This year has been a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. There have been so many highs traveling with my group through South East Asia, Africa and The Middle East. Just as well, there have been a great amount of lows...but what do you expect when you are traveling and living with the same people for nine months? The past four months were horribly incredible.
Since being back here at camp, I think most of us have come to a similar conclusion; we don't want to be here. This is not to say that we don't love camp Kivu or that we are not excited to see our families in just two days, because believe me, we do and we are. I think what I'm trying to say is that we don't want this year to end because we don't want the friendships to disappear or the memories to fade. I don't want to go back to a normal life doing the whole college thing and becoming a sorority girl. I don't want to live life with any other people than this family that I have right here. What a selfish way to think.
Read Luke 9: 28-36. It's the account of Jesus' transfiguration. Peter, John and James were with him on the mountain when it happened. It was such an incredible experience that Peter did not want to leave. In fact, he asked Jesus if they could build three shelters-one for Jesus and one each for Moses and Elijah who also appeared during the transfiguration. Up to that point, it was the coolest and most incredible thing Peter had experienced. And he just wanted to stay. But the Bible says "he did not know what he was saying". Had Peter stayed there, he would have missed out on the rest of his relationship with Jesus. He would have missed all the rest of Jesus teachings and miracles. And he would have missed out on the cross and the empty tomb. And there would have been no restoration on the beach. And Peter could not become "the rock upon which Jesus built his church". And Peter would have missed out on all of the ministry God allowed him to do after Jesus ascended to heaven. Today I am in a position very similar to Peter right now. At the end of a mountain top experience. And as near as that experience is, as much as God has revealed to me this year, at 20 years old, he has a lifetime planned for me. And like Peter, I can only experience the fullness of God by moving forward with him. I should not think of this summer as the next chapter in my life of just waiting around for something big to happen, for God to use me. I should not see the next four years of college as the waiting period either. This summer and the next four years ARE the next moments that God needs to use me.
These moments are incredibly bitter sweet as we say our goodbyes to our friends and the family that we have built here. I have realized though that God is ready to use what we have learned as we move back home and eventually to college; our next, separate, adventures.
These moments are incredibly bitter sweet as we say our goodbyes to our friends and the family that we have built here. I have realized though that God is ready to use what we have learned as we move back home and eventually to college; our next, separate, adventures.
