Summer

Wow, my summer has been all over the place. I expected to come back from the Middle East, go to Seattle for a week, and then be left at home the rest of the summer. I was afraid of being bored out of my mind because there's nothing to do in little Fortuna. But then came an incredible opportunity. I got to be a counselor at TLC (a Christian camp that I attended for many years) for two weeks!

I had the opportunity the first week to be with 8th and 9th graders. Whew, they were a challenge. I learned a lot about patience and dependence on God this week. BUT, praise the Lord, one of the girls came to know the Lord! It was sweet getting to talk to her throughout the week. She had packed up all of her things one morning, and she was convinced she was going to leave. When I saw this, I asked her if I could go on a walk with her. We walked and talked about life. (We have a lot in common because we are both still struggling with having divorced parents.) She then proceeded to tell me that she believed in God, and often brought her struggles to God, and she wanted Jesus to be her Savior. So she repented and asked God for forgiveness and for Him to control her life. Later that night, I started talking to her again, and, in the middle of the conversation, she started crying. But she was smiling. I asked what she was thinking about, and she told me that she knew things were different. She knew that life wasn't going to get any easier necessarily, but she also knew that she had this new hope that she never had before. PRAISE GOD! (P.S., she didn't end up going home early.)

The next week was very different because I was with 6th and 7th graders, and they were just cute as can be. They were so much fun, and I had much more patience. But it was sweet to interact with them. One girl in particular, who goes to my home church, really knows the Gospel. I can tell that she isn't someone who just knows all of the "facts", but she realizes the significance. For a 7th grader, that's pretty awesome. :) I know that she will continue to grow.

And then, the past few days have been kind of a whirlwind too. I saw my brother and Brittney down in San Jose, and that was a lot of fun. But then I got to see a friend who went to Ocean City with me last summer. He's from New Jersey and goes to school in Chicago, so I never expected to see him again, but I did! It was sweet, but definitely too short. :)

And that's all. Well, not really. But it's time to skype with Frances, so I better end this soon. :)

I'm a terrible blogger...

So, it has been brought to my attention that I'm a terrible blogger! I created this to blog while I was overseas... and I didn't. Oops! Well, I returned to the states on the 27th, and I got home last night.

I'm still experiencing a lot of culture shock. I never thought that a Tall tea at Starbucks would feel so big or that American food would seem so inferior to others. I am happy that I never have to pay to go to the restroom, and I have never been so happy to use a washing machine as I was today!

Anyways, my experience overseas was unbelievable. I don't think I can even begin to describe it well. Hopefully you got my update emails so I don't have to completely fill you in on all of the details. But basically... I think that God is calling me to go back in a couple of years, after I graduate. As of now, I have no idea what better way I could serve Him and be obedient to Him.

It was extremely hard to leave and come back to the U.S.. Mostly because I see such a need. There are so few people who have heard the Gospel there, and so few laborers. And it is such a long process for someone to become a believer there, so there's a need for long-time laborers. I really cannot see myself anywhere else. So... possibly more updates in a couple of years? You never know... :)