Pennsylvania:
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Dressed up for the end of the year dinner |
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Outside Independence Hall |
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Greeting Students on closing day |
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Trying authentic Philly Cheesesteaks at the original location in downtown Philadelphia |
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Why not try pistachio gelato with your friend? :) |
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And yes, we visited the Liberty Bell |
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Phillies game with happy people |
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Gluten free banana bread that a former staffer made especially for me when she learned about my allergies. She also made me an entire tray of gluten free brownies. |
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More memories at the baseball game |
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Ladies T-time at a local ice cream shop |
And there it went, such a beautiful summer flooded with examples of my sovereign Lord working in epic ways. If I could use a quote to describe what I experienced this summer, it would be from A.W. Tozer when he said, "How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none." In my various roles this summer, whether as a small group leader or as a program coordinator, I often found myself absolutely deficient. Immediately my reaction was to blame myself for "failure". But then God would expose my pride and reveal to me that I never had it all together in the first place. God knew before he ever had me staff all of my layers of emptiness, but as he broke me, he taught me to praise him and boast in his strength and all sufficiency. As
Jerermiah 9:23-24 beautifully puts it, "This is what the Lord says, 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man boast in his strength or the rich man boast in his riches...but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."
Here are my bullet points of blessings from the week:
- Getting to visit downtown DC and look at the monuments at night
- Pistachio gelato
- Philly Cheesesteaks gluten free style (a.k.a. meat and unions)
- Pennsylvania downpour
- Seeing 5th and Chestnut street (National Treasure moment :D)
- Watching the Phillies play the Mets
- Italian sausage with grilled peppers on it at the ball park
- Rooming with Grace again. We were roommates at staff training so it was neat to room together again week 8 and see how much each of us have grown this summer
- Giggles with my girls about grapefruit
- The imaginations of 14 year old girls :)
- The cafeteria having an allergy free food fridge
- God being a very present God
- Bumping the volleyball with students
- Creating a unique breakfast option complete with a gluten free peta topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, dried basil, and salsa for breakfast each morning
- Dunkin Donuts coffee run in the middle of the week when I was really tired
- Talking about what we think heaven will be like with my girls. One of my sweet girls said, "Rachel when you get to heaven, Jesus is going to hug you so well that your hug meter will explode afterwards." ;)
- Talking until 12:30 a.m. with a fellow staffer
- Breathing cool air with little humidity. It made me feel like I was back in Idaho :)
- Getting a flip flop tan
- Having mini dance parties with my girls
- My 7 wonderful 14-15 year old girls
- Shade under happy trees
- Cloud cover during the frisbee game
- Mint ice cream
- Gazebo on campus by the pond
- Having all the staff come on stage and rap happy birthday to a student at camp
- Staff ladies' Bible Study
- Drinking refreshing tea
- End of the year dinner at the Cheesecake Factory
- Watching funny videos from the summer
- Memories
- Sitting in a circle as staff and discussing how God showed up in big ways this summer
- Growth
- Encouragement from my camp director
- Honest prayer time with God
In closing, I am reminded of the quote, "Don't cry because it is over. Praise the Lord that it happened." As I board a plane bound for Idaho tomorrow, I have heart that is filled with joy for this experience. Leaving my team is definitely bitter sweet...but my God is good, his timing is perfect, and I am grateful.
Thank you Lord for exceeding my expectations this summer.
~Rachel