I am so thankful for all the things that God is doing in my life, the first of which being the astounding generosity of so many amazing people. I just want to say a special thank you to Jim and Ann Cade, Noemi Pagan, David Melhado, Micah Lang, The Britton Family, Jonah Park, Anna Gourley, Cristopher Williams, and the Anonymous donor for their awesome gifts. I am so thankful for y’all and your kindness and look forward to sharing more with y’all about what God is doing through this trip and through me this summer.
While I’m still trying to raise funds this summer, I have also taken on the commitment of working at a local camp as a counselor and program staff. So, in preparation for the six weeks I’m working, this week I attended the first of two staff training weeks. And once again I have experienced such grace, specifically this week, through the staff and the Gospel driven community at the camp that I have been surrounded with. Something that stuck out to me in one of the lectures this week was the idea that our relationship with God is personal but not individualistic. We need community, the church, to hold us accountable, encourage us, and spur us on towards mission for God’s Kingdom and glory.
God has also been working on me emotionally as I prepare to leave my family and friends for a good amount of the summer and the next following year. Specifically, today was the first day I grasped that I was not going to see my family for a year and in all honesty that really hurt. But in the moments that I feel the weakest and most broken God draws near to me. As I was sitting there, terrified of what I was preparing to lose, God gave me such a feeling of peace and abounding thankfulness that it was hard to keep the tears from flowing out. God is good, and he is in control. As I prepare to enter into another week of training, I firstly cherish the moments I have with my family as I’m home and secondly open my heart up to what God has planned for my summer, my gap year, and his plans for my future to come.
Some passages that have really been impactful this week:
- Romans 12
- Mathew 5
- Psalm 4 & 5
I appreciate y’all so much and again I look forward to keeping everyone updated of what God does next in the weeks to come!
I am your dad’s cousin..Joe Cade is my uncle..while we don’t see much of your side if the family I am in awe if what your mom and dad have accomplished and how they have raised you and your siblings!!! I am just developing my faith in Christ and look forward to watching and hearing about all your adventures during this year..please add me to your list and know you will be in my prayers..I will send money when I can to help..God has opened many doors for you..you are blessed. GWEN