This summer I had the opportunity to give my time to God and work for Him. This was an amazing experience and it taught me so many things about how others grow and about The Lord and all He provides for me. I would like to share my experience with you.
Hard work is worth it.
You put in work. I think I slept in a total of four days, and went to bed before midnight twice, but you could see the results I made in the students when I, or any of the other interns would stay up and talk to them. Everything we did had a purpose that made it all worth the work in the end.
Spiritual warfare is a thing. Prayer is a stronger thing.
I truly didn't know how hard the devil was working against me until I saw the changes in me. Between illnesses, false fire alarms, panic attacks, and negativity, we were at war, but this only made us more determined to fight back in a war that has already been won.
Miscommunication is a thing.
When you have sixteen interns doing a bunch of different jobs, it's easy to miscommunicate them and get a little confused. Luckily, we all did a good job of staying calm and asking God to help us though and misunderstanding.
"It's not about me."
The motto for my summer. When you're working for the Lord, it isn't about you. It's about something so much greater and as much as it kinda sucked sometimes, I had to put my ego aside and put others in my place. I feel like I carried this over to my life now and will continue to work on it for the sake of others.
Everyone is going to have a different opinion.
This is something that really bothered me at the beginning. I thought my way was the only way, but as I learned "it's not about me" I also learned to sit back and listen to what others believed. It was very interesting, as I felt challenged by my faith I learned more about the Bible and grew even closer.
Every job is important.
Someone has to wake up at 6 A.M. to cook breakfast. Someone has to mow the lawn, or do the dishes, or take out the trash. As much as we just wanted to nap, we knew even the smallest job was important to the project, so we did it most of the time without complaint.
God's timing is different than mine.
If I say I'm ready for a relationship but God says I'm not, then I have to listen. If I say I'm going to change my major/college but God says there are better things in store for me, I have to trust Him. This is something I have always struggled with but now I am accepting.
My life will never be the same.
This is a beautiful thing.
You can be a Christian and still have fun.
OK, I knew that before, but it's true. Some of my best life memories came from this summer. We could be playing games like werewolves, or "World War Hannah," or just watching the Olympics and be making memories that I would hold with me forever.
Don't worry, God has got this.
Everything could be going wrong, and all hope could be lost in your eyes, but no matter if you see it or not, God is doing something for His good and He has everything in control. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" -Matthew 6:26
You will meet life long friends and nothing can change your connection.
I now have about 30 accountability partners/best friends/future guests at my wedding. I love you all!
