Well, the summer's over now and it's back to work for Lulu. I've had the time of my life the past ten weeks and it seems like an age since I was home. I flew in about a week ago and have been recuperating and catching up on sleep.
On the way back I got stuck in Denver for 17 hours because our plane had mechanical problems that delayed us so that I missed my flight to Dallas and had to wait--with about a million other people all wanting to go to Dallas--for the next available flight. I followed the standby group around for awhile and talked with them. Had a good conversation with one guy--a southern baptist who believes in evolution?--about why the Bible is absolute truth and why that's an important part of the testimony that supports Jesus' claim to being the Son of God. I had quite a few conversations that night...
I talked with two Mormon kids; I encouraged a catholic young lady who expressed the desire to become a Methodist because they actually study the Bible as opposed to just going through the motions of tradition as she had experienced in the catholic church; I chatted with an Indie-Rock musician and a nurse who'd just come back from a trip to Haiti, while standing in line for an hour. All the while I kept thinking, "Well, Lord, that was a good conversation. Is that the last one? Can I go home now?" Honestly, I was tired of airports and just wanted to get out of there, but looking back with an eternal perspective, it was a very successful evening and I wouldn't trade my delayed flight for any other.
Once I got home I was inundated with discontent. Ugh. How I hate that! But it happens. Last night I told Mother: I need a job, I need a car, I need this house to be clean (it was a crash area), I need money to go back to school, I NEED A HUSBAND!!
Then we both laughed at me. Because its not about what you have but where you are. And I'm in my house, with my family, doing quiet, at-home things while looking for a part-time job. That's where I'm at and that's where I'll be until the Lord moves me. I can (and probably will) make myself completely miserable with looking to everything that I WANT. Or I can stop looking around and just be satisfied where I am. So, if you think of it, friends, pray for contentment for me.
As far as plans go, I am going to try and keep very busy this fall. I will be helping to homeschool my little brothers, Judah and Israel...and maybe help keep Jon and Seth in line too. Hehehehe
I am accompanying my friend, Susie Fergus' elementary choirs on Mondays. That's something I love and I also really enjoy working with Miss Susie--so there's a very positive part of this fall.
I went out yesterday and talked to people at twelve different restaurants that are just down the street from my house. I got one interview and have to go back for more applications later this week. Hopefully I will get the job where I'm interviewing...a nice little mexican restaurant. Its within biking distance and I can work as a waitress for a couple extra hundred dollars a week. If that is what the Lord works out.
Then I am also working twice a week in the mornings with a family friend. Their daughter went through a traumatic experience a year ago and emotionally was very hurt. She needs some help and so I am teaching her piano and guitar and working with her on schoolwork, etc. We'll become friends and hopefully I can help her heal. I love this kind of work because its not just work--its very much of a ministry.
After working at camp for ten weeks I have realized my passion. I think God has put this in me and I just didn't really notice it before. I love doing ministry that involves music, teaching, and children or youth. Its what I've been doing all summer, and I've never done anything I enjoy more. All the times I've done ministry with any other age group or in another setting I haven't enjoyed it as much. And even now God has provided this job with our family friend so that I can continue developing skills as a counselor and teacher. He is so good and I can't wait to see where He's going to take this! I am not sure, but I think I would like to make a school in the Middle East or East Africa that functions like a school during the fall and spring, but is a summer camp in the summer! That would be awesome and I'd get to work with orphans and then other kids too. Because I think the school would be a boarding school and have a lot of orphans there. But who knows, it could end up being any kind of school/camp. We'll see what the Lord has in store.
For now, I must try to be content and learn what I can from these experiences here at home. After all, I'm going to be a Sophomore, then a Junior soon. And who knows how many times I have left to spend months and months with my family. Its hard to think of moving "home-base" to somewhere else. But when you grow up, that happens. So I'll try and enjoy these family times while I can.
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