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| The Painter of the skies loves me and is so very patient. I am grateful and humbled to be called His own. |
So, I am going to follow tradition and apologize for not writing in so long. I'm not sure, but it feels like it's been about five hundred years since I wrote during Family camp. Okay, five hundred may be a slight exaggeration...
Since that time, I have finished those four weeks at Family Camp, survived (and enjoyed) four-ish weeks of Staff Training, completed one 15-day Summit in Knoxcille, TN and most of a 15-day here in Princeton, IN. All of that from July, 11th to October 10th.
3 months.
When I put it that way it doesn't seem like so much, but if I am brutally honest, it feels like years and then - when I think about the year ahead - it seems as though I will never get to go home. I've been homesick before but this seems to take the cake. I'm not doubting that this is where I'm supposed to be right now, but I am struggling to focus and find my heart - God's heart - for these people. I've been a little better this last week, though, and I think it's because I finally asked God to help me be focused and to look at the "now" and stop fretting about what's ahead.
Why do I wait to call on God? He's always here, He's always waiting and loving and patient and powerful. Why do I wait until I've tried to do it my way and then call on Him as a last resort? It seems so foolish and self-destructive, yet I do it continually. God is gracious, though, and I'm learning.
Actually, I feel as though I'm always re-learning that same lesson, and many others. I'm so glad God gently catches my attention and says, "okay, let's try this again." I want to learn to extend that same grace to those around me.
So, I asked for His help and He gave it. The last week I have been encouraged directly and indirectly with the many ways God is using my team to bring Him glory.
~A 7 1/2 year old boy was too scared to come into Base Camp (where I teach) and hid in the corner the first day. Eventually, he had to be taken to his mom. The next day, they tried again. When he came to sign in, his parents returned a filled-in prayer card for him. Usually, the parents fill out prayer requests but this time the Base Camper had told them what he needed. He said "pray that I won't be afraid to come to Base Camp" and several other requests. We've been praying and he's come nearly every day. He comes to the sign-in table smiling and then runs up the stairs to Base Camp. He sits on the front row, participates, memorizes verses and says them to a teacher and has no more fear.
~Another Base Camp kid (10 year old girl) came to me with a radiant smile on her face and told me that she had finally cleared her conscience about something that had happened over two years ago.
~4 church members admitted they were lost and finally, truly, professed Christ as their Savior and Lord.
I could go on, and I'm sure there are many stories from these wonderful people that I have not heard. The point is: God is working. I can either sit back and bemoan my homesick heart and be useless- or I can dive right in and humbly ask God to work in me and through me.
So that's where I am. Please continue to pray for me and for my team. There is a lot of sickness going around and our schedule is very full. We need energy and continued focus and passion.
Thank you all for your love and encouragement! I come home November 23rd and I look forward to seeing many of you the Sunday after Thanksgiving (also known as the day after my birthday!) if not before.
Love much,
Anna
