Not sure what all to say. Looking at the Twitter feed sums up what the week has meant to many of our students. It was a life changer for some, an encourager for others, and for all a chance to pull away and hear God speak in the midst of days of hard work, nights of beauty and relaxed activity, and time with other students in different places life wise all desiring the same thing. Tonight I write from my deck at home; I am the kind of tired I can only describe as bone-weary. It was all worth it. This was not an easy trip - the wind fought us both going and coming. The weather was beautiful but fairly hot based on what we have experienced during any prior year. That took a toll. This was an emotional trip, in which God pushed a lot of buttons and brought us all closer. We did the hard work of relationship, hopefully coming out with a clearer understanding of what it means to be 'my brother's keeper' - to speak well to, speak well of one another, and to speak well of ourselves. The kids rose to every challenge, and I really believe that we saw them grow as followers and servants of Christ before our eyes. It was a beautiful thing. There is not one highlight, but rather, threads that were woven together to make a tapestry that is part of our story together as a church, as a ministry within something greater. If I have to boil it down for me, one moment stands out...
We had been singing for some time. Longs Peak had disappeared into the growing dark. The kids were backlit by the porch light. After a moment of silence, one of our boys suggested we pray. So we did. In the midst of that prayer, as we asked the Holy Spirit to continue to move in our midst, the group fell silent. The wind immediately picked up, whispering through the surrounding pines. It began to blow with some purpose...and we laughed as it seemed as though the Spirit was moving among us like a mighty rushing wind. That was a hallmark of our week, frankly. This trip was one that we had a sense before it began that the Spirit would have a large part in all we did; that could not have been more true. From the first day, guiding us safely through Nebraska, the church message matching almost verbatim the words from the night before, the wind rushing through our midst as we asked the Spirit to come, cracking us open emotionally and relationally using the words of one of our students...so many moments looking back that will be foundational as we move forward into the future of what God has in store for our students and leaders. I am so thankful for the openness and attentiveness of each member of our SummitServe team to what the Spirit had to say. I can only begin to imagine what God will shake loose in our crew and the lives of those around them moving forward.
Thank you families. You gave your kids, your finances, your trust to us to take them far away and plunge them headlong into hard work, and harder spiritual work. I hope that you have seen them grow and that the difference they have made in the lives of others is apparent to you as well. I am grateful for Kate and Thomas, who are remarkably gifted student ministers who truly model what it is to desire Christ above all else. And I am thankful that God uses beautiful places to put us in a position to grow closer to Him. As we drove through the mountains one day to work, it occurred to me again - I am working today. Unbelievable. I am so blessed.
