Hillsong United - official - 01 Time Has Come

It's that time of year

Merry Christmas everyone! Well it has definitely been a crazy year, wouldn't you agree? So much tears, joy, suffering, remembrance. For a while I would have to say that I wasn't really getting into the spirit this year. This time of year everybody is shopping and baking, and listening to Christmas music. Well I didn't want any of it. It came time for the last Bible study of the semester and year, well as I was preparing for it i decided to skip to the last chapter of Ephesians and looked over the armor of God. That was it, that's how I needed to end Ephesians, God couldn't have been more clear. Well anyway Wednesday came and we discussed the armor of God and we tied it into Christmas, God is good!!! I walked away from that Bible study with a little more spirit then I had going in. Something was still off though. Well finals are over and things are looking up, I've been listening to Christmas music and cheerful for days. The point I am trying to make here is that CHRISTmas is about the reason I am able to celebrate every year...Jesus Christ of course. Without Christ who knows where I would be this Christmas. So many things have happened both good and bad but yet I can have Joy because I know that Christ is with me. I am going to celebrate His birth and I am going to enjoy this time He has given me.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

"It's so hard to say Goodbye"

Wow the summer has flown by. I can't believe there is one week left. On Tuesday we say goodbye to Will and then Friday Carla and Whitney. It is going to be so hard not just to say bye to them but to the kids also. These kids have learned so much language and it has been a blessing to just watch them grow throughout the summer. Before I talk about the kids though I would like to say something about each one of team mates and how they have become a part of me as I have them.
First, there is Kayla. Kayla is my room mate, she is older than me so I have learned a lot from her. She is very responsible and watching her has helped me want to stay organized and neat. Watching her with the kids inspires me because she is so good with them. Next, there is Carla. Carla is so sweet and she is so good with the kids. She also takes amazing pictures and has helped put last years yearbook together so the kids have it to take home Friday at parent night. We also have Whitney. Whitney is always making us laugh or smile in some way. She is so caring and was there to take care of me and Becky when we got sick. There is Becky also. Becky is deaf and she is a great addition to our team. We gave her the nickname "Mama" Becky because she is always looking out for us even if it simply making sure we have our seat belts on or making our lunches for the day. Next we have Crystal. Crystal stick to herself most of the time because she is the behind the scenes fixing schedules or making flyers or putting something together so that camp summer sign flows the way it needs to. We would have chaos without her. Jonathan and Will, well what can I say about the 2 boys. They are awesome, they make us laugh and they are great with the young boys, almost like role models. It is amazing just watching how much the boys just adore those 2. God has blessed us all with an amazing team of college students. But, the summer wouldn't go on without our supervisor Mrs. Beryl. She is an amazing women, she has so much to do and she still manages to see the kids throughout the day. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her support. The rest of the volunteers are all so amazing there are alot to name so I won't name them all but each one has a place in my heart. When I go home I am going to be leaving a piece of my heart here in TN. The kids this summer have grown so much. The deaf kids have learned more language that they didn't have before they came to camp and their family members that come with them are also learning so much especially how to be able to communicate with their family members. It is such a joy to see the smiling faces every day, I am definitely going to miss the daily routine of camp. Well this has been an amazing summer and I am so excited to go home but I will miss all the great things that have happened. So many fun memories and so many things to bring home with me.

Time flies by fast....

Wow it's week 6 already! Where did the summer go? As the summer is winding we are seeing how 8 strangers have become 8 teammates but even close friends. I love watching the kids learn and grow so much and seeing a change from the beginning of camp. It is full gear to prepare for parents night on the last day of camp. This week is also VBS in the hearing church so you don't know crazy schedules until that happens. There is probably somewhere near 2,000 bodies in the church until around noon. Our kids need to stay to the deaf hallway so they are combined alot which drives them a little bit crazy, especially since that means less fun games for this week unless we go to the park in the heat. Overall it is good though because the kids are still getting what they need and finding ways of enjoying the situation given for the week. There is nothing better then having a week where staff actually sees each other. Some have gotten sick and others allergies have been affecting them. I have grown to love and respect my teammates. Two of them though have helped me out alot this summer. I don't have much confidence in a lot of things but they continue to encourage me and inspire me. Carla and Whitney I thank you girls so much for everything. The kids just love them and Carla takes amazing pictures of the kids. Becky is also very sweet, I do not pick favorites so I am going to say something about everyone on my team mates. Becky helps alot with signing, and since she is deaf she is very fluent and knows a lot. Kayla is my room mate and she is a blessing to have as a room mate. We have our differences but I am still so thankful for her. Jonathan and Will, well they are the only boys and they are also the sunshine to every day, they know how to make us all laugh even it's we're exhausted. Crystal, she is a great leader, she makes our schedules, meets with our supervisor, and has a to do list that never ends. I love how organized she is and that she gets everything done and more. She doesn't get to spend much time with the kids but when she is there they love her, she is so good with them. Caitlin, she leaves friday and it's hard to believe her 3 weeks with us is almost at an end already. Even though she was here for a short time she definitely will be missed. Mrs. Beryl, what can I say I wouldn't ask for a different supervisor than her. She is strict when need be but she also knows how to cut the edge off things. She has helped me alot this summer. I came this summer with a lot of baggage and in conversations with her she has helped me realize who I am and that no matter what I am God's child! My host family is so hospitable and I am so thankful for everything that they do for me and Kayla. I was doing my quiet time and read Genesis 1-3 and am just so amazed at God's love for us. I know He loves me and that is why I need to show love back by serving and giving up my life for him. I am ready for what He throws my way. As the summer is coming to end leaving is going to be very bittersweet because we have become like a small family. Hopefully in January we will get together and go to Passion together but we need to start making details about that if we are going to. I am going to miss my team but God has big things to do through us when we go to our homes and apply what we have learned this summer.

What?! A 3 day weekend!! Sweet!

Well It's July 4th weekend. It's my first time not spending it with my family but I know I am where God wants me. I am with my teammates this weekend and I am so glad that we finally get to spend this time together. It has given us a chance to grow with each other and learn about ourselves. We are relaxing before week 5 of camp starts and it is going to be a great week of camp!! I have learned that sometimes I can be annoyingly rhude and I am sorry for hurting my teammates. I have also realized that sometimes there are going to be struggles because satan doesn't want us to become closer to God. I'm learning how to rely on God instead of people. I get hurt because I allow myself to keep people in my life that tear me down, and it affects how I treat other people. I am continuing to learn more sign language and learning how to be a better leader.
This summer is half way through and there have been ups and there have been downs. I know that when you love and serve God that downs are just a part of it. John 15:18 says, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." There will be hard times we have to go through but Jesus is right there to help us get through just as He had His Father with him. Coming to Tn this summer is teaching me so much. I love my teammates Whitney, Carla, Becky, Crystal, Kayla, Jonathan, Will, and Caitlin. Will is leaving for a week but he will be back for a little bit before he leaves to go on vacation with his family. We are all different but we are enjoying being able to work together.

Joy in hard times

James 5:7,8 says: Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. This verse speaks to me alot because I can become very impatient, especially when it is a rough or bad day. I try to solve it myself instead of being patient and waiting for God's timing. Sometimes I look for a right away answer and having to wait is hard. God gives us what we need when we need it and we need to be able to fully trust His timing. When I realized that this is what God wanted me to do this summer, I was so nervous but I was also becoming very excited. I had never been on a plane let along by myself. It was very nerve wracking for me, I cried the first part if the plane ride. I arrived in Atlanta for a layover and got some food because riding on the plane made me very sick. Once I got some food, I felt much better. I arrived in Nashville and met up with 2 other girls on my team who arrived at the same time from different flights. We got picked up by the pastor in residence and he didn't speak to us in the car, he only signed so I had no idea that he could actually talk. Once we got to the church we met our supervisor and the rest of our team for the summer. I had my first sonic drink that day and I think I became hooked but our supervisor gets us drinks sometimes after a long day of camp. We went to orientation with the state of TN then we had orientation at the church for a week before camp started. There was a lot of moving and cleaning involved. The first week of camp was a blur but we quickly figured out which children cause trouble at times. Week 2 began and we were more prepared but there was a group of kids that were on a missions trip in Michigan so we had less campers that week. It made field trips a little easier. Last week was week 3 and things are finally starting to become routine and very noticeable. We went to feed ducks and saw a play at the Nashville public library. The kids loved it even though they got hot because us staff forgot to bring the water container with us. It is week 4 and it has been going well, monday was a normal day and tuesday we had army which was alot of fun and a huge success. I have been learning alot about myself and the people that I am around every day. I am excited to go to the theme park Beech Bend on thursday!!! It is going to be so much fun. I love these kids and I am so thankful that God placed me here this summer!! I am learning so much about alot of different things. :)

New Experiences

Well God has brought me to Tennessee this summer and it's definitely not what I expected. I am finding out that sometimes I can be annoying, whether it's talking to loud or saying something stupid when it's not appropriate. Hmm wow things I thought that I had worked on. Well since I came here I have felt alone, nervous, confused, not good enough, and many a time I have wanted to come home. I talk with God and read His Word and remember why I am here. I am not here for myself, I'm not here to make friends, I am here to do and learn God's will. For being here 3 weeks there isn't alot to say because there is so much to say and some is hard to explain but as I go through and think of specifics to update you about I definitely will!!