This week Alliance Master’s Commission went to Union City for a Seven Project. It’s totally God that I’m working with Youth Alive this year with AMC like I did in Everfree Master’s Commission. I mean I was pumped to be reaching teens for Jesus with Kurt, Brian, Henry, and the team again. It was different in a lot of ways. For starters there’s a lot more set up but it looks so much better. Then there’s my new Master’s family and the new human videos except for “Everything” by Lifehouse. And my part is now the lead girl and I totally feel Ashleigh’s pain now. Anyway not the point of this.

Despite all the changes and what not, God let me in on something. Despite the fact that I had walked away from His original plan for my life, He gave me my entire life back. The fact that I’m in Master’s again is a blessing. Then on top of it’s the MC that took over for EMC. So I know that is just God throwing that in to bless me and to trust in Him more. He also gave me everything that He promised me for this time in my life and I am so humbled and so blessed by my Father. All the glory goes to God.

Oh and on top of it all, I think 2/3 of the crowd we had came down for salvation. I get overwhelmed everytime. I love Jesus…

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So far it’s been really good considering I haven’t even been here a week. It’s slowly starting to feel like home as I get used to the building and the house. (No more sharing a one room, one bath apartment with 3 other girls. Those were the times.) I’m also getting used to the new faces, new pastors, a new church and a new town. I’m also making new friends and is going to make more friends when the first years come in tomorrow. Oh boy I’m excited about what God is going to do the next 9 months of my life and in the others around me.

The summer as a whole was a healing and fulfilling summer. I would have to say hands down, that this was the best summer of my entire (almost) 20 years of life. I worked hard, made friends, and probably should have been thrown in mud pit or the lake more often than not. Anyway God really worked through a lot of the crud that I had been dealing with in order to make me into a person that could talk and help others who have been a life road that is very similar to mine.  I believe that this quote sums up what happened to me this summer:

“It’s there in the agony of those moments, that we get the first glimpses of just what it looks like for God to take all of our trauma and hurt and disappointment, all those fragments lying there on the ground, and turn them into something else, something new, something we never would have been able to create on our own.”  – Rob Bell from his new book “Drops Like Stars”

I feel different, happier. I know that this summer is to prepare me for what is going to happen in the next chapter of my life that begins tomorrow. Yeah people, I move and start the next exciting and possibley crazy chapter in my life.

During our Indiana Jones Marathon, Matt comes in and starts inviting people to come to Applebee’s to hang out with Henry and Adam. I decided that right off the bat that I would go with my former EMCer’s and take this oppertunity to hang out with my fellow workers. And after piling into three cars, we headed off to Jackson for Applebee’s.

Anyway somehow this whole getting to the front door of Applebee’s became a race. Chelsea and Matt started yelling that the other one didn’t get to our destination first. So about this time it turned into a foot race. Matt, Chelsea, and I started sprinting towards the doors. If I recall correctly, Matt made it first making the former EMC’s first in the race to get to Applebee’s.

However, I didn’t make it. I wish I could say I tripped but that wasn’t the case. There are green foot poles about 4 feet high in front of the mall where Applebee’s was. Well as I was sprinting, I ran smack into one of these poles causing me to double over and breifly knocked the wind out of me. Luckily I started laughing as everyone else roared. Then I was asked if I had seen the pole before I hit it. The answer to that is no, I didn’t see the pole. I don’t know how I didn’t see it but I didn’t see it at all. I think I must have looked like a retard or something when I did it. Luckily the group was the set of witnesses to this event. I do wish I had it on video though.

Oh and on another note, when I told my mom she called me a dork then asked me if I was okay… just thought I would throw that in.

Okay I’m going to get a little transparent right now and say that this summer is going to be a healing summer for me. God’s really working on the pain I’ve been struggling with for years and cutting it out and showing me that when I was saved, He wants me to trade my ashes for beauty. I’m beginning to see how much I’ve held on to and how much this is not just hurting me but the people around me. I know that this will affect how I minister to youth and how I go about living my life. So far, it’s been a whirlwind of God showing me that I’m way more than just a saved girl with a broken past. He’s teaching me my value and worth and that this life isn’t all about the pain that I hold on to. Finally this life will be one of freedom and reveloution. And it’s only the dawn of summer, I can’t imagine what else he’s got for me.

• First and foremost, I fell off the golf cart. If you know me and my clumsiness, you know that this feat isn’t impossible. Thankfully, Matt came and checked to see if I was okay. After I was okay, Shealee, Matt and I all laughed. Sadly my knee needs healing still.
• As usual my Korean heritage is the butt of all of Matt’s jokes. However, this year, my Welsch heritage is becoming the second butt of all of Matt’s jokes. But that’s Matt for ya.
• I’ve probably done more work in the past week than I did at Wal-Mart in three weeks. And I really like this.
• I’ve been trained to be a lifeguard. So far nobody has required my first aid help. I’m saddened by this but I’m also happy that I haven’t had to use my training that much.
• And last but not least, I’m getting so much closer to God. He’s taking me to the next level every morning when I read my Bible and praying after dinner. That’s what I love about Fa-Ho-Lo; God’s presence is always there no matter where you go and you can feel at peace at anytime. Also my heart for youth is starting to open back up and I’m just loving that.

I like being home for a lot of reasons. For the first time in a while, I’m happy. I think Joy is coming out of my pores most of the time now. The funny thing is I know why this is. I’m excited about God again. Like super excited what God has in store for me now. I didn’t know how much this was impacting my life until now. Yeah I lived like God was real and important, but I never thought about my relationship with Him should be exciting. And hey, it should be. Because people are drawn to the excitement, the joy that you have and what better way is there to lead somebody to God? Okay so I haven’t been thinking that far into it until just about now but think about it, a smile is contatgous. I think joy and love is too. Well… I’m not exactly sure how you become excited about God but you gotta find that out by yourself.