On Top of the World

I am still having so much trouble sorting everything out from my trip. I've been back home one week now, but things in my mind and heart are still all swimming around. I had such a great, intense experience with the group in Mississippi, and I have been thinking how I need to write about it, but I just can't think of a way.

This is a picture of me on top of Mr. and Mrs. Hall's home. I became the Master Caulker! I was a prodigy with that caulk gun, I'll have you know!

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, we worked from morning till mid-afternoon. There were four groups working at four different work sites, repairing storm damaged. There was roof repair to be done as well as some internal damage on some of the homes. After the groups returned (we stayed on the campus of Southern Mississippi University, which boasts the likes of Brett Favre), we'd have supper and then group worship time. Then it was time for devotionals and prayer time in small groups, then off to bed (as long as certain suite mates didn't have any silly shenanigans to play!).

A couple of nights we went to revival at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was the church that our group partnered with. They fed us very well :o) - one great thing about travelling and working with a bunch of believers - you'll never go hungry!!!! But they also gave us some good messages from the Word, some good singing, and lots of love.

There is so much more to what happened than the schedule. I made friends. I saw authentic faith lived out. I talked with people who had not come to know Christ until adulthood (in their late 20's or 30's or 40's). I met people who had a lot to say about their relationship with Christ, how precious it was and how important. I worked alongside those who were brand-new in their faith, some by two months, some by one or two or three years. In most cases, those people were older than me. I was amazed because, besides the work we were there to accomplish, I saw evidence that God is working in a big way. In the lives of adults. All the time.

God is in the business of pursuing people. He is working all the time, everywhere. And I have been created in Christ to do good works, which He has already prepared for me to do! Why am I sitting around waiting?

I returned home overjoyed to be in the arms of my family, but sad and confused to leave something that I love so much - a life of service. It follows Eph. 2:10 - I was created in Christ to do just that! It makes sense, then, that a group of strangers (of all age rangers, life situations, denominations) got along and accomplished a huge task. It was because we were working in the will of God, the way He designed us, at a task laid at the foundations of the Earth.

Now I am frustrated and longing for more. I am on my knees in prayer for my church which is going through a time of pain. I am convicted more and more not to wait on my church for ministry, but to go out and seek it anyway. There's certainly no lack of need anywhere.

So as I struggle to say what I want to say, that's all that will come out for now.

Much love to all of you.