It’s been a little while since my last post. I was on a trip this past week and it went pretty well. I learned a lot from this trip. One of the first things is that you have to be ready for the students to not know anything about God and for them to be walking with Him already. On this trip they all seemed to be trying to walk with God. The big challenge for them is living for God and having a group of friends in high school. I won’t lie, I am glad that part of my life is done. I can only hope that God was speaking through me and that something that was said during our time together will give them encouragement to follow the path God has laid out for each of them. Pray for all students in high school to stay strong to their beliefs and not fall away into the ways of the world that can be so tempting and prominent in our culture.
Another large thing that became very apparent to me was that these trips are work and not just a nice little recreational trip. It hit me when I was backpacking with the group that even though I love being in the backcountry, it is a lot better when there is just a few people. This made me question my purpose in the guide role for awhile that day. However, we had a guy’s small group time that evening and I realized why I was there. I am here for students. To encourage them, to keep them safe, to listen, to be real, to be an example, and to listen some more.
The hardest part about the trip was finally getting to know the students beyond the surface and then saying bye to them. It was a humbling experience for me, realizing that I am not the end of the story for them. Rather I am just a part of their story and likewise they are part of mine. As part of summer staff training we read the book “Epic” by John Eldredge. If you haven’t read it I would recommend it. It’s a quick good read that explains that we all have a special role in God’s story and we are here to play it to our best ability. Pray that I don’t forget that I am just a part of the story that God has set out for these students. Also pray that these students would see the story God has for them and choose His story instead of the world’s story for them.
There are also some lighter things that I learned. Don’t say something really funny unless you are prepared to hear that for the rest of the trip. Kids these days are addicted to their cell phones and ipods and gizmos and gadgets. They have no attention span and take every tangent that is possible. Sometimes they take perpendiculars and just want to talk about anything else.
Overall the trip was great. Nobody got hurt, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and it appeared that they all learned at least one thing and were going home encouraged about their walk with Christ. Please pray for these students as high school is a rough time, especially as sophomores. I’m asking you to pray so much because I have seen too many friends stray away from their relationship with God and take the path of the world because it appears to have more to offer.
God, be a light in every situation for all high school students that are trying to live for you. Give them the strength to choose you and stand up for what they really believe in. Surround them with a community that loves them for who they are and loves you above all. Help them to know who they are and see the gifts that you have given them. Let them realize that only you can fill the holes in their lives and that you are there, ready to fill them.
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