Looking for Love

So yesterday in my first Sociology class of the semester, we all had to go around and introduce ourselves to the class, talk about life goals, and list our extracurricular activities. My professor defined extracurricular activities as anything that would keep our focus away from the work in his class. As 30+ students went around listing the things that kept their attention, it was inherently obvious that I was the only one who listed anything that had to do with loving Jesus. 

Since being back at HPU, I really hadn't thought about Carolina Cross Connection all that much other than to tell people what an amazing summer I had had, but somehow, realizing that I was the only one in that classroom who had God in the forefront of her activities made me homesick. Homesick for these beautiful souls:

Homesick for the amazing family I made this summer that was so on fire for God that they were unashamed to jump around praising Him. Homesick for a group of college students who gave up their summers to be servants of God's word, and homesick for people who made me love Jesus more just because of their enthusiasm.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that some of these friends I've made are probably discovering the same things as they head back into school, and how that is just another way that God is able to connect us all. It also made me realize what a lucky girl I am to be able to get to know everyone of these people and watch them grow with me in faith. And finally, it made me realize that if just one of the people I meet on campus here who don't have that strong of a faith view me in the same way that I viewed my staff, just maybe they will want to bring God further into their lives. And maybe next semester, when a professor requires them to list their extracurriculars off to the class, loving Jesus will be at the forefront of their activities as well. 

So looking for God's love throughout this campus might be a little more difficult than it was at camp this summer, or maybe it will be just as easy, I'll just have to look in a different way. 

The Beginning of the End

I hate goodbyes. I always have. Usually I avoid goodbyes at all costs "see you later" makes me feel way better than "goodbye forever." Knowing this about myself, I knew I was going to have to rely deeply on God for my last week at CCC, and for all of the goodbyes that I would have to say to the people and places that I have grown to love. What I didn't expect, though, was God's nagging love, and his ability to give me just what I need. 


Some of my best friends at High Point University are on staff at different camps for CCC, and while we all talked about hanging out throughout the summer, life got in the way and we haven't managed to see each other. So yesterday, when I was invited to spend the night with both of them, I got so excited. Running around and laughing with them reminded me how much I love each of them, and how much I can't wait to be back at school. So this morning, as I say "see you later" to each of them, I smile knowing that God has given me something to look forward to after CCC. And when I say goodbye to my staff and my summer world as Carolina Cross Connection comes to an end, I know that somehow God will find a way to give me what I need and always let me carry this summer with me. 

Little Graces

I can't believe that the summer is halfway over! If you would have asked me in early June, I would have told you that 4 camp weeks sounded like the makings of the longest summer of my life. Now, between an amazing staff family and awesome campers, not to mention living through God 24/7, I feel like I blinked and lost half the summer. That's not to say I haven't had some amazing experiences throughout my weeks. 


This week, every time I felt tired or down, God would find another way to shock me back into his presence and make me realize why I'm spending my summer working so hard. On a particularly hot and tough day, some of my staff and I walked into Bojangles for lunch. Mary Alice told me to look in the corner because a couple that we were trying to work for but hadn't been able to find was sitting there eating. I turned around to see Roger and Ann Bentley, a sweet couple that I had worked for two years ago as a camper. Roger and Ann not only remembered me, but they remembered my name, and what I had done for them 2 years ago. They asked us to eat with them and talked to us all through lunch before we said our goodbyes. 


Later that day, Mary Alice and I went to go visit their home to schedule a time that we could work for them. Not only were they not there, but we didn't have the correct number to get in touch with them. Sort of jokingly, we talked about driving down 321 and looking for their car in fast food restaurants parking lots. I couldn't stop laughing as we drove past Taco Bell and saw their Jeep parked out front, or as we walked in and they called my name because they were so happy to see us. As I went by to visit them on the day that our campers came to work for them, we talked about the years past and how much Carolina Cross Connection has meant to them. I know God was smiling down as I realized how much these faithful people meant to me. 

Time Has Flown

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. Since then, I've found my new family:

met some amazing Week One Campers, and overall just had a blast living for and through God.
      I'm located at Camp Carolwood outside of Lenoir, North Carolina. I love the mountains and water, so living at a mountain camp with a stream running through it for the next 2 months is a dream come true. I love getting up every morning and being reminded of God's beauty just by looking out the window.
     My first camp week was better than I could have imagined. My staff and I grew closer, my campers were awesome, and I got to meet and work for some of the most Godly people I have ever gotten to talk to. I can't wait to head back up the mountain to see what else God has in store for me!

Faith

Faith
Faith is jumping into a pool not knowing how to swim
knowing someone will catch you.
Faith is love.
Faith is thriving in a world of chaos 
because you know there's something beautiful about it. 
Faith is freedom.
But the best part about faith?
Faith is mine. 




In my sacred experience class, we spent the semester trying to define religion, and I decided to try the same thing with faith. It was hard. On the bright side, I made a poem that sounds a little bit artsy.
 Faith is also what is allowing me and my wonderful coworkers and campers to give our time this summer to share God's love with North Carolina. I think participating in CCC is one of the best definitions of faith that I could come up with. To come together with complete strangers and attempt projects like building wheelchair ramps(which you might have never attempted) either means you're crazy, or you know God is going to use you for something beautiful. 


In the next few weeks building up to Carolina Cross Connection, my constant prayer is going to be for more faith; and on June 1st, I'll be ready to jump in knowing that God will catch me, and that I'll be able to find beauty in the craziness. 

New Beginnings

As I woke up this morning, I couldn't help but to be filled with the same excitement I've felt every morning since I found out that I'm going to get to be on staff at Carolina Cross Connection. Not only will I get to spend my summer serving others and hanging out with awesome people from all over the place, I will be spending my summer focusing on the most important thing in the world: being near to God. 

Since starting college last fall, I've faced many challenges dealing with being out on my own. The one that bothered me the most was my uncertainty of what the world held for me outside of my little town. I'm not sure exactly what I want to be, or where I want to be in my life, and even though I have a few years to decide, it's still scary. As I've grown closer to God, I've started to hear him saying "You are now, and will always be, my child." Not only am I less scared about my future, I'm excited to see what it holds: how I will grow in my relationship with God and others; how I will make my mark on the world; and how I will always be held and loved by God, and that's just beautiful to me. 

Besides, who needs to worry about the rest of my life, when I have the most amazing summer of my life coming up in just a few months!