It has been an interesting beginning to the start of the next chapter of my life. I spent the last semester of my college career reevaluating what it would look like for me to be an Interior Designer. I let God know I was up for where ever He wanted to take me. It turned out He was not finished with me living here in Warrensburg.
I started my internship at the Christian Campus House on July 5th. I took over the basement floor with projects getting CCH ready for returning students. No one project could get down without many steps so while a painting was drying I would start another one. I surprised myself a few times with how good a project turned out.
There was a week or so when I was the only one in the office this summer. This was a tremendous learning experience. I discovered that when I feel overwhelmed I need to stop and take each situation separately and work through it. I am so glad I learned this during the summer and not after school had started.
I was thankful when the whole staff was back and students started returning. Our leadership team this year is amazing! This includes the 5 staff members, 5 student interns, and 10 community group leaders. To learn more about them here. Before the school year started the leadership team went to the National Student Conference. It was a chance for us to grow closer as a team and become stronger leaders. Tim Sutherland was the main speaker. He spoke about the story of everything. He had great things to say every night but the thing that stood out to me the most was how vulnerable he was towards us. Speaking to 300 people he not only told us about hard times in his life, his son leaving for college and his wife leaving him, but he shared with us how he felt in those situations. There are very few people I can be that honest with and through Tim doing so God presented it as a challenge to me. Maybe not to speak to 300 people, but to be more open to share my life with others. That is one of the reasons I started this blog.
One of my fears of coming on staff the summer after I graduated was that the students, my friends, would still see me as such and not respect my authority. I have had not one instance of that happening yet. When we got back from NSC the leadership team had two days to prepare for students arrival. Brad and I had a list of everything that needed to get done. Once someone was done with the task they were assigned they would come asking for more to do. When we were setting up for the Week of Welcome activities, a student intern was in charge of each night, they came and asked me what needs to get done or how does it need to be set up. It brings me joy to see their servant hearts.
Also at NSC I went to the women in ministry luncheon. It was encouraging to see and hear from the other women in ministry. One woman spoke about whether you are single or married you need to find time for yourself outside of the ministry. I thought since I am single I can focus everything on the ministry. But I understand her point and I am still in the process of figuring out what that looks like for me. I came to the conclusion; this is going to be the hardest year of my life thus far. A few days ago God reminded me of the girl I was when I first came to college compared to who I am today. After this year, of who know what crazy things God is going to do, I am going to be changed and it will be good.
