It Was Going to be an Update

A fresh sheet.

Interesting what comes to mind.

I set out just now to write about my life at Weimar the last month, but instead I feel inspired from the new blogger interface and method of writing a blog.

Since this is a fresh, clean, crisp sheet, I want to make a parallel. I had my mind restored today in such a way as to totally make me reconsider what I've been up to and my attitude towards my life as of late (see, I do get to talk about my life at Weimar after all!).

It's been a hard week-- emotionally there has been stress. As an RA, being in the middle of the thick must be the norm-- at least it is in this dorm! Our dean has been highly stressed because of the many hats she is trying to juggle right now and midterms has taken its toll on students. There were some episodes that weren't handled well. It's over now and everyone is learning from them (they weren't so bad, in retrospect, but was I ever uptight). I was speaking with one of the faculty mid week and I really appreciated his desire for me to be happy here and and to continue strong in my small role of leadership in the dorm, despite the stress it invokes. He pointed out that Satan isn't happy about the work that is going on at Weimar. During the course of our conversation I realized that I needed to pray more and consider how my education and the work of this school are going to play a role in closing the work on this earth.

I've got a fresh start with my thinking now. Aren't you glad that Jesus can renew our minds? I sure am!

More on life later! =)

The Thoughts I Can't Express

My world used to be a strong, metal fortress.

Security was found in the joys of nature,

The babbling creek and Canada geese,

Picking roses and catching crickets,

Building forts and tossing balls.

Not many years of life were lived,

And then irreversible changes came.

Death of family left my life never the same.

But through those childhood and teenage years,

The stable things so near and dear were my surety.

Then the time began speeding up.

I became a small atom in a giant world.

Ever smaller it seems I've grown,

Less and less to call my own.

Everything is changing, including me.

Fire began to melt my strong fortress.

Saying good byes, giving up my pets,

Seeing my security fly away,

Being ripped from my home—

Can you blame the pain?

I feel my world sinking, ever changing.

I cry within, some tears some see.

Overwhelming world.

I want to my home back.

But I want to go to Heaven.

Soon.

Settling In

Whirlwind describes the last seven days. Last week at this time I was driving to Spokane. Right now I'm sitting at my desk in my new dorm room. Last week my mom and I were driving in her VW together, but this week she's riding with Dad home. Tanner's Hondo, Tanner, myself, and lots of necessities are left here in California.
What a lot we have done. We came expecting to move me into my room and have a nice few days before registration on Thursday. Thanks to our good family friends, the Shaffers, we worked on renovations in the ladies' dorm. How many college kids paint their own room? I did, along with my parents, Tanner, and Steven. All the rooms got painted, except for 2 (12/14 isn't too bad). We moved furniture all over the place. The place is looking good. Our lobby will be quite lovely.
Mom and Dad left me yesterday. It was a day of some hot tears flowing down my checks, but, I was encouraged by the kindness of the Shaffers and some of the girls here.
I'll write more later. Classes are still being worked out and schedules made. :) The settling in process isn't the easiest, but it's working... slowly but surely.

My Bedroom!

Girls' Lobby :)

The Lasts

There’s something about the lasts that wrings every emotion in my soul.

Homesick before even leaving home? I’m at the summit of my leaving-home-for-college experience.

It’s my last night in my bedroom. The last night to say goodnight to everyone in my family. We had our last supper together, walked our last trail in home country, and said good-bye to church family—so many things, so many lasts.

Leaving for school has forced me to give my chickens a new home, find ideas for boarding my horse, and is ripping me from my family. At least my brother is going to be there. I’m the epitome of a homebody. These lasts are killing me…

I’ll be home in December. I’m counting the days.

Adventure begins at 10:00 AM tomorrow morning.

Weimar College, I’m coming. God has a purpose. This painful feeling of leaving home for real hurts, but it’s not the last time I’ll be home. I’m just temporarily away.

Last Sabbath together as the three Martins

My home

I took my last long ride of the summer

Meet Princess, my Morab mare. Last goofy photo for a long time

My pathetic flower basket... But I'm going to miss watering it!

My room downstairs-- see the curtains? I love this place. Amazing bedroom!!

My former chicken coop. No long full of life. Oh the pain of saying bye to my little birds...

Beautiful sunflowers in the garden

Garden view of the upstairs of my house

Yeah, this is going to hurt... I hate lasts.

About to start the adventure of life. Please keep praying for me!

Laborers Together With God-YD Camp Reflections

Is it possible to write about all the blessings of working with the hearts of young people for two weeks? Or about the lessons I learned as a counselor? Or the ways God called me to higher ground? If you’ve ever experienced Young Disciple Youth Bible Camp, you understand part of the amazing summer I’ve spent away from home.

It was hard to leave my home, knowing I was going away for nearly three of the five remaining weeks I had at home, but my experience at Camp was worth the sacrifice of my summer, my time, and my family enjoyment. For nearly one-third of my life I’ve spent most of the month of July in Inchelium, Washington. My life was changed from being rebellious, self-pleasing, and self-centered to a Christian young person striving to live by the light God has given me. I am one of the hundreds, possibly thousands, of fruits of Young Disciple Ministries. Because my life was changed during the tender years of my existence, I return year after year to Inchelium to be a co-laborer with Christ in working with the hearts of children twelve to seventeen years of age.

Friday night of Youth Leadership Training I was handed my assignment—counselor of the oldest girls’ unit, Daughters of God. I’ve been a counselor at YDYBC for five years now, so I’ve had these girls many times. Yet, every time I’m handed my pink name tag and unit assignment, I am humbled. Working with the hearts of girls nearly past the tender age of seventeen (a time when hearts begin to hardened) is a sacred trust. Once again, I felt the sacredness of this assignment. With careful prayer, I prepared ideas for worship talks, devotion sharing, and ways to bind the hearts of my campers together and to my co-counselor and I. 

Outdoors Camp began on July 15. My unit was amazing. My girls were sweet. It was nearly an “angel unit”—a name not to be said since it tends to end as a curse rather than a descriptor of good campers. But one girl was obviously struggling. One day, midweek, we had a chance to have a real heart-to-heart conversation—a deep one, concerning being worthy of Christ’s plan of salvation despite our shortcomings. I was encouraged. It was the most precious conversation I’ve ever had at Camp with one of my campers. She stayed both weeks and by the end of camp two days ago, she went home a changed person. I’ve never seen someone change so fast. She went from complaining about being bitten from mosquitoes constantly to encouraging her unit mates constantly. My heart still thrills over this young woman’s desire to press on!

Our second week of YD Camp began on July 22^nd -Mission Music Camp. The first night, after Campfire, I had my campers write their goals for the week—the ways they hoped to be challenged and called higher. Through the week, one girl kept opening expressing her very blatant distaste for heaven (!) and for spiritual things and her inability to please her mother. I told her of my experience as a rebellious teenager and how Camp changed me. I wrote her a lot of Camp-O-Grams last week, telling her very straightforwardly about what Jesus wants to do and how He has helped me –and so many others. We had a lot of good talks. Yet still, she fought. Sabbath night we have testimony time after our Campfire talk. She didn’t go up. I was sad, yet I kept praying inwardly. But, as the theme song was sung one final time, she gave me a big hug. We walked away from the Campfire circle, arm over arm. She was singing and humming. I stopped just within earshot of the soundtrack playing our theme song. She brokenly said, “That song… I can’t explain what I feel… But… I… want to choose Jesus.” What a giant hug I gave her and she gave me! Seeing her peaceful smile replace her drawn, forced smiles all week was worth sacrificing all my summer for my whole life! She has a lot to face going home, but by God’s grace, much prayer, and support she is going to change her life!

God closed the door to go to GYC Europe. How I wanted to go. YD Camp was on the back of my mind- I’ve not missed a year since I was 13. YD asked me to teach child evangelism classes again this year. I said yes and in that way committed to Camp this summer. How glad I am it worked out this way. I was just where God wanted me. Just when I needed it most, I was reminded that soul saving, especially that of the young people of this world, is my life-work! I never want to loose that fire. It was rekindled as it had never been before this year at YD. And, who knows how my presence there may have affected lives. God may likely use me, and you, to touch someone that no one else can. When I look at my ministry to the youth of YD Camp, I determine to never let the opportunity go to reach out.

Yes, I was challenged, I was invigorated, I was encouraged and I recommend the ministry of a godly youth Bible camp to every person. It’s a joy to be a young disciple: a high classed, privileged young person learning and growing in Christ.

And It Starts Again

It’s camp time again. This is my eighth summer at Young Disciple Youth Bible Camp. It feels weird to be the oldest, most experienced girls’ counselor. We’re in the thick of counselor training right now.  I always appreciate this preparation time; I forget so much throughout the year, and it really helps me focus on how I can prayerfully prepare to let the Lord work through me.

This is going to be an interesting year. So many people are gone—Cheyenne Francis, Mr. Kim, Mrs. Riechard, Mrs. Osterman, Mrs. Prettyman, and others. I’m glad that the Prewitts could make time out of their busy schedule for YD Camp. It’s a sacrifice to be here. So many of the old counselors of my camper and early counseling days have moved on. I feel like a new generation of counselors is arriving… I’m not that old either. =) But anyway, I’m glad that new people are being trained in how to keep this camp YD, where campers are high class, privileged young people learning and growing in Christ.

I’m sitting on the Gems for Jesus cottage’s porch. Quiet time in the cabin is hotter than in the tents. I’m enraptured by the view. The birds’ songs (and raven’s caws) fill the air. Camp is in the air. I’m excited!

Keep the counselors, staff, and campers in prayer!

I’ll try to keep you posted!  

It's For More Than Just the Obvious

I was catching up with my cousin, Ariel Hempel, last night on the phone. If you’ve ever met my beautiful cousin, you’ll know she radiates beauty both without and within. She reflects her Creator. I’m blessed in every conversation with her. What struck me last night as we talked about our classes at school for this fall was how she wanted to take on so large a credit load and her academy responsibilities but she was going to pray about it some more.

Once we hung up, my mind pondered how she prays about things. I do pray, or, at least I have in the past and do about some things everyday with sincere earnestness. But, this school-planning phone conversation woke me up to the lesson that I have to pray about everything in my life! That’s more than just about what degree to go for, which school to attend, the trials my family is undergoing—it’s about the things I know I know what to do on. What a reality check. Sounds easy.

My good Savior gave me a test today! So soon after conviction – amen? An acquaintance of some years emailed me about considering a mission break. I’m going to pray about it. Right now I feel that I know how to answer, but I am going to take some time to sincerely pray over this matter. Sounds easy still, but now to instill it as a primary-defense mechanism, to use a biology term (^_^).

Praying is so simple, but I don’t turn to it as quickly or as often as I should. Prayer is a privilege, so why do I neglect it? I know prayer has power. I’ve seen it at work. And I believe in God’s care and concern for my unique situation and circumstances. I want to make prayer my first line of defense in this warfare against evil. I want to make prayer, that connection to the very throne of God, my lifeline!

Here’s to praying more, friends! =)