, during small group, at Sunday lunch (which I really would love to do again) and in personal conversations, open up about their joys and pains in life... I love it.
So where am I as a youth leader? I am grateful. Grateful to Mike, for putting me in an awkward spot of not being able to say no to a personal favour. Grateful to the other leaders who might roll their eyes but still seem to enjoy having me around despite all my (self diagnosed) a.d.d. Grateful to the youth who rock (most of the time at least). And am so indescribably grateful for this chance to head off to Mexico with an amazingly, fantastically, unbelievably, wonderful group of teenagers. A group of teenagers who in less than 15 minutes created a mission statement for our trip that collectively speaks wonders as to their maturity and faith in our Maker.
“Our team will make a difference by spreading the word of God through love, hope, and blessings, as we grow in Jesus Christ”
Naturally we’d love your prayers while we are in Mexico. For travels, for health, for cohesion, for effectiveness, for the ability to speak beyond the language barrier, for effective ministry on behalf of Christ, for lives to be touched on both sides, for growth in relationships with Christ, and for whatever else you can think of that I can’t at this moment.
Dios te bendiga! (God Bless You!)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Swing Lessons!
Something light to share=)
I am learning to swing dance! I suppose that answers at least one of my questions for 2012- if I would be fortunate enough to learn a new style- cause the learning is in progress and I love it!
How did it happen? In Jan I was giving a friend a basic two step lesson- just to teach him the step and a few simple spins and he began talking about how he wanted to learn all the tricks- dips, flips, spins, lifts, and such. He then began saying we should take lessons, but not two step as it’d be redundant for me, and asked what would have the tricks in it. I told him swing, jive, Charleston, lindy hop... that sorta thing. Then said you look into it and we’ll talk (he isn’t the first to claim he wanted to take lessons, usually talk is as far as they get with it), well a week later we signed up for 12 weeks of basic beginner swing (which touches on all of the ones I mentioned above). It is awesome and I love it! Learning something new, but not feeling totally new to it thanks to my country dancing. Its great!
We’ve done 5 weeks so far and have learnt all sorta of steps- 6-count, 8-count, sushi roll, texas tommy, swing out, he goes, she goes, and so many more I can’t even begin to remember the names. I’m learning the technical side of the footwork and having to remind myself that posture in swing is different from two-step, three-step, six-step, and country swing. I have to sit back and let others instruct me and I love it! I also love that the moves I’m learning can totally be moved into my country dancing one we’ve got a firmer grip on it. It’s increasing my repertoire while learning a new style. Love it!
Just wanted to share. I feel like sometimes I forget to share the light and bright in life unless it’s in a quick recap so figured I’d throw one out there!
Rock step, one two three, step step, one two three... Oh how I love to dance!
I am learning to swing dance! I suppose that answers at least one of my questions for 2012- if I would be fortunate enough to learn a new style- cause the learning is in progress and I love it!
How did it happen? In Jan I was giving a friend a basic two step lesson- just to teach him the step and a few simple spins and he began talking about how he wanted to learn all the tricks- dips, flips, spins, lifts, and such. He then began saying we should take lessons, but not two step as it’d be redundant for me, and asked what would have the tricks in it. I told him swing, jive, Charleston, lindy hop... that sorta thing. Then said you look into it and we’ll talk (he isn’t the first to claim he wanted to take lessons, usually talk is as far as they get with it), well a week later we signed up for 12 weeks of basic beginner swing (which touches on all of the ones I mentioned above). It is awesome and I love it! Learning something new, but not feeling totally new to it thanks to my country dancing. Its great!
We’ve done 5 weeks so far and have learnt all sorta of steps- 6-count, 8-count, sushi roll, texas tommy, swing out, he goes, she goes, and so many more I can’t even begin to remember the names. I’m learning the technical side of the footwork and having to remind myself that posture in swing is different from two-step, three-step, six-step, and country swing. I have to sit back and let others instruct me and I love it! I also love that the moves I’m learning can totally be moved into my country dancing one we’ve got a firmer grip on it. It’s increasing my repertoire while learning a new style. Love it!
Just wanted to share. I feel like sometimes I forget to share the light and bright in life unless it’s in a quick recap so figured I’d throw one out there!
Rock step, one two three, step step, one two three... Oh how I love to dance!
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Curtains and Mirrors
As the page turns and we step into the new year, I find myself predictably contemplative of the year past and of the year to come. As I sit here, killing time before leaving to catch a movie with a couple friends, I find myself alternating between reflecting on 2011 and wondering about 2012.
When I look back at the year as a whole, as I gaze into the mirror of my past year, how do I feel about it? Was it what I expected? What I wanted? Am I happy about how it went? Or do I find myself dissatisfied with it?
When I look into the year to come, peeking around the curtain of what is to come, I wonder not what my new years resolutions might be- I have long ago learnt that making some goal simply because a particular day of the year demands it is not sufficient for me in setting a goal that I will reach- but I wonder more simply than that. I wonder what will happen. Where the Lord will take me. Where my feet will go. How the year will affect the rest of my life.
Again I suppose both sides of contemplation are expected when I am sitting at a computer on the first of January. It can’t be unusual, or I don’t think so, to reflect on a year gone by. So I figured, since I am killing time anyways, why not share my reflections, in brief.
So how do I feel about 2011. I suppose that is nearly equivalent to how do I feel about my life right now, but that's a moot point. Overall, I think 2011 was a fantastic year. I don’t think it was at all what I expected. I mean parts of it were of course, new nieces and nephews, finally got my piece of paper, still volunteer with the youth at church, got to know myself better- but much of it was unexpected.
-My faith and relationship with the Lord is stronger than it ever has been.
-I left the restaurant industry, had the most amazing summer working with the youth at my church, and now drive courier (slight shift in profession types).
-I got the diploma, but still have no idea what I want to do.
-I’ve been developing friendships that I did not expect, finally allowing myself to actually go around the wall I built when my best friend passed away unexpectedly.
-I moved out.
-I accepted and embraced reaching a quarter century.
It has been a phenomenal year to say the least.
Where does that leave me in looking into 2012? Well, hopefully 2012 means more answers than questions, but I suppose part of the human nature is that we will forever be asking questions, so even if I find the answers to the ones I am presently asking, new ones, bigger ones, will most certainly crop up. But again, moot point as there is nothing I can do to answer, or ask, the questions that do not yet have a part in my life. So questions for 2012?
- Will I continue to grow in my faith or will I hit the wall that so many Christians face. If I hit the wall, or realistically I should ask when, how will I respond? Will I reach out to others or attempt to do it alone?
- Will I learn to be a better friend? To allow the wall around my heart to finish crumbling and allow others in?
- Will I finally find the man that I am praying for, the man that I am waiting for, so that I can begin building the relationship that my future will stand on?
- Am I going to figure out what I am supposed to do with my life career wise? The Goals and the steps to reach them?
- Am I going to return, again, to school?
- If I don’t return to school, if I remain lost in what I want to do with my life job-wise/career wise, and I remain single, then will I find the money to travel again? Will I look into the work visa I have thought briefly about on multiple occasions and open doors for myself by not just switching cities but switching countries, exploring more of the world and learning more of its history while working towards building myself and my future.
- Will I keep dancing, or better yet will I be fortunate enough to improve- learning more moves and possibly different styles.
I could go on and on, the questions really don’t stop. But I think I will leave them at that and allow myself to stew on those for now as I can already feel the smoke coming out of my ears in wondering. It isn’t our place to know in advance, “for I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11), but we just can’t help wondering.
Overall? I am good where I am at. I am blessed with both the most amazing immediate family and a pretty spectacular extended family on both sides. I have friends that care about me through thick and thin, friends who are available for not only the serious but for the ridiculous and the spontaneous, for the fun and for joining me in grabbing life by the horns and going with it(I admit sometimes I forget I have these friends). I have the most unbelievable volunteer position with some fan-freaking-tastic youth who are more than a little weird but that's ok because that means I fit right in with them. I have a great place to live and a roommate who is patient with me. I have my health. I have a God that is never apart from me regardless of how far I might feel sometimes, how alone I might feel.
How can I not be good where I am at?
Happy New Years to all. God Bless you in the year to come. Here’s to 2012!
When I look back at the year as a whole, as I gaze into the mirror of my past year, how do I feel about it? Was it what I expected? What I wanted? Am I happy about how it went? Or do I find myself dissatisfied with it?
When I look into the year to come, peeking around the curtain of what is to come, I wonder not what my new years resolutions might be- I have long ago learnt that making some goal simply because a particular day of the year demands it is not sufficient for me in setting a goal that I will reach- but I wonder more simply than that. I wonder what will happen. Where the Lord will take me. Where my feet will go. How the year will affect the rest of my life.
Again I suppose both sides of contemplation are expected when I am sitting at a computer on the first of January. It can’t be unusual, or I don’t think so, to reflect on a year gone by. So I figured, since I am killing time anyways, why not share my reflections, in brief.
So how do I feel about 2011. I suppose that is nearly equivalent to how do I feel about my life right now, but that's a moot point. Overall, I think 2011 was a fantastic year. I don’t think it was at all what I expected. I mean parts of it were of course, new nieces and nephews, finally got my piece of paper, still volunteer with the youth at church, got to know myself better- but much of it was unexpected.
-My faith and relationship with the Lord is stronger than it ever has been.
-I left the restaurant industry, had the most amazing summer working with the youth at my church, and now drive courier (slight shift in profession types).
-I got the diploma, but still have no idea what I want to do.
-I’ve been developing friendships that I did not expect, finally allowing myself to actually go around the wall I built when my best friend passed away unexpectedly.
-I moved out.
-I accepted and embraced reaching a quarter century.
It has been a phenomenal year to say the least.
Where does that leave me in looking into 2012? Well, hopefully 2012 means more answers than questions, but I suppose part of the human nature is that we will forever be asking questions, so even if I find the answers to the ones I am presently asking, new ones, bigger ones, will most certainly crop up. But again, moot point as there is nothing I can do to answer, or ask, the questions that do not yet have a part in my life. So questions for 2012?
- Will I continue to grow in my faith or will I hit the wall that so many Christians face. If I hit the wall, or realistically I should ask when, how will I respond? Will I reach out to others or attempt to do it alone?
- Will I learn to be a better friend? To allow the wall around my heart to finish crumbling and allow others in?
- Will I finally find the man that I am praying for, the man that I am waiting for, so that I can begin building the relationship that my future will stand on?
- Am I going to figure out what I am supposed to do with my life career wise? The Goals and the steps to reach them?
- Am I going to return, again, to school?
- If I don’t return to school, if I remain lost in what I want to do with my life job-wise/career wise, and I remain single, then will I find the money to travel again? Will I look into the work visa I have thought briefly about on multiple occasions and open doors for myself by not just switching cities but switching countries, exploring more of the world and learning more of its history while working towards building myself and my future.
- Will I keep dancing, or better yet will I be fortunate enough to improve- learning more moves and possibly different styles.
I could go on and on, the questions really don’t stop. But I think I will leave them at that and allow myself to stew on those for now as I can already feel the smoke coming out of my ears in wondering. It isn’t our place to know in advance, “for I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11), but we just can’t help wondering.
Overall? I am good where I am at. I am blessed with both the most amazing immediate family and a pretty spectacular extended family on both sides. I have friends that care about me through thick and thin, friends who are available for not only the serious but for the ridiculous and the spontaneous, for the fun and for joining me in grabbing life by the horns and going with it(I admit sometimes I forget I have these friends). I have the most unbelievable volunteer position with some fan-freaking-tastic youth who are more than a little weird but that's ok because that means I fit right in with them. I have a great place to live and a roommate who is patient with me. I have my health. I have a God that is never apart from me regardless of how far I might feel sometimes, how alone I might feel.
How can I not be good where I am at?
Happy New Years to all. God Bless you in the year to come. Here’s to 2012!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
How My Summer Went (thru Report and Footnote)
Summer End Internship Position Report
There are times in our lives that we stumble into circumstances that are so beyond what we deserve. I feel that way about my summer at Bethel. I can honestly say that I think I just had the best summer of my life and for the first time in my life I feel like I have done a job that actually matters, that I have been challenged on a number of levels, that I have been blessed by the work I have done and more importantly, that I have been blessed by the youth that I’ve worked with.
During the summer, with the regular youth program on hiatus, Bethel runs a more casual summer program called the PLOT on Tuesday nights along with a couple of day trips and a wrap up night at the lake. My summer of working at Bethel has been a whirlwind of activity as I was in charge of the PLOT and included: planning events and activities; advertising for upcoming activities; bringing in volunteers and trying to arrange drivers; hyping the events with the youth; helping out with the sports camps; helping out with the church’s kids camp; setting up, running and cleaning up after the events and activities; and spending quality one on one time with the girls in the youth group.
Despite my initial uncertainty about working in a new field, it didn’t take long to realize that working with the youth through the church was not only something I could adapt to, but something I could excel in.
Summer End Bulletin Footnote
Well, you’ve been reading my bulletin announcements all summer long and it is time for me to sum it up and tell you how the summer with the youth went in 8 words or less. What a blessing this summer has been! There is a part of me that honestly believes I can leave it at that and enough has been said, but I do realize that in order for you to understand I am going to have to be a bit more succinct than that. So I will do my best.
This summer, I have had the opportunity to build relationships with children and youth from both the community and the church. From planning and running the Plot, organizing a couple of day outs and an overnight at the lake, helping out with the Basketball and Soccer camps, and assisting with Kids Camp, it has been a very busy summer!
As I’ve learnt many things this summer, personally, professionally, and spiritually, I don’t even know where to begin filling you in on them. I’ve learnt how to lead a group of youth through a devotion, I’ve now written and given two mini-message, I’ve learnt the value of working with people who constantly lift you up and appreciate you, I’ve learnt to make to-do lists and the importance of following them, and most importantly I’ve learnt that when you give the youth the opportunity to step up to the plate, they often will.
It has been amazing to watch the youth from Bethel help out with the camps this summer and their participation and assistance was both crucial and valuable to the success of these summer camps that we run as outreach to the community. Add the community youth who attended basketball or soccer camp and have since been out to the Plot either Tuesday nights or for a Thursday day out and consider how accepting they have been of new kids to the Plot and I have been so impressed with them and blessed by their willingness to help and their openness to accepting new youth.
After a phenomenal summer, I can honestly sit back and feel like I have been a part of something worthwhile, because having the chance to connect to the youth and remind them of the Lord’s consistent love for them is one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done. God Bless. See you next summer! =)
There are times in our lives that we stumble into circumstances that are so beyond what we deserve. I feel that way about my summer at Bethel. I can honestly say that I think I just had the best summer of my life and for the first time in my life I feel like I have done a job that actually matters, that I have been challenged on a number of levels, that I have been blessed by the work I have done and more importantly, that I have been blessed by the youth that I’ve worked with.
During the summer, with the regular youth program on hiatus, Bethel runs a more casual summer program called the PLOT on Tuesday nights along with a couple of day trips and a wrap up night at the lake. My summer of working at Bethel has been a whirlwind of activity as I was in charge of the PLOT and included: planning events and activities; advertising for upcoming activities; bringing in volunteers and trying to arrange drivers; hyping the events with the youth; helping out with the sports camps; helping out with the church’s kids camp; setting up, running and cleaning up after the events and activities; and spending quality one on one time with the girls in the youth group.
Despite my initial uncertainty about working in a new field, it didn’t take long to realize that working with the youth through the church was not only something I could adapt to, but something I could excel in.
Summer End Bulletin Footnote
Well, you’ve been reading my bulletin announcements all summer long and it is time for me to sum it up and tell you how the summer with the youth went in 8 words or less. What a blessing this summer has been! There is a part of me that honestly believes I can leave it at that and enough has been said, but I do realize that in order for you to understand I am going to have to be a bit more succinct than that. So I will do my best.
This summer, I have had the opportunity to build relationships with children and youth from both the community and the church. From planning and running the Plot, organizing a couple of day outs and an overnight at the lake, helping out with the Basketball and Soccer camps, and assisting with Kids Camp, it has been a very busy summer!
As I’ve learnt many things this summer, personally, professionally, and spiritually, I don’t even know where to begin filling you in on them. I’ve learnt how to lead a group of youth through a devotion, I’ve now written and given two mini-message, I’ve learnt the value of working with people who constantly lift you up and appreciate you, I’ve learnt to make to-do lists and the importance of following them, and most importantly I’ve learnt that when you give the youth the opportunity to step up to the plate, they often will.
It has been amazing to watch the youth from Bethel help out with the camps this summer and their participation and assistance was both crucial and valuable to the success of these summer camps that we run as outreach to the community. Add the community youth who attended basketball or soccer camp and have since been out to the Plot either Tuesday nights or for a Thursday day out and consider how accepting they have been of new kids to the Plot and I have been so impressed with them and blessed by their willingness to help and their openness to accepting new youth.
After a phenomenal summer, I can honestly sit back and feel like I have been a part of something worthwhile, because having the chance to connect to the youth and remind them of the Lord’s consistent love for them is one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done. God Bless. See you next summer! =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)