A Community of Hope

As I reflect on my time with summer away from Taylor and the friendships I've come to cherish so deeply, I am struck now by how much I longed for these relationships and this type of community when I was not immersed in it. I was blessed with a church family that showered me with love and hot food and intentional care, and I still praise God for these people regularly. He provided me with exactly what I needed to make it through my summer--sustaining me weekly with overflowing joy and love each Sunday at church. However, as the weeks drew to a close and Saturdays dragged on, I felt the emptiness and loneliness of where I was at. My relationships with my roommates never came close to the friendships I've come to know from friends in high school and especially at Taylor. I would crave community with other believers in a way I couldn't express until I returned to it.

As I have been back at school now, I recognize the life-sustaining power of the Holy Spirit that is alive on Taylor's campus. He is vibrantly at work among relationships between students and faculty and the community around us. Having been so distinctly separated from this type of community for a length of time, I feel more in tune with the life that taking place around me. 

I see the Lord through the sisters on my former floor as they selflessly welcome in a host of new students and yet still intentionally pursue relationships with those of us who have left the floor for a variety of reasons.

I see the Lord through my supervisor and the director of the First Year Experience program who desires to help new students make a smooth and healthy transition to Taylor in mind, body, and spirit.

I see the Lord through my fellow cabinet members as they lead the student leaders under their care with diligence and love, seeking to encourage and uplift as well as challenge each one to be the very best leader he or she is capable of being.

I see the Lord through all-campus worship and communion when the student body gathers together and lifts up one voice in praise of our King who reigns on high. The freedom and new life that is experience in corporate worship cannot be explained but must be experienced.

I see the Lord through the sophomore girl who approached me during my quiet time today, prophesied over me, and asked if she could pray over me because she felt the Lord calling her to do so. I am thankful for her heart that is listening and willing to follow the Lord's call.

This community at Taylor is filled with countless examples of the Lord's faithfulness and presence in this place. I believe that there is so much that will take place in the Name of the Lord here this year that will further His kingdom, and I am so privileged to be a part of this community as it occurs. To live like this requires work on all of our parts, and I am thankful that as I choose to work, so do so many others. The Body of Christ grows and operates as we all do our part, and I eagerly anticipate discovering what role the Lord will have me play in fostering this community of hope at Taylor University.

"One Body, Many Parts"

Allow me to apologize for being absent in updating you all about my time here in Georgia over the past month or so. As I've had the opportunity to dive further into my role here at Hephzibah Ministries and the local community, I've found my time and energy consumed by many other people and activities. While most all of these opportunities have been amazing learning experiences, it would be dishonest of me to say that I'm not looking forward to this time coming to an end. I'm tired to the depth of my being and feel very fully that the Lord has prepared a place for me back at school that I need to respond to. This summer was from the Lord in every way, and I have so many stories that I would love to share with anyone who is interested in listening when I return home and then back to campus in a few short weeks. Until then, I hope I can satisfy some curiosity through this post.

In previous posts throughout the summer, I've mentioned that one of the biggest blessings the Lord provided to me this summer was the church family I connected with on my first full day in Macon. This small community of believers has lived out what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12 when he teaches on the Body of Christ and the many members each playing a unique and necessary part. As I said goodbye to these devoted prayer warriors today, I reminisce on the lessons they have taught me through their love and actions this summer.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. SO it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greek, slaves or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink"

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

As most churches do in the summer, Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church hosted Vacation Bible School in mid-July for their own youth as well as any community youth who wanted to attend. This was an outreach ministry for the church, so, if I'm not mistaken, there was no registration fee per child. Because VBS was held in the evenings, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the church and meet many more genuine individuals with hearts that follow the Lord. As I watched, these individuals ranged from teenagers leading groups of children from activity to activity, to middle-aged adults who led worship and got the children excited at the beginning of each evening, to men and women with cerebral palsy who helped sing songs and pass out door prizes each evening, to the older generation who came each evening to observe and pray for the festivities that were taking place. Every skill and gift that the Lord had placed in the church was being used, and each person left that week feeling that they had made a difference for His Kingdom.

Perhaps my favorite part of the week was the final evening when we had a family celebration. All the children could invite any family and friends they desired to come participate in a brief worship service, dinner, and a releasing of balloons to mimic the paper lanterns that are released in Thailand and other East Asian nations. Attached to the string of each balloon were prayer cards with the name and address of the church so that wherever the balloons landed and were picked up, that individual might know that he is welcomed in this community. Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight? This beautiful surrender of God's love to share it with others by the hearts and hands of children...

"And he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like the little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.'"

Matthew 18:3-5

I suppose you could say that my job description is to welcome these little children as Jesus did. I spend approximately 40 hours a week with little people ages 0-2 years who are filled with endless amounts of drool, need frequent diaper changes even when it feels like I just changed them, think that hitting/scratching/biting/kicking is an acceptable way of releasing their frustration on their friends (or on me), and are generally just sticky and loud all the time. But these little people are also filled with as many hugs as I could ever need to make it through the day. They have smiles and giggles that could melt even the hardest hearts, and they find joy in the smallest things--a sticker, peek-a-boo, fingerpainting, etc. And have you ever rocked a child to sleep every day singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Amazing Grace" knowing that you are whispering the Truth of Heaven to them as they drift off to sleep? I get to do that four times a day until all the children are asleep. 

This summer I've watched a little girl grow from a 6-month old who could sit up on her own to a 8-month old who is crawling at super-speed and pulling herself up to standing every chance she gets.

This summer I've watched a little boy go from being anxious and scared every time mom dropped him off to being full of joy and smiles when he gets to play and explore and learn with us.

This summer I've watched a little girl develop her language from one- and two-word requests to overflowing sentences that never cease as she learns more and more.

My job doesn't only allow me to work with these children though. I've also had opportunities to work with their young moms and help them learn how to best play with and take care of their children. These moms range from 14-20 years old, and most of them just started back to high school this past week. Having not been in their shoes, I cannot fathom going to school all day, sitting in class and dealing with the stressors that come with being a teenager, then coming home and raising a child. Yet these young women are doing that, and most of them are doing it beautifully. I'm encouraged for the futures of these children and their mothers as they all continue to work hard and (I pray) follow the rules so they can stay united when they leave this place down the road.

Not every part of my job is easy, however. This summer, there have only been three of us working in the Early Childhood and Parenting Center at any given point. While all the necessary ratios of adults to children have been met adequately through this, we are exhausted. Children are endless fountains of energy, and my fountain has begun to run dry after 9 weeks of pouring out into these little ones and their mothers who need so desperately to know that they are loved. Some of our moms forget that the reason they are here at Hephzibah is the hope that they can gain custody of their children, and their negative attitudes are draining and contagious to everyone around them. I have to admit, on days when I'm already tired and a little bit cranky, I don't want to love these young women. I want to yell at them and ask them if they realize they're ruining their future with their child. Other moments, our toddlers through fits that last seemingly forever, and I want to shake them and say, "Just quit it and take this toy I'm giving you and be happy!"

It is in these moments that I know the Lord has spoken through my mouth and has taken over my hands. His way is higher than my way, and He has spoken gentle words to our moms in these moments. He has used funny faces and warm hugs rather than words of anger and hands of rage to calm the crying child. As I think back on the many, many times this summer that my patience ran thin and somehow I still made it though the day and week, I can only praise God for remaining with me in these moments. I made a point to daily spend time in His word and in prayer to restore my spirit this summer--something I have never been able to do consistently in the past. Yet this summer, it came naturally. The Lord knew that now, more than ever, I would need His help to make it through every moment, so He provided the means.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take you stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand...Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Ephesians 6:10-13, 19-20

I have just one week left here in Macon before I head back home and then on to begin my senior year of college. The Lord has put a large space in my heart for the people in Macon and the work He has started here. I am deeply saddened to leave for these reasons, but I know that He has prepared a place for me at school that I must fill until my time there is complete. I ask for your prayers as I finish my work here, that I may finish with the same goal I had when I started: fully surrendered to the Lord's will. It is easy for me to mentally be done here and think about what is next, but I have work to finish here first. Thank you for your support and prayer as I have spent time here. It has strengthened me and encouraged me every step of the way.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin the so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

Crisis: Creating Opportunity From Danger

"So, if you could have your ideal job after graduation, what would that be?

If you ask me what I want to do in my future, I'll likely tell you that I'm not quite sure yet but I know I want to work with vulnerable children and youth particularly those in-crisis. Don't get me wrong: I know this is the vaguest answer I could possibly give you while still kind of answering your question. The truth is, I really don't know what it is I want to do.

I've been toying around with a lot of ideas lately for after graduation plans (if you're reading this, Mom, don't worry, I haven't decided anything yet). I've considered graduate school to pursue Early Childhood Education or perhaps Special Education. Some programs even offer a combination of the two. I've considered taking a year off and traveling and serving with a program such as the World Race or the Peace Corps. I've considered the more traditional idea of finding a job and settling down and working before going back to school if that's what I decide in the end.

Basically, I don't know what I want to do yet.

But I do know that the Lord has placed a very special people group on my heart to be served regardless of where and how I end up doing that. The large population of youth facing crisis situations seems to only be growing in our country today be it the loss of parents/family to illness or death, be it getting in trouble with the law, be it young women getting pregnant as teenagers and opting to raise their children, be it a child born with a developmental disability and no one to advocate for him--these are all youth facing crisis.

I want to help them all.

I had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of the children's home I am serving with this summer and in the midst of our conversation, we came to the topic of crisis. It had nothing to do with a conversation on my future career path, but I couldn't help putting the two ideas together as they fit so perfectly. He was explaining that the Chinese symbol for "crisis" is actually two other Chinese symbols combined together to create a new symbol. These symbols are "danger" and "opportunity."

He doesn't actually know Chinese, and I can't say that I do either to validate this assertion, but Google seemed to do so for us...

Regardless of whether or not the Chinese intended to provide this beautiful illustration, I find hope in the idea of crisis from their symbol. To recognize that every crisis holds a sense of danger is true. Be it a crisis of belief or a crisis that these children I desire to work with are facing, there is danger in the immediate moment as well as the unknown future that comes with it. The danger could be physical or it could be psychological. For many situations it is one or both of these and also a spiritual danger.

However, all crises provide great opportunities alongside the danger. There are opportunities to grow and move forward towards a healthy future, and there are opportunities to give up and allow the danger to overtake you. Opportunities, I believe, often feel like mini-crises in themselves.

As I seek out the Lord's Will for my future, I know that I am being asked to be an advocate for children and youth who have a plethora of opportunities ahead of them and no idea how to choose one let alone a healthy one. I desire to be a guide to protect from the physical, psychological and spiritual danger that come with crises. I seek to create healthy opportunities and provide children the means by which to follow these opportunities to fruition.

Like I said, I don't know what the future holds for me. It feels a bit like a crisis on some days. But I know that despite the danger of the unknown, there are countless opportunities for me as I trust in the Lord. He has a plan laid before me and will continue to show me the steps one at a time as I need to know them. For now, knowing that I am striving to remain in the center of His Will is where I want to me.

How can you seize opportunities from the danger in the crises that life throws your way?

(Bonus: story time for anyone who made it this far into the post! Minutes before posting this I had a ten-minute standoff with the world's largest spider in my apartment at 12:15am. Okay, so it was probably only three inches in diameter with its legs spread out, but it wasn't a daddy long legs, and it was blocking my path to my room while taunting me with too many legs and eyes. It's still alive somewhere, so stay tuned for the rest of the story. Hopefully, I'll reign victorious.)

Living and Learning the Great Commission

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" (Matthew 28: 18-20)

As I sit at Starbucks and reflect on my first two weeks serving the Lord and His children here at Hephzibah Children's Home, I am amazed at how quickly they have gone. I feel as though yesterday I was pulling onto the campus for the first time filled with a flood of mixed emotions, unsure what the Lord was calling me to for the summer. It's only been two weeks, but He has taught me so much about learning to trust Him, love His children with His heart and seeing them with His eyes, and experiencing the pain of goodbyes when the hello happened only a few days before. I am so grateful for the lessons He has been teaching me as I follow Him on this path He has laid out before me. I end each day exhausted from loving the youngest children and their teenage mothers who for various reasons have been removed from their homes and placed in this residential group facility. I fall into bed each night with the prayer on my lips for physical, emotional and spiritual rest so I can take on the day that is about the unfold before me. And God has been faithful.

Throughout all these lessons, the biggest lesson I have felt Him pounding into my ever so thick skull these past two weeks is that I am not the only one serving Him this summer. I am not the only person struggling to figure out where it is He is calling me to. I am not the only person who believes that the ministry I am doing is direly important because this is the Lord's work. 

Everything is the Lord's work.

When Jesus presented His disciples with the Great Commission, He did not present it to them with specific names, types of ministry or organizations in mind. He did not tell them to go to all nations but especially this area because it's more important. Jesus did not limit the scope or spectrum of His commission to His followers. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells the Apostles that they will be His "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

"...to the ends of the earth."

The Lord has reminded me this week in particular that though the work He has led me to here in Macon is important and is where He desires me to be at this time, it is not the only work He is in the business of doing right now, As I scroll through my social media feeds, I am quickly reminded that I have friends serving Him diligently around the world to places where He has called them. This summer alone I have friends serving, who will serve, or who recently served in the Chicago area, North Carolina, Virginia, Cambodia, Italy, Haiti, Indianapolis, Orlando, China, the Dominican Republic of Congo, Birmingham, Ecuador, and numerous other areas that I could continue to list. 

I am not alone in my efforts to serve the Lord.

I am grateful for the Lord's reminder that it is not up to me to do all the work. He has called and equipped all of His faithful followers to partner in the work that He is doing around the world. And each one of us is called to do something different which is a beautiful image of the Body of Christ. We are in various parts of the world, serving in many different fields of work, and the Lord has called each one of us to this particular work. As He has called, so He goes with us and remains faithful in helping us complete the good work He has set before us.

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:21-22)

Embodying Love

Having completed my first week as an intern with Hephzibah Children's Home, I have to say: I think I like it here. 

This week was filled with learning a lot of names, trying to get a handle on how life happens here on the campus where I'm living and working, figuring out what it means to live with two women I just met, and more. Through it all, I saw the Lord's hand working out the details and reminding me that I'm not walking through this journey alone. There have been moments in my life when I can't say His presence is clear to me, but this is not one of those times. Each time I find myself worrying, doubting or complaining, I feel the Father's comforting hand guiding me back so that my eyes are focused on Him once again. I know that if all else fails this summer, I am where He has called me to be.

This past Sunday I chose to visit a local church by myself as both my roommates happened to be out of town that morning. Walking through the doors of a new church alone is an intimidating feeling even as someone who has a commitment to walking with the Lord. I have new found respect for individuals who are searching for answers and enter into a foreign church on a Sunday morning. They are truly brave souls. This church opened their arms to me the moment I crossed the threshold into their facility. I had countless faces and names greet me and ask me to sit with them shaking my hand and giving it an extra squeeze to let me know that I was wanted in their church that morning. When the service was over and after another twenty minutes of talking with sweet women of the Lord, I promised them I'd return the following week, I have an invitation to join one woman at her home for lunch after the service and am invited to join a women's Bible study for the summer. This church family truly knows what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. I have no doubt I will build dear friendships with these prayer warriors while I am in Macon this summer.

On Monday morning, I had some paperwork and other formalities I needed to take care of before I could discover what my summer would look like in the Early Childhood and Parenting Program (ECP) working with teenage mothers and their children. As I was signing approximately 40-some sheets of paper, I was invited to join the weekly devotional and prayer meeting that is held every Monday morning and led by the Executive Director/COO of Hephzibah for any staff who would like to and is able to attend. This man who has an entire campus full of residents and staff to deal with took the time to meet me and invite me to join him and the other two interns in his office later that afternoon. When I met with them I discovered that he had assigned them a book to read about leadership. This meeting was the follow-up to discuss what they'd read and what he'd learned throughout his life. He then assigned us all another book to read in the coming month and scheduled another meeting. Before we left, he told us, "I am here to be an advocate for you." This man knows what it means to love the least of these, be it teenagers removed from their home with nowhere to live or unpaid interns working for him for a mere summer. 

As I think about these examples of tangible love in my life this week, I am reminded that the greatest commandment I have been given is to Love God and Love Others. My prayer this week is that as God uses me as He desires, I would learn to embody love as it is described in 1 Corinthians 13. I want to be someone who is patient, kind, not envious or boastful or proud. I want to be someone who honors others and seeks to serve them. I do not want to be easily angered or keep a record of wrongs. Instead, I want to rejoice in the truth, trusting, hoping, and persevering in faith that never ends. May I learn to be love to others as God is Love.

Beginnings and Endings Aren't Really So Different

(I can't imagine there are too many of you out there who actually frequent this blog on a regular basis, but if there are, I should begin by apologizing to you. It's been far too long since I've taken the time to sit down and share my thoughts and life with you, and as that is the main purpose of this blog, you have my apologies. Now, to the main event...)

Have you ever come to a point in your life where you've stepped into a new adventure? Maybe it's a new job, moving houses, moving states or even countries, advancing your education, or pursuing that dream that you set on the shelf years ago. Do you remember what it feels like? The whirlwind of emotions, both good and bad. Do you remember the confusion you felt? Asking if it was the right choice.

Well, I took the first step into a new adventure today. For the first time, I moved away from home for the summer, nine and half hours from home to be exact. This summer I've been given the immense opportunity to intern at Hephzibah Children's Home in Macon, Georgia and experience a glimpse of the future I feel the Lord calling me into. Words can't describe how grateful I am that I was chosen to partner with the individuals here at Hephzibah this summer and see the work the Lord is doing through them in the lives of teenagers in the heart of Macon. But like all new adventures, I've got some worries eating away at me as well.

I'm here, in my apartment for the summer, waiting. Waiting for a roommate to come home for the night. Waiting to meet my other roommate tomorrow. Waiting to find out what exactly I'll be doing this summer. Waiting to meet the residents I'll be working with. Waiting to see how the Lord is going to challenge me. Waiting to see if I'll be strong enough to take on the challenges He throws my way. Waiting.

I hate waiting.

Yet I am reminded in the Word that patience is valued by the Lord. Paul tells the church in Colossae in the third chapter of his letter to, "[p]ut on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12).

Right now, I am called to wait. As I put behind a school year that tested me in many ways and grew me in areas I was unaware I needed to grow in, I look ahead to a summer that I imagine will do the very same thing. The end to a hard year, though it was filled with beautiful friendships and the Father's great Love, brings me to the beginning of an unknown summer where friendships can carry over and the Father's Love is everlasting.

My prayer for this summer comes from the lyrics of Steve Fee:
"Take my life and let it be all for You and for Your glory.
  Take my life and let it be Yours."

If you think about me this summer, I ask you to pray those words alongside me. I think the Lord has great plans in store for me and for you as you read this. Let us allow ourselves to be used by Him for His Kingdom, for we serve a very great God!