The end

Endings are often bitter-sweet. The end of CMI is no different. Finishing the homework and classwork was absolutely amazing! The sense of accomplishment was refreshing and I'm so grateful God saw me through. It was a sweet feeling to receive my diploma.
But saying goodbye to people who had, in three short months, become family, that was rather a bitter feeling. Giving last hugs and watching them drive away back to where they came from.
Don't get me wrong! I am thrilled to go back home and minister to the boys and girls in Washington! I'm excited to share God's love and explain what Jesus did for them. I'm excited to "go and do". To fulfill the Great Commision!
But feelings of sorrow are natural. Perhaps they are necessary. God could be using them to prepare me for the future, and using them to equip me for future ministry.

Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would show me how to glorify you during times of sadness. I pray that You would be everything I need each and every day. I pray for the boys and girls that the students of cmi class #161 will reach. I pray that hundreds of thousands would be reached by Your will, and that as we share with each one, Your Spirit would work in their lives. I pray that You would do a mighty work so that the hundreds of millions of children who do not know You might come to know You.
I'm Jesus Christ's name I pray, amen.

One week left

I'm not really sure where I planned on going with this post.  I've been at the Children's Ministry Institute for eleven weeks now. I've grown friendships, learned about how to minister more effectively, and been stretched in so many ways. I've laughed, cried, sweat, even bled in my short but intense time here. Friends that had attended in the past gave me large expectations for this Institute. I was not disappointed. While I will stay here for one more week to attend Missionary candidate school, almost all of my classmates will be leaving this coming Friday and Saturday.

Goodbyes suck. I will be saying a lot next week. I don't want to. In an almost toddlerish way I just don't want to. Because I know that some of these goodbyes are going to last for the rest of our lives on Earth. I know that many of these dear brothers and sisters I won't see again on this side of Heaven. Some I will. I'm confident I'll email and facebook message and text most everyone periodically to catch up. We'll subscribe to each other's prayer letters, newsletters, prayer cards, etc. We'll try to make visits work. Sometimes they will. Often life will get in the way. Ministry will boom (which is a good thing), and opportunities to visit will slip away. God has called us to reach children in different areas. But that means personal sacrifice. Often when people imagine taking up their cross and following Jesus, they imagine sacrificing their stuff. TV's, nice cars, expensive toys, etc. They don't think about giving up friends. They don't think very often of giving up family. But Jesus asks us to give that to Him too. Every aspect of our lives. It's part of giving your life to Christ for His glory. It hurts. But it is for the ultimate good of those who love God.

As I say goodbye, I'll bear in mind the saints in the Bible who endured tearful departures (Acts 20:36-38). I'll bear in mind our goal to reach children's souls with the life-giving message of the Gospel. I'll keep my eyes on the goal, our upward call in Christ.

But I'll also remember the beautiful fellowship. These pictures are just a taste of the fun we've had together! :')

CMI #161 pictures