Just A Tease

This week was the first week that the team of four was no more. Ashley and I were on our own. It was time to figure this job and team dynamic out just the two of us.

We were at Biola, which is SO close to home, yet we needed to act like we were in a different state. We knew this was going to be difficult but I had no clue how difficult it was actually going to be. I received phone calls from friends to hang out and the temptation of going home to sleep in my own bed hung over my head but I could not do it. There were a couple things I did need to do at “home” like replace my broken glasses, but that was all the home I could have. The other pair of reps. were on break so it made it even more difficult to know that we had to work and they had time to sleep and relax. It was just a tease being so close to home. At the same time it was something I needed. I needed to be in a semi familiar place because I am going to be in Oregon for the next month.

The other hard thing about this week was I came from Colorado where I spent three weeks with the same CIY staff and college reps. I was going into a situation where I was only going to be with this staff and these reps for one week. This staff is amazing! Very different, but in the short time I got to work with them I really enjoyed it. The other hard part was in Colorado there were 20 college reps and at Biola there were only 9. This just made things a little tricky. Jobs had to be doubled up on and sometimes you were running from one job to the next. Each location and week is unique and that is something I love about CIY but some times it just gets a little hard. God likes to stretch you and this is just one way he does it.

Even though this week was hard it was VERY rewarding. Night two I had the privilege to stand by the bell. This bell represents a decision for Christ, I am not dead but alive in Christ, or I want freedom from the pit that life has brought and I choose life in Christ. Even though I was just standing there to make sure the bell did not roll off the speakers that moment was powerful. There were about 1500 students in attendance this week and 497 students came and rang the bell that night. The expressions before and after on their faces, the hugs their friends gave them after they rang the bell and the tears streaming down their faces touched my heart. I cannot describe it but God was there and it was one of the coolest moments I have ever experienced. It gives me chills every time I talk about it.  Another rewarding time was security. Now this is something we all dread because its late at night, we all want to go to bed, and walking the halls of dorms is the last thing we want to do after a full day. The last hall Ashley and I walked was having a nail party and of course we didn’t want to bust them, so we decided to befriend them. They ended up being a church from Long Beach. They know someone I am friends with from Hope. We created a relationship with them, had lunch with them, and just hung out every night. It made security all worth it! Third rewarding moment of the week was forgiveness tree. At the end of the week the students get to toilet paper a tree and write things to be forgiven for as well as people to forgive. As a symbol of letting go they throw it at the tree. ONE THROW ONLY is the rule but who follows that?! SO that’s where my job comes in rush in and pick up the rolls. The thing is when there are 1500 students they tend to come in masses and well lets just say I have bruises from being pegged from toilet paper but for some reason I love cleaning up the rolls and watching the students throw the rolls. I love watching the bare tree turn white, the support of friends and youth leaders, and people letting go of the past and moving forward in Christ.

This week may have been tough but it was all worth it! God is working and moving in great was. I would not trade any of this for the world!

Please pray for travel as Ashley and I are driving to Oregon. We are traveling to a camp this week and are going to be in charge of cabins. Pray for our campers and that our week with.

Thank you SO much for your prayers. They are felt!!

Katie-Michelle