Well, last night started the second half of our project…without staff! The staff only stays the first 5 weeks, and then they appoint student leaders to take over their positions and the students lead the project for the rest of the summer. Michael and Chrissi come back the beginning of August to close out the project, but until then, we’re on our own. It’s really exciting because I think it’s going to be a great time of leadership development and growing closer as a group. But I’m also nervous because we no longer have the staff here to deal with issues. It’s up to us. And I was picked to be the leader of the Operations mission team, which is the team I have been serving on this summer. Basically, I am in charge of all project finances, as well as running Ops meetings and relating house/maintenance issues to Jon, who talks to the landlord. I’m excited (and completely surprised that I was chosen) because I’m eager to really step up and serve the rest of the group. And everyone on our Ops team is great, so I’m definitely confident in them. I am nervous though, because I have to keep track of support checks/reimbursements/mission team budgets/any other financial stuff, and I’m the holder of all insurance information, which is a HUGE responsibility…but I’m just praying alot that God would give me the strength and organizational skills necessary to serve the project well!
I have been a food runner at work for the past week. Which I don’t mind at all, because you make a good amount of money, and you don’t have taxes taken out because it’s basically all from tips. YAY! On Tuesday Natalie and I had a really good conversation with one of the girls at work who we often work with. From first impressions, I thought there was no way she would be interested in spiritual stuff. Which was a judgment on my part. But she mentioned that she is going to a church camp next week, and we were like you go to church? She definitely believes in God, and she goes to church every week, but I’m not sure if she’s a Christian. I think she’s dealing with alot of guilt from the past, and she mentioned how just a few weeks ago she had gotten back into some stuff that she hasn’t done in a while and feels guilty about it, so Natalie and I were able to encourage her and let her know that our sins don’t affect God’s grace upon us. We told her that once you accept Christ into your life, all your past, present and future sins are forgiven, and you don’t have to worry about losing your salvation because you’ve messed up. She says she knows that, but she doesn’t like how she takes advantage of God’s grace by doing what she wants because she knows her actions don’t affect salvation. So we just got to talk to her about all of that, and let her know that you don’t have to be perfect to be a Christian. I’m not sure where she stands with her personal walk with Christ, but please pray for her: 1. that she would acknowledge Christ as Lord in her life if she doesn’t already; 2. that she would begin to follow Him, not just in believing but in living out how He desires for us to live; 3. that she would be able to resist the temptations that have been a HUGE issue for her in the past; 4. that Natalie and I will have opportunities to encourage her and let her know more about Christ.
In other news, my bible study has been combined with another bible study for the rest of the summer. At first we were nervous that things would be weird because we’ve been in separate ones until now, but since another of our girl team members left project two days ago (which was really sad), the other bible study only had 3 members, and we only had 4, they were combined. I’m really excited though, because two of the girls live in my apartment and I LOVE them, and the third girl is sooo sweet and I haven’t really gotten to know her very well yet, but I really want to. So we’re all going to eat dinner tonight and share our life stories again. We feel like we need to let all of the bible study know the nasty junk in our lives so we can really bond together as one for the rest of the summer. I’m pumped for our new bible study!
Tomorrow night is the farewell banquet for the staff. It’s going to be alot of fun (we’re having amazing food and speeches and stuff) but also sad because we’re saying goodbye to the staff. And I probably won’t ever see my discipler Kristin again…:-( 
. There will be crying, but we’re also going to have fun fellowship together one last time.
Alrighty, I better go change out of nasty work clothes. Love love love!
