halfway video update.

theINTERNS from Audra Starr on Vimeo.

once again mad props to audra.  check out her photography:  http://www.audrastarr.com.  she's the boss.

question of the day.

what do you do as an intern for camp all-american?

one and four.

in the span of three days, i will traverse on three highways:

GA  141  (Atlanta)
GA  411  (Rome)
US   441  (Milledgeville)

the joys of living the life as an intern.  out and about learning from a guy at winshape and recruiting counselors to work at camp this summer.  the goal being two-fold:  1) we can better understand what it means to make disciples, train disciples, and grow leaders of and through our summer staff  2) we can recruit the best counselors ever for summer 2012, to share jesus with campers.  cuz those are the goals.  spreading jesus and growing our leaders into mature and equipped followers of christ.

steak, asparagus, and corn on the cob.

i was talking to judy.  just sitting in their living room after a lovely meal of steak, asparagus, and corn on the cob.  wayne was nodding off on the couch, fighting to keep his eyes open.
a few minutes into our conversation, he perked up and said, "you've matured."
so, naturally the samchok question; i asked, "how so?"
wayne said, "just listening to you talking to judy, you sound like you have grown up a lot.  you've become more confident."
i looked at judy.  she agreed.
i'll take it.

actually, i have been thinking about that a lot recently.  how i have learned and grown over the past year and a half.  cool to think how wayne and judy can see that in the context of them knowing me since 2008. 

last saturday night, i ate dinner with my host family of three summers.  wayne and judy are awesome.  i got placed to live with them my first summer at camp all-american.  things just didn't work out this past summer as someone else was living in their basement.  but, three solid summers of relationship, plus we have stayed in touch since then.  dinners every few months since the last time i lived at their house.  good just to catch up with them and hear their words of wisdom and encouragement.  even to hear what is happening with their kids and grandkids.

so, back to the change topic.  putting words into that change is a bit easier said than done.  but i'll give it a shot.  the biggest change being that i have become more confident in myself.  more importantly who i am in christ.  that my identity remains in christ, not my successes, friendships, or whatever else i put my value in.  big change number two is a better idea of the next step.  not that i have everything figured out yet as far as my career.  i just have a much clearer direction and idea as to where i am headed.  (an update about that coming later...)

cool to think where and what i have learned since the internship.  and, even since teaching last year.  he is good.  even amidst the craziness, difficulties, frustrations, sufferings, joys, and good times of life.


I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:1-10

why camp, eh?

thoughts from the water run.

i am a lady of many questions.  that is for sure.  ask my madre about that one.  she can tell you i have been that way since birth.  well, i ask many a questions these days.  especially as an intern.

the question on our trip to grab water today:  "if you had three pieces of advice you could give an intern, what would it be?"

the answers i got:

1. bake a lot of cakeballs
2. talk with as many people as you can
3. ask if you can go on or to something, other folks in the office don't always think to invite you
4. meet with and talk to as many people as possible, especially using the contacts from caa
5. don't be afraid to think outside of the box

i'll take it.   

living by grace.

exodus 20:3-6.  "you shall have no other gods before me.  you shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  you shall not bow down to them or serve them, for i the lord your god am a jealous god visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."

idols. confronted again with that thought.  what is an idol in my life?  currently, i am not sure.  today the question was brought up:  is my idol "ministry"?  is it succeeding in ministry?  am i living more by success than by grace?  am i more worried about completing my tasks and projects well than focusing on the grace?  jesus didn't come so i could be successful.  he came so i could rest in him and be strong even in my weaknesses and failures.  even my weaknesses and failures in ministry.  even when things aren't perfect.  so, rest in that samchok.

halfway.

today is march 1st, 2012.  the halfway point of the internship.  and i can say, it has been a good ride thus far.  that is for sure.  no regrets.  so thankful.  learned so much.  pumped for the rest of it.  can't wait to see what the lord continues to do.  wahoo.