PLEASE pray!

This morning I received a text from my good friend Jenny from TeenServe. A little bit of background information- TeenServe was the organization I worked for last summer. They go around the midwest and set up camps that youthgroups from all over attend for a week. They are split up into groups and help fix up people's homes duing the day and attend an evening program at night. And Jenny is an awesome woman of God who worked with me last year and is working there now as well.

So I got this text- Please pray. We had a boy at camp who attempted suicide tonight.

Bahhh! So I don't know any details, but I think just that much is enough to get me down on my knees! I can't imagine what he was going through and what lies he was believing to get to that point amidst hundreds of christians loving and serving others.

But it's so important we pray for all of TeenServe. Last week when I went to visit them I learned that they were under a lot of spiritual battles. Several on the team had been having demonic dreams, a couple of the rooms in the school were having spirit activity, and a woman that was helping lead up a team of 50 kids suddenly got a tumor in her uterus (she had emergency surgery and is fine now). Obviously the devil is up to something because he knows that God is up to something bigger!

So TeenServe is finishing up this week of kids tomorrow, then will be heading to Butler, Indiana and setting up for the workcampers all next week. The kids will be there July 11-17. So please keep all of them in your prayers. Thank you!

Growing Roots

Yesterday my friend Anne and I went to visit the TeenServe staff for the day. They are setting up in a town 3 hours from Eau Claire, so Anne and I had lots of time for discussion both before and after spending time with all our great bros and sisters. On the way back we were talking about how it can be hard to really immerse yourself and get super involved with people and ministries when you know its only for a short while. (i.e. TeenServe for a summer, or even a church for the next two years.) It's hard to invest your time when you know you'll be moving on soon. So, God gave me an analogy that I quite like. Ready? :)

When you plant yourself somewhere, you allow your roots to grow there. Then, when God calls you somewhere else, he gently pulls you from the ground, and sets you somewhere else. When you plant yourself there, your roots that already developed have a much easier time than if you had none at all. Sure, it will hurt a little, and be hard, but your growth will be quicker and easier this time. It's like a transplant. Although it will seem difficult at the time, it's all for the best for you. On the other hand, if you never invest yourself and really get involved, your roots will never grow and each time God places you somewhere else your growth will be the same- none!
So, I'm not sure if thats all botanically correct, but either way it helped Anne and I grasp it a bit more.

It was great to get to see the staff again! We volunterred our services for the day in exchange for the traditional TeenServe meals and a great time and lots of laugh with the team. Definitely an exchange well worth our time! :) LOVE them all soooo much!