Teenagers, Water, Being Mom, + Little Gifts

photo: Jason Ellis

I know I’ve been quiet on the blog this past week.  I have a whole lot to write, but have had less time than usual with sick kids early in the week and youth-pastor’s-wife/mom responsibilities during hubby’s craziest weekend of the year, Winter Retreat.

500+ students and 100+ youth leaders from across the district descend upon our church each year around this time.  Adrian co-leads/plans the event, so the weekend is kind of like all the normal youth ministry life stuff, multiplied times a gazillion more kids, smooshed into 36 hours, hyped up on obscene levels of Mountain Dew, cold pizza, and PDA.

A friend asked before the retreat what my role was in this mega youth event, which takes an incredible army of volunteers from our congregation to pull off.

My simple answer? 100% mom.  My ministry during the fun youth ministry times is being mom so Adrian can do what he does so well.  The kids and I hang out at the church a bit throughout the weekend, but I know my job is to be fully present for them.  It’s where we’re at during this season of life.  Maybe I whined about missing out on amazing worship music or great speakers in years past, but I’m more accepting these days.

And this particular year, retreat was laced with a few special gifts to me.

Two of our best friends from college, now married, came down as college reps, sharing about our itty bitty Christian college with teens on the district who might be interested.  There is something about the relationships Adrian and I formed during those four years at that little place.  It was community like we have never known since.  And seeing them, even hollering over 600 loud teenagers, lifted my spirit.  It’s always like no time passed. And I miss them.

Another gift, this gal.

Tiffany somehow stumbled upon a post of mine some months back.  An employee of World Help and leader of the Operation Baby Rescue initiative, Tiffany reached out on a whim, not knowing me, and invited me to come to Guatemala and blog on behalf of OBR.

You know the rest of the story.  I said yes.  I went to Guatemala.  I gained a beautiful friend in her, and in others on our team.  My life story changed because of her.  So, Miss Tiffany, thank you for that.

Tiffany, along with Sally, another committed World Help employee, joined the mass of teenagers this weekend to help promote Cause Life, a clean water initiative of WH.

I saw Cause Life in action this October: the beauty of villagers receiving the gift of their own clean water well for the first time. I saw the difference between villages with clean water and those without.

It transforms a village. It brings life, literally. It brings hope.

Water.

Changes.

Everything.

So when Adrian and the other Winter Retreat leaders wanted to raise money for clean water this year, Cause Life it was.

And raise funds they did, another gift to my heart this weekend.

I’m really proud of the teens and their leaders. In two short days, the goal to raise $5000 for a clean water well was met and exceeded:

more than $7,000 was raised, which will fully fund a water project that will impact about 500 people.

Tell me you’re not proud?

Proud of kids being generous.

Of letting go of self.

Of being compassionate.

Of loving God and others first.

Teenagers yielding to the Spirit of our Holy God who prompts and calls and asks and sends.

Despite popular opinion, perhaps there’s more to these teens than junk food and trouble making and PDA after all.

Grateful for this busy weekend full of sweet gifts.

Counting 1000 gifts with Multitudes on Mondays. Gifts {#116-#122} within post.

Also sharing with The Better Mom, Life Lately, Mommy Moments, Moms Monday Mingle, Grace Laced, Miscellany Monday

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Lauren

Lauren is a young(ish) mom of three, Jesus follower, wife of a youth pastor, coffee lover, proponent for all things fair trade + handmade, and a passionate advocate for the least of these. She loves to create pretty things & designs Scripture prints for the mercy(iNK) print shop. > > > connect with Lauren on twitter or facebook. You can also subscribe to posts via email/reader. Don't be a stranger. Stop by again soon.

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