Okay so I did this huge internship - but how long will it last, you might ask?
Here is a life update on me...
Life is actually pretty good - I have definately had many challenges and struggles since I have been back... But none that I haven't been able to face and conquer with God on my side!
I felt like God was calling me away from leading a college life group - taking a backstage leadership roll in the college ministry at my church (IMPACT). I am praying for the leaders of IMPACT as well as trying to find ways to encourage them, and then teaching people about prayer through example.
Only leading one life group, I can pour all my focus into my middle schoolers now. I started off the year with 25 girls by myself. Definately a huge challenge, but one thing I learned this summer is that if I am intentional, I can make the most of it. God did bring a wonderful co-leader to me, Lisa! So we have split - it was rough at first because of the change... But we still do things with all the girls. In fact, I have been having them over almost every Saturday for Bible study (I have taken up writing devos - currently working on the book of John). We have also started a project where we are stuffing stockings for the homeless. I have let the girls take charge in this. Some who have not experienced LeaderTreks thought I was crazy but they have owned this project and I am excited to see over the next couple of weeks how this unfolds!
I am working at the same school as last year. I work with Kindergarden and 3rd grade. It has been challenging but I am trying to keep my attitude and heart in the right position - looking up to Jesus! I am trying to make an IMPACT on my co-workers as well as some of my students. It is hard, day to day though, I won't lie!
School has been actually farely easy going this semester. I am taking a proficiency exam this week, an interim class, and one class next semester. So I should be done with Hell's Community College in the Spring! And then off to St. Pete College to begin my teaching degree.
Trying to keep up with my Bible Study. It is hard, but it is so worth getting up early to spend time with God. He wants to spend time with us! He takes the time to listen attentively to us (how often do I listen attentively to Him?). His unconditional love is overwhelming at times. I am in awe of God! He has created so many wonderful things that we forget to look at each and every day: from a beautiful sunrise, to a blooming flower, to a starry night... Wow - God is truly amazing!
So yeah, that's me! I have taken the first part of my national interpreting test... I am waiting to take the performance portion... So yeah, that on top of everything else!
Love you guys!
Joy
Saturday, November 3, 2007
LT Intern Debriefing and Summary
So, yeah... To close out our summer all the interns went back to Chicago to hang out with all the LeaderTreks staff (except Greg who went and got married!) and talk about our experiences this summer.
I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity and to have gotten to know so many wonderful people! I feel like I know some of the interns better than I know some of my friends back home because we were so intentional about our relationships this summer. I look forward to these life long friendships and to see all the wonderful things that God is going to do in all of our lives!
Since I have been back, I have shared with many people my experiences and even talked with the youth workers at my church about things I have learned about working with students. Here are some of the top things that I though I would share!
Some things I learned about God this summer is that He truly loves us uncoditionally. I had never felt that so deeply loved by the people I worked with as well as by God. God loves me just the same as when I served Him this summer as when I was at my worst and running from Him. I also learned the power of prayer. At the beginning of the summer I discovered that God has given me the gift of believing. So I decided to put it into action and prayed for a specific request from each intern through out the week all summer. It was amazing to hear how God answered prayers in so many different ways. I am attempting to maintain that here at home as well. I have started a prayer team in our college ministry and are trying to get people to see prayer in a new light.
I think one of the biggest thing I learned about working with students is that we underestimate their power and capability. They can do so much but America doesn't let them! I also learned something the very last week with Angie. We asked each of the students who the most influential person in their life was and not one person said "their friend". They each said someone who challenged them to be more than they ever thought they could be. Looking back, I can say the same thing in my life. My middle school pastor, Russell Migl, believed in me no matter what. And that means the world to me. I want to be a person of influence in peoples' lives. I think one other thing I learned a lot about as well is the power of words with students. This generation doesn't hear encouragement enough. Sometimes, as youth workers we need to speak challenges and words of truth into their lives, but we also need to tell them how we see God working in them and using them. We can see things in them that they don't see sometimes. We need to build this generation up - it is beated down my the power's of this world. But it doesn't have to be that way!
I thank God for this experience. It has taught me a lot about myself, life, God, students, people... So many things - it is an internship well worth it!
Below is a video - a glimpse of what I experienced this summer. A picture says a thousand words, but this still doesn't do my summer justice!
Love to you all!
God's hands and feet,
Joy
LeaderTreks Video
I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity and to have gotten to know so many wonderful people! I feel like I know some of the interns better than I know some of my friends back home because we were so intentional about our relationships this summer. I look forward to these life long friendships and to see all the wonderful things that God is going to do in all of our lives!
Since I have been back, I have shared with many people my experiences and even talked with the youth workers at my church about things I have learned about working with students. Here are some of the top things that I though I would share!
Some things I learned about God this summer is that He truly loves us uncoditionally. I had never felt that so deeply loved by the people I worked with as well as by God. God loves me just the same as when I served Him this summer as when I was at my worst and running from Him. I also learned the power of prayer. At the beginning of the summer I discovered that God has given me the gift of believing. So I decided to put it into action and prayed for a specific request from each intern through out the week all summer. It was amazing to hear how God answered prayers in so many different ways. I am attempting to maintain that here at home as well. I have started a prayer team in our college ministry and are trying to get people to see prayer in a new light.
I think one of the biggest thing I learned about working with students is that we underestimate their power and capability. They can do so much but America doesn't let them! I also learned something the very last week with Angie. We asked each of the students who the most influential person in their life was and not one person said "their friend". They each said someone who challenged them to be more than they ever thought they could be. Looking back, I can say the same thing in my life. My middle school pastor, Russell Migl, believed in me no matter what. And that means the world to me. I want to be a person of influence in peoples' lives. I think one other thing I learned a lot about as well is the power of words with students. This generation doesn't hear encouragement enough. Sometimes, as youth workers we need to speak challenges and words of truth into their lives, but we also need to tell them how we see God working in them and using them. We can see things in them that they don't see sometimes. We need to build this generation up - it is beated down my the power's of this world. But it doesn't have to be that way!
I thank God for this experience. It has taught me a lot about myself, life, God, students, people... So many things - it is an internship well worth it!
Below is a video - a glimpse of what I experienced this summer. A picture says a thousand words, but this still doesn't do my summer justice!
Love to you all!
God's hands and feet,
Joy
LeaderTreks Video
Trip #8: Lakewood Baptist
Hi everyone! So I finally am sitting down to write about my last trip - I never intended for it to take me this long!
This was a different trip for me in that it was a new Bible study (Daniel) and Angie was my trip leader (I love you Angie!) and yeah, I kinda knew the run of things so I got to put a lot of input in this week...
It definately had it's challenges - the church had problems with their bus and didn't have transportation for Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday. That meant Angie drove everyone everywhere - it took atleast an hour to transport everyone from the church to the worksite to the VBS site and back to the church and bathroom breaks in between.
It was an awesome week though - I loved teaching this week! I learned so much about Daniel that I never knew before. And Sharack, Meshack, and Abednego were our age and stood against the crowd. Daniel was our age and stood against the crowd. Change requires someone to stand up and voice their opinion. Change never happened by sitting around and waiting for it.
It was so sad though at the end of the week... Saying good-bye to Donella and her family... And Jess and all the wonderful people at All Saint's that I got to know this summer. And Van Arrington who helped with our VBS. It was truly a summer I will always look back on with fond memories and I pray that next year I have done even greater things than that. I don't want that to be my high mountain top experience in life. I am 22 years old and the world is before me, I want it to be the base of a life full of adventure and exciting ways that God will use me in His kingdom.
Thanks to you all for all your prayers and support and encouragement this summer!
Joy
Lakewood Baptist
Working on the Front Deck
Donella and Her Daughter Sierra and Her Son Rahiem
Watermelon to Celebrate an Awesome Week and a BANK Summer
This was a different trip for me in that it was a new Bible study (Daniel) and Angie was my trip leader (I love you Angie!) and yeah, I kinda knew the run of things so I got to put a lot of input in this week...
It definately had it's challenges - the church had problems with their bus and didn't have transportation for Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday. That meant Angie drove everyone everywhere - it took atleast an hour to transport everyone from the church to the worksite to the VBS site and back to the church and bathroom breaks in between.
It was an awesome week though - I loved teaching this week! I learned so much about Daniel that I never knew before. And Sharack, Meshack, and Abednego were our age and stood against the crowd. Daniel was our age and stood against the crowd. Change requires someone to stand up and voice their opinion. Change never happened by sitting around and waiting for it.
It was so sad though at the end of the week... Saying good-bye to Donella and her family... And Jess and all the wonderful people at All Saint's that I got to know this summer. And Van Arrington who helped with our VBS. It was truly a summer I will always look back on with fond memories and I pray that next year I have done even greater things than that. I don't want that to be my high mountain top experience in life. I am 22 years old and the world is before me, I want it to be the base of a life full of adventure and exciting ways that God will use me in His kingdom.
Thanks to you all for all your prayers and support and encouragement this summer!
Joy
Lakewood Baptist
Working on the Front Deck
Donella and Her Daughter Sierra and Her Son Rahiem
Watermelon to Celebrate an Awesome Week and a BANK Summer
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