Folks, it has been a busy month. But Heidi keeps pestering me and so many of you told me you miss my posts (you bunch of crazies) and so here's my update of December. I may or may not ever find time to make another because MY FAMILY GETS HERE IN 4 DAYS!!!
I am stoked.
So since the last post, I have had a busy "pre-vacation" week of work, a trip to America, a prolonged battle with jet lag while teaching a week of the training course, 5 days of kitchen staff at youth camp, and thus far 2 of 3 hectic days at work. When I say it like that, it sounds like it wasn't as exhausting as my body is telling me that it was...
But as tired as my outsides are, my heart is at rest and my spirit is just full - overflowing with joy. I'm pretty sure that if you poke me, love pours out. I feel so very beloved and blessed.
I'll gush about America in another post (I cannot express how loved you all made me feel), but right now I want to gush about youth camp. Amy Mock leading youth? Comical. Confession: I volunteered for kitchen duty in a desperate attempt to get out of those awkward high school moments. SUCCESS! I thought. Turns out the kitchen is hot. Hot and a bunch of hard work. And my feet died. And all of the leaders already knew each other and I was the awkward American. Thank God for Busi, hey?
But here's the thing. The other leaders showed me so much love. They welcomed me in as if they'd known me for years. I feel like I finally have FRIENDS here, and gosh does it feel good. I've been so lonely and this past month has just been packed with fellowship and encouragement. Also, I learned that I don't completely stink at loving youth. While it's true that I spent a heck of a lot more time praying for people than talking to them, being in the kitchen gave me endless opportunities to get to know campers and leaders alike. It gave me plenty to pray for as well! I started to have a burning desire to be out of the kitchen and around these delightful little buggers. And God blessed me with two nights of pillow talk with my camper girls as well as some awesome time in worship alongside them. I'm not afraid that they'll hate me any more, and I know that God is using parts of my past to be an encouragement to them.
So, youth camp might be about the youth but it was just a giant blessing to me. Great worship, great prayer, the beginnings of some sweet friendships, and even the humbling opportunity to let a delightful girl named Cazlin rescue me from a disastrous white sauce. The campers never knew the difference. :)
I did, though, and I am never making white sauce again. At least not in that quantity. Cazlin is my hero.
I got home from youth camp at about 5 on Tuesday evening, and went straight to bed. I got a full 15 hours of sleep! The rest of this week is a hectic work week, trying to get everything sorted before the break. Friday I get to go see Carols by Candlelight (awesome) and Saturday I have a girl's day with two of my favorite people in South Africa. I'm so excited that I could squeal. But I won't. Instead I'll just praise the Lord for putting such incredible women in my path. You know when you meet someone who just melts your heart and makes you feel at home? I've been meeting a lot of those lately. God is good.
AND I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY ON MONDAY.
You guys. This is incredible. It will take all of my strength to not go spend the whole day waiting at the gate. You never outgrow daddy hugs, mom's wisdom, or late nights full of sisterly love and laughter. ANDDDDD Grandma is coming. I love her.
Random Thoughts:
1) I cannot get enough of Selah this week.
2) I need to buy a piano. I am losing my mind here.
2a) I kind of wonder why I bother playing piano when there are so many other people who play it far better and with far less effort. But I crave it nonetheless.
3) I kinda love South Africa. I could probably stay forever.
4) Except I hate how it does not feel even remotely like Christmas. Like, not at all. I need to do something about this before I start to resent this city.
5) Handwritten Christmas cards were a very poor idea. Where did all the time go anyway?
6) My ear has been clogged for 5 days straight. It is highly likely that I will soon lose my sanity.
7) There are ants crawling all over my office. I started killing them all with tissues and felt like a murderer with every squish. But now there have been so many of them that I have taken to smashing them with my thumb and flicking the dead carcass onto the floor. I guess that's a pretty good representation of the progression of sin...but these ants have it coming.
I am stoked.
So since the last post, I have had a busy "pre-vacation" week of work, a trip to America, a prolonged battle with jet lag while teaching a week of the training course, 5 days of kitchen staff at youth camp, and thus far 2 of 3 hectic days at work. When I say it like that, it sounds like it wasn't as exhausting as my body is telling me that it was...
But as tired as my outsides are, my heart is at rest and my spirit is just full - overflowing with joy. I'm pretty sure that if you poke me, love pours out. I feel so very beloved and blessed.
I'll gush about America in another post (I cannot express how loved you all made me feel), but right now I want to gush about youth camp. Amy Mock leading youth? Comical. Confession: I volunteered for kitchen duty in a desperate attempt to get out of those awkward high school moments. SUCCESS! I thought. Turns out the kitchen is hot. Hot and a bunch of hard work. And my feet died. And all of the leaders already knew each other and I was the awkward American. Thank God for Busi, hey?
But here's the thing. The other leaders showed me so much love. They welcomed me in as if they'd known me for years. I feel like I finally have FRIENDS here, and gosh does it feel good. I've been so lonely and this past month has just been packed with fellowship and encouragement. Also, I learned that I don't completely stink at loving youth. While it's true that I spent a heck of a lot more time praying for people than talking to them, being in the kitchen gave me endless opportunities to get to know campers and leaders alike. It gave me plenty to pray for as well! I started to have a burning desire to be out of the kitchen and around these delightful little buggers. And God blessed me with two nights of pillow talk with my camper girls as well as some awesome time in worship alongside them. I'm not afraid that they'll hate me any more, and I know that God is using parts of my past to be an encouragement to them.
So, youth camp might be about the youth but it was just a giant blessing to me. Great worship, great prayer, the beginnings of some sweet friendships, and even the humbling opportunity to let a delightful girl named Cazlin rescue me from a disastrous white sauce. The campers never knew the difference. :)
I did, though, and I am never making white sauce again. At least not in that quantity. Cazlin is my hero.
I got home from youth camp at about 5 on Tuesday evening, and went straight to bed. I got a full 15 hours of sleep! The rest of this week is a hectic work week, trying to get everything sorted before the break. Friday I get to go see Carols by Candlelight (awesome) and Saturday I have a girl's day with two of my favorite people in South Africa. I'm so excited that I could squeal. But I won't. Instead I'll just praise the Lord for putting such incredible women in my path. You know when you meet someone who just melts your heart and makes you feel at home? I've been meeting a lot of those lately. God is good.
AND I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY ON MONDAY.
You guys. This is incredible. It will take all of my strength to not go spend the whole day waiting at the gate. You never outgrow daddy hugs, mom's wisdom, or late nights full of sisterly love and laughter. ANDDDDD Grandma is coming. I love her.
Random Thoughts:
1) I cannot get enough of Selah this week.
2) I need to buy a piano. I am losing my mind here.
2a) I kind of wonder why I bother playing piano when there are so many other people who play it far better and with far less effort. But I crave it nonetheless.
3) I kinda love South Africa. I could probably stay forever.
4) Except I hate how it does not feel even remotely like Christmas. Like, not at all. I need to do something about this before I start to resent this city.
5) Handwritten Christmas cards were a very poor idea. Where did all the time go anyway?
6) My ear has been clogged for 5 days straight. It is highly likely that I will soon lose my sanity.
7) There are ants crawling all over my office. I started killing them all with tissues and felt like a murderer with every squish. But now there have been so many of them that I have taken to smashing them with my thumb and flicking the dead carcass onto the floor. I guess that's a pretty good representation of the progression of sin...but these ants have it coming.
8) Mzoli's lunch makes afternoon productivity nearly impossible.
Hope this hold you til next time. Maybe Christmas? :)
Much love,
Amy
Much love,
Amy