I'm updating because I don't want to do homework!

The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy. I never realized just how much stuff I would have to get done these last few weeks before graduation.
Last Saturday I had the privilege of speaking at my club retreat. It was out at Camp Crossed Arrow and our theme was love. Originally they had planned to have a missionary come and speak, but that did not work out so I apparently was the next best thing. I spoke on the topic of loving others and the importance of loving those you serve. I shared some about my experiences in Africa and talked about the need to love people without agenda. I believe that the greatest command must precede the great commission. We have to love others before we can ever think about “converting” them. Love must show the way to Christ. Christianity isn’t a sales pitch. It’s about relationships and when we become so focused on “saving souls” we forget that we are here to save people. Recently I came across a verse in I Thessalonians that has become my theme verse for missions.
I Thessalonians 2:6-8 says, “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

I think that’s what missions is all about. It’s sharing our lives with people and through that sharing God.

This past week has been filled with preparation for “A Clown’s Play,” a children’s show that retells the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. We rehearsed every night this week. We spent all day yesterday performing at elementary schools followed by a final performance on campus last night. By the end of the night I was exhausted. My face actually hurts from smiling so much. But it was a lot of fun.
Because I was one of the narrators I was on stage the entire show. It was the biggest part I’ve ever had in a play. I always used to dream of having a lead role, but it’s so nerve racking being up there that I think I prefer smaller parts.