It has been about a month since we have been home, and I still am not sure I have processed everything that went on up North. It was a trip full of adventures, laughs, challenges and learning to trust in God's love. This trip stretched each team member in unique ways, and for me - the one thing I learnt was that no matter the challenges that may arise, God's love wins.
I could tell you it was all easy and at every moment we trusted God without fail. But I don't want to lessen what God did by skipping over all the tough moments. Does that make sense? I have been thinking a lot of how to explain this trip in one mere blog post, and to be honest I don't know if I can - but what I will do is give you a glimpse of the work God did. And it was amazing.
We started out the first couple days settling in, digging in the dirt, building a volleyball court and cleaning... lots of cleaning. Two more members of our team arrived a few days later. We continued in cleaning and building tetherball courts, as well as assembling the trampoline and making sure everything was ready for the next few weeks. We went to church on Sunday and took some well needed naps to rest up for the coming days. Then the first week of kids camps began.
The kids were amazing, and seeing their hearts being to open to God and His love was incredible. This week was full of conversations, sometimes hard - but needed ones. Then the weekend came, we cleaned once more, went to the beach to get in some needed rest and fill up time, and took naps and some needed showers. Then week #2 began.
Four more team members arrived for this week. This week was different than the first, and God continued to teach our team new things. Patience, communication and more about His love and what that means to each one of us. As our team felt the effects of the past few weeks creep in, it meant so much to know that back home you were praying for us, for spiritual protection and much needed rest. This week was hard, but the work God was doing in these kids was incredible. It wasn't by our strength that kids hearts were being opened to Him - but by His. Because we didn't seem to have much left in us. He carried us through.
The second week the kids had lice, and at first it seemed like this was the worst thing that could have happened, but God used even this tiny, uncomfortable thing to open doors for us to minister His love. I will never forget as one of our team members sat on the bathroom steps for hours picking out lice from one little boy's hair. They talked for hours. And even though she was picking through his hair for lice, she was showing him love. Constant, pursing love. This little boy probably never has one on one time with an adult before for that long, God used lice to show love. Our God is so good.
One of my favorite memories from this trip is of the two girls in my and Melissa (a team member's) cabin. Our two girls were sisters, and they both had troubles getting to sleep at night. So before bed, we would sing songs and pray together. The littlest girl always was the one who wanted to pray. So outloud she would lead us in talking to God. "Dear God, thank you for these people that came to be with us and make sure we are safe. Thank you for sending Jesus, help me to live the way he wants me to live". She would go on and on, and those aren't exactly her words (her's were much cuter) but that was what she was praying for. Her prayers were just like she was talking to God right next to her. She is only six. God is her friend. And I am so blessed that I am her friend now too. One more cool thing, I had actually met these girls in November on our trip to Behchoko, and they remembered our team that came up. My heart ached as they kept telling us over the last two days, "I will miss you". I miss them too.
I love how over these trips we get to build long lasting relationships with the youth we meet. It was incredible to see the teens that were at camp the few previous years, who didn't really participate or seem to care too much about learning who God is, actually open up and participate in chapels and actions to songs and even interact with us as counselors.
I'm sure there are so many more stories I could share, but I will end with this: God is so good.
This trip wasn't easy, and I am still processing as I know many of us are, but looking back and seeing the ways that God broke down barriers in these kids and that they left feeling loved reminds me that it was worth the hard moments.
Please pray continued protection over our team as we continue to deal with some of the things that we need to still process from the North. For protection from any spiritual warfare that may have come home, and for continued vision for our ministry in the upcoming months as we brainstorm for the next trip!
If you have any questions or want to hear more about our trip feel free to contact us on the contacts page!
Thank you so much for supporting us as we chase God's will. We are excited to continue on this adventure, wherever He may take us - all for His glory.
- Jessica T // N60 Team