Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Today was the big day! This morning we had some last minute training and then us leaders took some time to go look for jobs. We drove around looking but a lot of places just said to call back later. Then starting at 1pm the disciples started to arrive! It was so fun to meet everyone and help them move in. I am a very friendly person when it comes to meeting new people. I felt like I was at camp again meeting the campers for the first time. One of my disciples Laura from Montevallo came first. She was really sweet and I helped her move in and we talked for awhile. My other two girls from Samford didn’t come until later but I was so glad they did come! Their names are Michele and Liz. Everyone’s sweet. I think we’ll get along pretty well but there will be some challenges. The makeup of my girls is an answer to my prayers; I prayed that I would be challenged this summer. The girls I discipled last semester were fantastic and all beautiful believers that were hungry for the Word. It will be very different this summer.
After all of the girls got here we went to a Mexican restaurant called Tijuana Flats. We just sat there and got to know each other. It’s important for me to start to get to know these girls so I can better serve them and see where they are spiritually. After dinner, we went to an orientation meeting. It was so fun to see the whole sanctuary of the church filled with students. We have probably 150 from UNA, Samford, and Montevallo alone. During the meeting, Chad Walker (UNA CO staff) talked about CO’s purpose (“Multiplying Christ-like Leaders”) and our 3 big “wins”: commune with God, deal with sin, and engage the lost. I think it was great for him to lay out why we’re here right from the get-go. Afterwards, we played the game “Bigger and Better.” Each team was given $1. We had to find something bigger that we could trade $1 for. Then we could trade that for something bigger. And then bigger and so on. My group basically just knocked on doors in Ft. Walton neighborhoods and asked if anyone was getting rid of anything. We got a couch, a ping-pong table, bag of clothes, tennis balls, and more. We won the competition!!! We had a blast and it was a great way to start getting to know the members of our team.
After the game, we had a watermelon social outside to hang out with everyone. It was fun getting to meet new people. Then my group went upstairs and finished unpacking and setting up our room. Then we had a “group meeting” to talk about the next day and the job situation. It’s going to be tough finding jobs. I really want all 4 of us to work together but we may have to split up. I am really looking for a job that is out of my comfort zone and that will humble me. One of the girls is really against food but I so want her to learn and grow from this job experience. So now I’m kind of looking for a restaurant job. We will go as a group tomorrow to look. I’ve been praying a lot about this and I trust that the Lord will provide.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge him in everything you do and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Please pray for the cohesiveness of our discipleship group and for job openings.
Stay tuned and stay tuned with the Lord.
In Christ,
Christine ><>