Because I meant to post this two months ago...

Per a friendly nudge to post on my blog, I realized that I never posted the essay that I wrote for a scholarship from camp this summer, which I was graciously awarded. The essay just gives a glimpse of what God did in my life this summer, and while I intended to post it right after I wrote it, somehow it never happened. So, if you're interested, here it is, from August:

Over the past year, God opened my eyes and my heart to the saddening truth that many individuals with special needs are excluded from the church. I especially noticed that families with small children that have special needs face many obstacles in attending church activities and being included in fellowship with believers due to the needs of their children. My heart was filled with compassion for families who face the unique struggles of having family members with special needs. As I desire to be a part of Christian ministry to children vocationally, I began considering and praying about how to reach out to this particular part of the body of Christ.
As a part of my degree program, I am required to complete an internship, and I was planning to fulfill the requirement during the summer months so I could continue to work during the school year. My desire was to find an experience that dealt with both working with children with special needs and also included Christian ministry. In my search for an organization to work with, I decided to search for a Christian camp for children with special needs. This search led me to Charis Hills. When I found the website for Charis Hills, I was immediately attracted to the heart of the camp to serve children who are typically excluded from regular social situations through an accepting and positive camping experience. After a period of correspondence, I was hired as a counselor at Charis Hills, and I anxiously anticipated the beginning of camp.
Now, the final camp session is only days from coming to a close, and I can hardly put into words the experience I have had over the past few months. I have had the privilege to work with staff who desire to extend grace to and encourage growth in children who struggle with social and behavioral challenges. The community and diversity among the staff of Charis Hills is incredible, and I have formed friendships that I believe will be lasting because they are based on the everlasting community that is found in Christ. This summer, I have seen children experience the grace that Christ extends us through being seen as worthwhile and praised for the good things they are capable of rather than condemned for the mistakes they make. I have learned more and more about how God deals with us as a patient and gracious Father who desires the best for us.
I have seen more of my weaknesses, in which His strength can be shown perfect, and I have had countless opportunities to choose joy in the face of hardship. I have learned that I need rest! When I am physically and emotionally exhausted, and a child is telling me that I ruined their week because they have to be in the arts and crafts activity and they want to explode, it is certainly not in my own strength that I can extend patience and explain that we will do our best to provide activities that they enjoy.
During training week, we had a time in which we were challenged to consider both what we wanted to give and what we wanted to receive this summer. One central thing that I wanted to give was the love of my Savior, and what I wanted to receive was similar: an expansion of my understanding of the heart of my God. This summer, my intention was to seek to experience the love of my Jesus so that I could extend that love to the children I worked with. I wish I could tell you the depth of the love of Christ that I have experienced this summer, but the well has no bottom.
As I leave Charis Hills, I know that the experience I have gained in working with children and working with a team of staff will be invaluable. The practical skills of knowing better how to keep the attention of children, how to recognize the motivations of misbehavior, and definitely having an expanded repertoire of appropriate and engaging activities for a variety of ages will indubitably be of great benefit to me as I continue to work with children and families. I have been blessed and encouraged through the experience of teaching spiritual truth to the children at Charis Hills through camp-wide devotionals, and have begun a journey of learning how to communicate spiritual things in an age-appropriate way. This summer at Charis Hills, I have been filled with an unmistakable peace that Christ has called me to ministry and He will be faithful to lead me every step of the way. More than anything, though, I am walking away from this summer having experienced more greatly the truth that I have and never will be unloved. I will “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

I will sincerely try to post a more current update in the next few days...Blessings!