The fire is still going outside. Several are still gathered around it. My day started at 9am with a group of volunteers ready to help someone load up a truck and move to another house to unload. I had 6th graders to college youth to parents all working together to get the job done. It took awhile to load it this morning. But, it seemed like it only took about 15 minutes to unload it all. Seeing such awesome teamwork from everyone was really cool. It made the job much more enjoyable.
We got back to the church just in time for the big party! I've been looking forward to this one for awhile. And, I was not alone. Although several had last minute obligations and couldn't make it at 1, they came as soon as they could. We colored, played with play doh, blew bubbles, and basically did everything we remembered from kindergarten. I wanted to surprise them so I asked a friend to come for storytime. She read four stories and I loved watching my college youth sit there mesmerized by listening to children's stories! I enjoyed it as much as they did. I can't remember the last time I was read to!
Later in the evening, we moved to my house for a bonfire, complete with hot dogs and s'mores. This group of youth, my group when I first started, is now all moving on. I have loved watching them grow and learn, and get closer. They really don't care what they're doing as long as they are together. And, the friendships they have formed is something I have been blessed to watch. And, although I love all of my youth, there is something about my first group that I will always treasure. I learned as much, if not more, from them as they learned from me. They opened up to me and let me enter into their world, opening up doors for me for all of the youth since them. Once they let me in, it's been easy for all of the future youth to just accept me as the leader since they are the new ones. But, in the beginning of my journey, it was I who was breaking into their territory. And, now, I'm watching as they are moving on but still connecting with home. It's exciting to watch them continue on their journey and see what God has planned for them! But, it's also fun to see that they still aren't ready to abandon their childhood just yet, that they sometimes cling to the innocence of youth, that they sometimes just want to be simple and happy together.
So, where was God today? He was in the teamwork this morning that helped us get done just in time to enjoy this afternoon and evening. He was in the simple joy of the day that gave us peace and happiness from the little things. And, He was in the hearts of my college youth when they welcomed me in a few years ago and let me begin my journey in the amazing world of youth ministry!
Blessings,
Jennifer
We got back to the church just in time for the big party! I've been looking forward to this one for awhile. And, I was not alone. Although several had last minute obligations and couldn't make it at 1, they came as soon as they could. We colored, played with play doh, blew bubbles, and basically did everything we remembered from kindergarten. I wanted to surprise them so I asked a friend to come for storytime. She read four stories and I loved watching my college youth sit there mesmerized by listening to children's stories! I enjoyed it as much as they did. I can't remember the last time I was read to!
Later in the evening, we moved to my house for a bonfire, complete with hot dogs and s'mores. This group of youth, my group when I first started, is now all moving on. I have loved watching them grow and learn, and get closer. They really don't care what they're doing as long as they are together. And, the friendships they have formed is something I have been blessed to watch. And, although I love all of my youth, there is something about my first group that I will always treasure. I learned as much, if not more, from them as they learned from me. They opened up to me and let me enter into their world, opening up doors for me for all of the youth since them. Once they let me in, it's been easy for all of the future youth to just accept me as the leader since they are the new ones. But, in the beginning of my journey, it was I who was breaking into their territory. And, now, I'm watching as they are moving on but still connecting with home. It's exciting to watch them continue on their journey and see what God has planned for them! But, it's also fun to see that they still aren't ready to abandon their childhood just yet, that they sometimes cling to the innocence of youth, that they sometimes just want to be simple and happy together.
So, where was God today? He was in the teamwork this morning that helped us get done just in time to enjoy this afternoon and evening. He was in the simple joy of the day that gave us peace and happiness from the little things. And, He was in the hearts of my college youth when they welcomed me in a few years ago and let me begin my journey in the amazing world of youth ministry!
Blessings,
Jennifer
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