So I have officially completed the first two weeks of a five week program called Baby Ruth at Pine Cove Christian Camps. The purpose of the program is to teach young women humility and service and to grow in your relationship with the Lord before your first year of college. I knew that I was getting into a program that would be the hardest five weeks of my life and I knew I would be cleaning a lot but still I did not know what I was getting into... I quickly learned that Spic ‘n Span would be an extension of my left arm and it is now flowing through my bloodstream from inhaling so much of it. I have also come to the realization that I will probably be able to clean my college dorm bathroom really well!!
The reason I love Pine Cove so much is because the Lord’s presence is just so present here. Everyone here wants to know Christ and wants to seek Him and His love is flowing through everyone. Even when I am so tired and don’t think I can pull one more weed or sweep one more porch I still somehow look back at the day and feel joyful and know that that is only because the Lord was with me and He always is with me. He provided the energy and the strength to keep going. Even when I think I am physically unable and I have no energy, its Christ in me that pushes me through. Yes, I am struggling with having a positive attitude while I’m cleaning sticky tape stuff off doors and that is something I need to work on but I know that doing all of this is teaching me how to serve without expecting anything in return. A lot of times I catch myself expecting something in return when I serve. Whether thats a simple thank you or they serve me in some way. How selfish!! The point of service is to let go of the pride that I have and take on Christ’s humility and give whatever is asked of me. Service is humility and humility is service.
The hardest part of this program has surprisingly been the bible studies. While I am so so excited about them and I am learning so much it is extremely intense and hard to be a part of. The challenge is that we have a lot of “homework” that must be completed before the next time we meet but theres not a lot of time to do that. So we have to find and make time. While we are sweeping we discuss the topic. At meals if we somehow have extra time we have learned to pull out our bibles and read over the passages we are looking at. Thankfully, we get two hours (one a day) to study as a group without interruptions but sometimes its not enough so we have to use the time we have in the day while doing other tasks to make sure we all agree about what we are studying. Something I was not expecting was that there’s no time for a quiet time. There is no allotted time for us to sit down for 20 minutes and it be just me and Jesus-journaling, reading, praying, worshipping, etc. It’s go go go and the only time we sit down and open the bible and learn from it in a leader-student setting is twice a week. We aren’t allowed to get up early to have our own quiet time and we have a certain time we have to be in bed with all power sources off and by the time we are ready for bed it’s that time. And so again, I have learned to make time and find time. While we are in the car for five minutes driving somewhere (I never know where or how long!) or I finish a meal early and I pull out my journal for a few minutes. While I wish I could get up earlier and have a quiet time, this is definitely preparing me for college. I know my schedule is going to be so busy in college and I will be so tired in the morning and not want to get up early. Now, I have learned the discipline of making time and I know what that phrase means! And I also understand the phrase it was the hardest and best five weeks of my life..
On top of that, I set a goal for myself in about early May to memorize the book of Colossians. Why? I have no idea. Something was tugging at me and it was constantly on my mind and the more I thought about it, I just realized that it was something that God was asking me to do. I always say I want the word to be living in me and I want it to be a part of me but I only have bits and pieces memorized. So having Colossians memorized is truly having the living word IN me. Your prayers for that would be much appreciated. I have memorized chapter one and four verses of chapter 2 so I have a lot to go!
I can feel myself changing but I’m not sure exactly how or what. I cannot wait to see what God has to teach me and I know He has a lot in store. I am exited to leave this place a renewed individual ready to admit struggles, failures, strengths, and joys to my closest friends and enjoy a closer fellowship with them, based on the love of Christ.
How good is His love, great is His grace, and deep is His mercy and perfect is His life.
Until next time,
Kel :)
