youthworks week 4

this will be a short update because i'm nearing the end of my time off this afternoon! plus we're planning for another day in Greenville this weekend, which means Starbucks and/or Panera, which means wireless internet, which means laptop, which means I can finally upload some pictures! and more blogging, of course.

this week has been so much better than last week! first of all, we're at about 54 participants compared to last week's 72, so that's just a nice breather for us. we took what was constructive criticism from our evaluations last week and have worked to improve those areas. but the biggest sigh of relief this week comes from having adult leaders who are on board. it makes a world of difference.

this week i've had a hard time avoiding the urge to count down the days we have left in the summer. after this week wraps up, we'll have completed 4 weeks of programming with 4 weeks left to go. when i've been frustrated or tired or unable to see the fruit of our efforts, i've thought to myself, "only 4 more times do we have to manage canoeing," or "only 4 more weeks of dealing with the insurmountable task of keeping this kitchen clean." in those moments, it's easy to get lost in the to-do's and forget that ministry is happening in all of it. it's been a real blessing for me to remind myself as i mop or set up tables or empty garbage cans (etc) that this, too, is work for the glory of God. Psalm 84 says, "better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. i would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." sometimes our work is as doorkeepers--maybe not the top of the line or a job that is gratifying or a position where effective ministry is immediately apparent. but it's work in the house of God.

and sometimes it feels like a YouthWorks day is as long as a thousand elsewhere ;) i've really been learning just in fact how much sleep you can run on.

this past weekend my mom came to visit and we all together spent the day at the Outer Banks! it was fabulous! we climbed the Cape Hatteras lighthouse & sat on the beach there for 2 hours & watched fireworks on the top of Jockey's Ridge. pictures definitely forthcoming :)