"To hunger for use and to go unused is the worst hunger of all." -Lyndon B. Johnson

Day Two of Mountain Biking is completed! And for how nervous I was to start the day, seeing how yesterday ended, today was an absolute miracle. Sometimes I forget that I'm not the only person who can change situations. I am not the only influence that affects how my day will go. I can't always do it all. And for that, I praise God. He is working visibly in the people's lives around me, as well as mine. I can already tell what a blessing Project Transformation is going to be for me this summer. 

Something I've noticed throughout the past few weeks is a little phrase that has been pretty consistent through different places and occasions. It started when I went to Pleasant Mound UMC a few weeks back. During the joys and concern portion of the service, a young girl, probably fourth or fifth grade, stood up and said that she wanted to thank God for waking her up this morning. Ever since then, on multiple occasions, I've heard interns also thank God for the same thing, or for giving them another day. I haven't thought about how truly grateful I am to be given another shot at life each day. It's such a positive sign to me that I must be doing something right. God has the power to (figuratively) snap His fingers and end my life, yet he allows me to keep on breathing, and to keep walking this beautiful Earth each day when I wake up. 


Reverend JoNell Lindh at Chapel Hill UMC spoke about this openly last Sunday at worship. She said, "So take a breath, and just keep breathing. For this is God's moment by moment gift to us." Personally, I could not have described this true grace God has on us any better. I am so thankful for all of the children that I am getting to know and having the opportunity to influence. 


On day two of biking, many detrimental and developmental things happened. The day started with us running out of smaller sized bikes for the sixth grade aged out of the group. The particular kids we took today were smaller than we've been working with and there were a couple complains and struggles to fit them to bikes. One girl specifically was having a difficult time adjusting to the height of her bike, which was clearly too tall for her. She gave up almost instantly, saying that she couldn't do it, that it was impossible for her to ride the bike and that she was simply planning on walking her bike the six miles of trail we had planned for the day. After much encouraging and questioning her complaints, I didn't feel as though I was making any progress with her. Luckily, another youth donated their small bike and took the slightly larger one so that she could participate. After a rough start, she bounced back and even though she was always the last rider out of the group, she perked right up and had a great time. Another truly inspiring child today was a girl who had never ridden a bicycle without training-wheels before. She neglected to tell us this before our ride, and because of how embarrassed she was, she decided to suck it up and just try to ride before spilling the truth to anyone. Unnoticed by us, of course, she adapted very quickly and developed a true passion for biking. As soon as she got the hang of the bike, she excitedly told me all about how this was her first time riding a two wheeled bike and the first time she'd even been on a bicycle for the past four years. She had the excitement and ambition that would motivate anyone to try harder. She would shake and squirm and get really nervous on all of the tight turns and hills, but with the slightest bit of advice and encouragement, she proudly finished all of the challenges at hand. 


Here's a shot one of my friends took of me instructing the stretching portion of the day! :) I really wish that I could post photos of the wonderful children I get to work with on my blog, but due to parental consent and privacy reasons, I am forced to refrain!

Another inspiration to me was one of the older boys in the group. He seemed to be significantly more mature than the rest of the group, as well as taller and stronger. When we asked the kids to find a "buddy" for the ride to help each other out, he proceeded to choose the smallest little boy and become partners. Throughout the entire day he stayed by his side and helped him when he was struggling. He showed true leadership skills and I felt so proud of him. It never ceases to amaze me how pure and genuine children can be at times :) I'm so glad they can stand strong in the midst of life giving them every reason to back down. 

I never would have expected falling in love with this program this early on. I can already see the transformations in myself, the children, as well as the interns around me. I am already sad that I will have to leave at the end of the summer. It seems like it's already approaching so quickly. Living in community with so many other people my age, with the same beliefs as I have, with the same intentions I have, and with the same love for life that I have, is truly amazing. All of the interns here are so kind, fun, loving, and genuinely interesting people I could spend the next year here with them all and probably still feel the way I do now! 

On that note, check out the multitude of ways God is working in Texas in some other interns blogs: SHELLEY GUDOBBA & KRISTA CASTRO :)

As for all of the personal work I've been doing, I have a lot of realizations to come, and a lot more figuring out to do about who I will become. It's easy to say who I am right now. It's easy to tell you what I love and what I don't. It isn't as easy to tell you what I am called to do with who I am and where I'm called to be with what I have. A small sign I received today was when I was swimming laps after a long day in the heat. The song Teenage Dream by Katy Perry came on in the gym and I stopped at the end of my lap and just stood there listening and thinking back to my spring break trip to New Orleans. I remembered how at home I felt there. I remembered walking the yard thinking, I could live the rest of my life serving youth in a ministry setting. Oh how I miss that week in New Orleans with the perfect group of kids. And after typing that out... I still feel as though perfect is an understatement for the people I was with. More like God sent people. 

That's how I feel here at PT, but there's something different this time. There seems to be a different vibe. This kind of love and willingness to learn is long-term verse the short-term week in Louisiana. The interns here are wonderful. I feel so comfortable. I feel so free. And I feel so useful. It's hard for me to convey just how much I've been needing a summer of service such as this. During the school year, I yearn to do something. To do anything. I don't get the chance to do service work, to volunteer, or to hang out with kids. I feel like God is really and finally using me and my passions this summer. Sitting here, thinking about the future, about my identity, my purpose, my passions, and my dreams, I am nothing but excited to see what God has in store for my life! :)

Listen to this --> Stay by Jake Ousley :)