Being on semester project was the most challenging thing I’ve experienced since coming to faith. It has challenged my endurance, my motivation, my patience, my health, my relationships with people, here and back home. And my relationship with Christ. I willingly threw myself into easily the most spiritually empty and broken collection of college students in the country. And to be honest, I didn’t expect it to be this tough. We work between 40-60 scheduled hours a week. We live with 4-8 roommates. We use unreliable transportation that can eat up as much as 3-4 more hours of every day. We work late hours and early mornings back to back. Our sleep schedule is inconsistent. Ministry activities? Church? Community? HA. Inconsistent work schedules. Not enough sleep. Not enough money. Too much sleep. Unhealthy
eating habits. 1,200 miles away from everyone you love. Something I would do again? Nope. Something that I enjoyed? Some days, some days not. Did I ever cry? Weekly. Want to give up? Often. Think about going home? Everyday. Change my world, and those around me? Forever.
Doing this without Christ, I couldn’t. Relying on Him through my weakest moments, I had to.
Did I bring the good news? Yes! The gospel was shared from my own lips to coworkers, and friends from across the states and the world.
Did I learn to work as a team? Probably my toughest lessons and biggest growths happened because of my small team. But I learned to love and appreciate them, despite the fact that we couldn’t always literally be there for one another.
Did I personally grow closer to the Lord? Through my tears, my anger, my joy, my loneliness, my confusion, my frustration, my exhaustion, and my desperate prayers. YES.
Am I ready to be home? I’m ready to follow wherever the Lord will lead me…. As long as there’s no pixie dust.
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteI hope you have loved getting back home to friends and family. I am sad that your College Program experience was so challenging my friend...it really motivates me to brainstorm some ways that I personally can make a difference for future Semester Program participants when I get to Florida. God has really put you and others like you on my heart as a potential focus area for me as a mom on Crusade staff...I hope I can make a difference in that area when we get there. I might have to send you some ideas to brainstorm what might have been helpful for you on the program.
Anyway, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors Jamie, and blessings wherever God leads you.
I'm so proud of you girl! We are going to have LOTS to relate on this summer. ;) HUG
ReplyDeleteDear Jamie, thanks for sharing and being real about your experience. i'm so proud of your faith and how you stuck with it. God's faithfulness was really evident as he got you through to the end. im praying for rest and healing this summer.
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