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.