Counting My Blessings

For those who don’t know, I just came back from an amazing week spent with my friends from church as we helped with VBS during the mornings (Vacation Bible School), and then came together during the afternoon for fun games, activities, and fellowship. Obviously a cool week like this in a different country provides many stories and subjects to write about. But as I was thinking through, I decided instead of trying to fit it all in, or focus on one minuscule thing that happened this week, I’m just going to count my blessings! Since I was there five days, it seems appropriate to name five different blessings, so here it goes!

Number One- My Sister!

Caroline has been my very best friend for the past 15 years…and though she wasn’t there with me all week, because she was either on planes or in Texas or Alaska, she still kept up with me. Caroline read every single message I’ve sent her, (Trust me, this is no small feat.) and she’s talked with me on the phone on multiple occasions. We’re oceans away, but Caroline has continued to be the best listener ever, an amazing adviser, and my best friend. So though she’s far and missed terribly, she still manages to be active in my life and one of the most amazing blessings.  

Number Two- Friends who do not conform to this world.

I have found a group of friends who do not conform to the ways of this world. Though I think this picture explains enough, I’ll go into more detail. Everyone wants to be liked, to find a place, and feel comfortable in their surroundings. And because of this, sometimes we find ourselves trading who we are, and who we’re meant to be, so that we can feel good about ourselves. And  in the end we’re doing the exact opposite of what we should be doing! And here, I found a group of kids who not only encourage and strive for the right things, but they are themselves, are open about problems, and they all just come together and love one another anyways!

Number Three- Seth

Seth is a baby. I’m guessing from his size he’s about six months. So here’s the background info on this. I was supper tired, and my editing system on my computer hadn’t worked all week. I was the photographer for the week, and it’s kinda hard to edit pictures if they go black every time you open them…So I was frustrated with that. Now on the last day I had finished pictures a bit early, and I have this darling friend, Sarah, who was helping out in the nursery so I went to go hide up there. And I must confess, though I love photography, I love kids WAY more. And I was secretly envious of all the other teens that actually got to interact with the children, rather than just take the children’s pictures. And there in the nursery…I found Seth. And I got to hold him and play with him for nearly a whole half hour. And this, for me, was a major blessing!

Number Four- Thank God For the Germans!

So you know how the Germans have the “You’re going to do it this way, and do it now,” reputation? Well, I can confirm, this is mostly well deserved. But the other thing I can confirm and explain with great humility is why they have this reputation. So here it goes…

Because, they’re right.

I cannot count how many times a German showed me an easier way to do something, or pointed out the obvious, whether with cutting fruit or my own spiritual walk with Christ. So though I don’t always like to be wrong, all I can say is…Thank God for the Germans!

Number 5-Great Things to Come.

So though I’m still excited about my past week at camp, (and still recovering, since I caught a cold from exhaustion) It’s not the main thing I’m excited about. I am so thrilled about not what happened at camp, but what WILL happen BECAUSE of camp. With a group of teens who are seeking after God’s own heart, and are learning together through success, and failures, ANYTHING is possible. And because of this, I am excited, and I am truly blessed to have friendships such as these.