Terrific Tuesday!

I admit that blogging is something I thoroughly enjoy doing because I gain do much encouragement from the messages sent, conversations had, etc that seem to always be exactly what I need. But I am still a guy and we don't always enjoy reflecting on our feelings and the ups an downs of our day. This is why there is some inconsistency in my blogging. Nevertheless I shall continue forward. Yesterday may be one of my favorite days of the entire summer (although that's totally impossible to really judge but it does make the point that yesterday was awesome). I had the privilege of going to Newton to ETBE with another guy named Scott and Austin, our youth intern. We planned to help with a special needs camp coming in and to love on our 7 students working there. We did get to spend some time with our students but it wa absolutely nothing like we had planned. I hoped to work side by side all day with them and encourage them. God had other plans. I don't know if you have ever felt like God specifically put you in a place to meet a specific need in someone's life but that is exactly what happened. The camp for special needs kids officially starts Wednesday and they were in great need of having a handicapped ramp built. I fully believe that God sent us to the camp to build a ramp. I know God uses us each day but it just was so clear to me yesterday. Awesome! We built a 16 foot ramp four feet wide so now our handicapped students can access the gift shop! I will say that I have very few building skills but God provided Scott and Austin and between the three of us (mainly with Scott's skills) we were able to lay out a plan, set posts, build a frame, cut deck boards, nail deck boards, and build the handrails. I really felt proud of the way things went. We were also able to encourage our students there. We gave them all big hugs upon arrival and enjoyed time with them an then were privileged to have lunch with each of them. When we were ready to leave we visited and laughed with several also. As always, they bring me so much joy, encouragement, laughter, and remind me that ministry makes a difference. Each of them have been shaped by spiritual influences in their lives (family, close friends, Sunday school teachers, etc.) which have brought them to a point where they love Jesus so much that they would choose to sacrifice a whole summer growing in faith and service to share Jesus with people on another continent. If you didn't know, this is one proud (good pride) youth minister! That evening we had a small group play ultimate frisbee. All of the students except Katie were junior high age. This was a great blessing because I don't know them as well and it gave me opportunity to build relationships that will last for years to come. To end our time Tabi shared the story of how she came to know Jesus with the entire group. She shared that God uses the Micah Tyler Band leading worship to lead her to Jesus. Wow! I had no idea that was her story. I believe that God uses our stories to impact the lives of others. To top off the entire day I got to sit down with my beautiful wife and her little brother, Kolby, only to hear one of the coolest stories of faith and trust in God I have ever heard. God is really working in Kolby's life. I won't ruin his story... It's not mine to tell. Catch him one day and ask him what God has done in his life this summer. Just be ready for God to change you when you listen. Terrific Tuesday!