Present and Accounted For
I look forward to leaving camp and bringing the students into the heart of the wild.
Tuesday, June 17
Two days ago, the students arrived. Hailing from California to Ohio, the 17 students have stories as varied as the schools they attend.
It's almost like a new project has begun. The environment has a fresh feel to it, like the air after it has rained. I am very excited to have the students here -- they are the staple of a summer project.
And the whole point of the project is life change.
By that, I mean that we will grow more in our relationship with Jesus, with each other and learn more about ourselves. This is something we can help each other with, but ultimately God does the transforming.
The staff members on the project and I have been praying specifically for these students for several weeks, that God would bring them here -- which He did -- and that they would have a profound experience at the Lifelines project.
I also have specifically been praying that God would show me where He is working in the lives of these students, so I can join with Him in this.
What They Call Me Around Here
On Monday morning, I got my first shot at being a facilitator -- the name of my role this summer (the more experienced Lifelines staff members are called "coaches").
Now it was my turn to lead the discussion on the clay and rock activity, the very same activity I went through a week ago, which I mentioned in my first post.
It's been an interesting learning curve to be a facilitator. It's not exactly a Bible study leader, and leading the discussion is not like a journalism interview (which I do a lot of with Worldwide Challenge magazine).
A facilitator is more someone that helps a group interact together, to help promote an environment of grace and truth (John 1:17).
The students opened up well, but when one of the students began to reluctantly share something very difficult in their life, the group awkwardly moved on.
One of the coaches pointed this out, saying that we as a group had left this student alone in what they were feeling. Quite true. Eventually we did gather around this student and pray for them, as well as apologize.
I think we all learned a lot during this activity.
Today will be a ropes course, along with a plethora of meetings -- the necessary evil of process learning.
Tomorrow, we will embark on the 3-day backpacking trip. I'm looking forward to leaving camp and bringing the students to Rocky Mountain National Park -- into the heart of the wild.