I didn't expect to be traveling this summer. My plans were similar to that of any other single teacher with no kids--pool, books, gym, vacations, sleep. Lots of sleep. However, as discussed in my previous post, God likes to shake things up a bit. I'd served with this ministry before, in college and right after, so when a need arose they called me to see if I could fill the position. I literally got one day of "summer break" before I hurriedly packed my bags and got on a plane to Birmingham.
It's been amazing. While it is exhausting and most of the time I really miss the 20 year-old body that I had when I used to work camp, I'm getting some incredible opportunities for growth, ministry, fellowship and worship.
A few nights ago at our camp in Ohio, I was sitting in a pew comfortably, listening to a sermon about God using us. I (somewhat smugly) sat there, content that I had found God's call on my life as a teacher. A few seconds later, however, God kinda tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Hey. Have you noticed I keep bringing you back to camp? Has it occurred to you that a lot of the ministry opportunities I've given you involve jr. high and high school students? You wanna take a second and work through that with me?"
This wasn't an earth-shattering, Damascus road, booming voice from the heavens kind of moment. It was a still, small voice that started piecing together the burden I've been feeling throughout this entire camp experience. I so wish that the rest of my team could step into the halls of high school for two years, sit behind a desk, attempt to teach teenagers that are being bombarded by the world, listen as they cry, comfort them as they hurt. I think it would radically change the way they're experiencing this ministry. My experience in public school has taught me one thing:
Our education system isn't broken, our people are.
We cannot fix what's happening in schools. These students, teachers, administrators, and parents need Jesus. Plain and simple. I've been so very burdened for the salvation of these students, because I know what they're going home to. And if they aren't, their peers are. I want to just shake each of them and explain to them that no amount of popularity, scholarships, achievements or friends will heal the hurt they're feeling on a daily basis. That peace comes from one place, and one place only. And for those that are already believers, I want to create the urgency within them to bring their friends to Christ.
But during the year as a teacher, my conversations can't be that direct. So pray with me for open doors, opportunities for conversation, and the ability to speak within my position for the Lord. Also, I'm not certain that my ministry will always be as a teacher. At the very least, I know that I have two months off a year that I can use to reach students from somewhere other than behind a desk. I don't think this means traveling on a camp team--I'm already way too old for this. But in some capacity, I want to use my time "off" to live out the calling He's given me. Pray with me, if you would, as I work through this.
The summation of that evening was an amazing time of worship. As we sang "The Lord will reign forever and ever" I couldn't help but think that those words had been shouted and sung by so many before me. In that moment, I suddenly felt the praises of Eve, who was cared for despite her rebellion against the Lord; of Sarah, who found herself with child after years of longing; of Ruth, whose kinsman-redeemer painted the picture of Christ; of Esther, who stood for her people; of Gomer, who was pursued over and over, even as she ran; of Mary, trusted with the great responsibility of bringing the Savior into the world. As I imagined what it must've meant for each of them to sing those words, the desire to live a great story for the Lord was overwhelming--whether that story takes place behind a teacher's desk, or in some way I can't even imagine at this point.
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