The say a lot can happen in a short amount of time. A lot has occurred in a years time in my life. I got my job at Joy El Ministries as the Assistant Program Coordinator in January. My dream throughout high-school finally came true. I can now say I've almost completed a year within my role and I'm excited to start implementing things I've learned. The friends and family I've made through my time at Joy El I wouldn't trade for the world. My co-workers are my friends, and my camping team is my family. I know I can cry to them, laugh with them, and even throw a fit from time to time, and they love me unconditionally and push me towards growth in Christ. I've never been so blessed by a job, and I pray any future jobs I have throughout the rest of my life are as amazing as this one has been to me so far.
In February I turned 18 the day after I almost lost my dad to a tragic car accident. Our lives will never be the same from the trial and trauma of that experience. My birthday's will be forever plagued with horrific memories from that fateful day. But I did a lot of growing up during that time. I truly became an adult through the pain and experiences I felt. February was a dark and bitter month for me though...let's just say God has his work cut out for him thawing my hardened heart.
March brought new hope and life as dad recovered, it warmed up outside, my baby niece turned 2, and my best friend Kristen came to visit from Minnesota. It was a joyous month of celebrating life, love, and friendship. God also brought me to a new place in my understanding of his grace when I was asked to join the summer leadership team at camp as the day camp coordinator. There wasn't a better summer job anyone could have offered me.
April came and went quickly with much preparation at camp for the summer. We had Release Time camp days, and I attempted to wrap up the final staffing details for the summer, as well as theme ideas. It was then that God also started to bring to my heart the thought of transferring out of Lancaster Bible College online to Liberty University online.
May also passed with an intensity that easily surpassed April. I was putting in many hours at work, trying to tie up all the lose ends before summer started and campers arrived. Emotionally and mentally I was struggling with a lot of feelings of inadequacy towards my summer position. I had no clue how I was ever going to be able to make it through the summer on leadership team and lead campers and staff towards Christ. I also returned to my old competitive cheerleading squad to fill in for a competition, and God opened my heart to my need to minister to the girls again.
With the heat of June and July, also brought over 1,400 campers to Camp Joy El, along with over 150 hundred staff members. It was a thrill, a rush, it was an unforgettable summer that I will never forget. I learned a lot about being relational, casting a vision for those under my leadership, being intentional, mentoring, staying focused, prioritizing my time, waiting on God's timing, and resting in His peace. I also learned a lot about myself, and those around me. God did mighty things in my life this summer, and I know that He also did it in the lives 183 campers who began a relationship with Him, and the countless others who's lives were changed as they were spurred on to spread the Good News of Christ.
August and September brought a time of weariness and searching for my soul. I started my first few classes at Liberty, and realized that my dream of attending a college wasn't going to happen. I also struggled with going from constant contact with people my age, to very limited interaction. God was very silent during that time, waiting on me to wait on Him again. I was restless and anxious, I felt like I was waiting for something bad to happen, but thankfully nothing that bad has happened yet. I think it was just my own paranoia.
October brought me reality and life again. I started leading worship at my church and was able to start implementing the things I learned in my first few months at camp towards the fall retreats we had. I was very encouraged by my co-workers and my love for the 4.12 leadership training students started to grow. It was also a crazy time in which I wasn't home very much. My work hours were crazy, and out of a two week period I slept in my bed probably 2-3 times.
Just as the fallen leaves of November swirled in the wind, so did my life. I was reminded of my need to be thankful, but I also was struggling with a very full school work load. I had the bright idea to add a class to my second term...note to self...don't ever do that again! I was almost swallowed by my classes, and I got my first ever D...and my second...and my third, until I kicked into overdrive to get an A at the end of the class. Hard work pays off! November was also filled with anticipation for vacation in Disney World with my best friend Kristen, who I hadn't seen since March. November couldn't pass quick enough.
Finally the chill of December settled in as I prepared for our elementary retreat at camp, finals, vacation in Disney World, Christmas, and everything else that comes with the craziness of December. It has been a good month overall, and a sign of God's grace in my life.
A lot has happened this year, I've changed a lot, and my life has changed a lot. I'm told that happens when you grow up. I guess I never realized I was growing up or I didn't have a choice in how fast I did so. This year I have been reminded to wait on God's faithfulness and trust his timing. It's been a rough year at times, but God didn't promise that my life would be easy. He promised that he would be faithful to me. And he has.
"The your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your guard." Isaiah 58:8
