Wow, so this past week has easily been one of the hardest, most challenging, and tear-filled weeks at Link for me. But even through it all, God has brought a lot of good out of it, and I mean that in the most non-cliché way possible. This is not senseless optimism speaking, I had to look and look hard to find the good but I found it, and in the good, I found learning opportunities and grace. Wow, So much grace. What I have seen and experienced is already so overwhelming and I don’t even know or comprehend half of it I bet.
But as this rough week draws to a close, God blessed me with the most amazing day. Today was just what my heart needed. This morning, Joe White came and spoke to us on having a heart of scripture and how that makes you a better leader. He was impeccable and honest and real as always. Then this afternoon, as one of our projects for ‘Link Year Gives Back,’ a small group of us went out to Reed Springs and helped out a kamp mom around her house because she had recently been in an accident. She has two amazing, beautiful, and hilarious daughters, ages 6 and 9. When we got there, the youngest was playing wii and there was an extra remote so I said I’d play with her if she wanted me to. So we started to play Mario Kart (better than NFS any day), and the rest of our group got to work around the house and property. We played wii, petted and fed the horses, jumped on the trampoline, played on the playground, and we talked the whole time. I got to hang out with her for about three hours and I don’t know if I brightened her day, but getting to be around that kind of joy touched my heart and I don’t think she or her mom will ever know just how much today meant to me. I was apprehensive about going out and doing this project at first, but in the end I just realize how God gives us just what we need exactly when we need it. He knew how broken and just sad I was, so he put me somewhere where I was surrounded by the most contagious joy possible, and where I just felt his presence so strongly. Getting to feed graham crackers to a bunch of ponies seriously just made my day. And a lot of this may seem so silly or small to a lot of people, but sometimes the Lord blesses people in HUGE ways through the smallest things.
Then my day just got even better when a group of about 20 of us went Christmas Caroling around to different staff member’s houses. It was just fun and not only were we fellowshipping and spending time in community, we were getting to show our appreciation to the staff in this small way. I know the whole class is so thankful for everything that the staff does for us, but I know we take them for granted and underestimate what they’re really doing for us. I am so thankful for all the time they sacrifice for us, how they pour into us, teach us, encourage us, discipline us, and just love us in every way. Link Year is a one of a kind program with a stellar one of a kind staff. It simply wouldn’t be the same without them.
So ultimately, even in the roughest week of my life, God showed himself in a lot of unexpected ways. Let that be encouraging to you, whatever you may be going through. God may not be or probably isn’t where you are expecting Him. He could show up anywhere. For me, he showed up in a service project where I got to serve by hanging out with a precious 6 year old for three hours. He’s unpredictable and surprising in the best possible way.
But as this rough week draws to a close, God blessed me with the most amazing day. Today was just what my heart needed. This morning, Joe White came and spoke to us on having a heart of scripture and how that makes you a better leader. He was impeccable and honest and real as always. Then this afternoon, as one of our projects for ‘Link Year Gives Back,’ a small group of us went out to Reed Springs and helped out a kamp mom around her house because she had recently been in an accident. She has two amazing, beautiful, and hilarious daughters, ages 6 and 9. When we got there, the youngest was playing wii and there was an extra remote so I said I’d play with her if she wanted me to. So we started to play Mario Kart (better than NFS any day), and the rest of our group got to work around the house and property. We played wii, petted and fed the horses, jumped on the trampoline, played on the playground, and we talked the whole time. I got to hang out with her for about three hours and I don’t know if I brightened her day, but getting to be around that kind of joy touched my heart and I don’t think she or her mom will ever know just how much today meant to me. I was apprehensive about going out and doing this project at first, but in the end I just realize how God gives us just what we need exactly when we need it. He knew how broken and just sad I was, so he put me somewhere where I was surrounded by the most contagious joy possible, and where I just felt his presence so strongly. Getting to feed graham crackers to a bunch of ponies seriously just made my day. And a lot of this may seem so silly or small to a lot of people, but sometimes the Lord blesses people in HUGE ways through the smallest things.
Then my day just got even better when a group of about 20 of us went Christmas Caroling around to different staff member’s houses. It was just fun and not only were we fellowshipping and spending time in community, we were getting to show our appreciation to the staff in this small way. I know the whole class is so thankful for everything that the staff does for us, but I know we take them for granted and underestimate what they’re really doing for us. I am so thankful for all the time they sacrifice for us, how they pour into us, teach us, encourage us, discipline us, and just love us in every way. Link Year is a one of a kind program with a stellar one of a kind staff. It simply wouldn’t be the same without them.
So ultimately, even in the roughest week of my life, God showed himself in a lot of unexpected ways. Let that be encouraging to you, whatever you may be going through. God may not be or probably isn’t where you are expecting Him. He could show up anywhere. For me, he showed up in a service project where I got to serve by hanging out with a precious 6 year old for three hours. He’s unpredictable and surprising in the best possible way.