Wednesday, July 16, 2014
The Shenanigans Are Back!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
A Life of Service
Today I returned home from my last mission trip as a youth with my church. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but believe it or not, this is a huge turning point in my life. My five years of serving with my church family have changed my life and I honestly don't know what I would do without the people I've met or the things I've experienced. Just let me explain.
Picture the scene: A quiet 8th grader, just finishing confirmation classes is approached to go on a mission trip to North Carolina for ten days with 40 people she's never talked to.
After himming and hawing for weeks, I finally caved and decided to go. It ended up being the greatest decision of my life. I grew closer to God, got to see a different part of the country, and got to gain a ton of new friends along the way. Also, I learned that I love serving others. I didn't care what I was doing, as long as I was making a difference in someone's life. After that first trip, I was sold. Since then, I have gone to Boston, MA, Lincoln County, WV, New Orleans, LA, and most recently, Cortez, CO. Along the way, I've worked with under-privileged kids in a number of different situations, helped paint and scrape houses, completely gutted an unsafe mobile home, moved furniture, cleaned schools, chatted with old folks, and served food to those in need. They may seem like little things, but to those with so little, sometimes just a listening ear is all that is necessary. While our group has always gone to serve the community, we end up being changed much more than those we're serving. It amazes me how someone with so little can be so grateful and cheerful.
The people I've met and places I've seen have shown me the grace of God. He's powerfully at work in each and every one of our lives, we just have to take the time to notice it. At times it may feel like we're completely alone and no one out there will hear our cry, but God is always listening. I've experienced this first hand. I've been battling depression for a few years now and these trips and turning to God always take me out of the cycle of feeling worthless and pathetic. I've come to appreciate so much that I am given and try to always put others before myself. It's not an easy life, but if I can make a difference in someone's life in any way, no matter how small, I'll count it as a good day.
Welcome to the religious side of Sam Jones. It's always been there, but it took me until now to realize that I can share my whole self with those around me. Sure, not many read these, but if one person reads this and sees how God has worked in the lives I've seen, maybe they'll start to notice it in their own lives. Besides, what's wrong with a positive outlook on life, each and every day, religious or not?
These trips have made a huge impact on my life and they've really showed me that a life of service can be much more rewarding than living my life for only myself. Helping others and lifting them up makes me feel good, so why would I do anything but that? Gone are the days of grudges, negative attitudes, and hopefully complaining. My goal is to live a full life of servitude to those around me, in whatever way I can. Will you join me along the way?
Picture the scene: A quiet 8th grader, just finishing confirmation classes is approached to go on a mission trip to North Carolina for ten days with 40 people she's never talked to.
After himming and hawing for weeks, I finally caved and decided to go. It ended up being the greatest decision of my life. I grew closer to God, got to see a different part of the country, and got to gain a ton of new friends along the way. Also, I learned that I love serving others. I didn't care what I was doing, as long as I was making a difference in someone's life. After that first trip, I was sold. Since then, I have gone to Boston, MA, Lincoln County, WV, New Orleans, LA, and most recently, Cortez, CO. Along the way, I've worked with under-privileged kids in a number of different situations, helped paint and scrape houses, completely gutted an unsafe mobile home, moved furniture, cleaned schools, chatted with old folks, and served food to those in need. They may seem like little things, but to those with so little, sometimes just a listening ear is all that is necessary. While our group has always gone to serve the community, we end up being changed much more than those we're serving. It amazes me how someone with so little can be so grateful and cheerful.
The people I've met and places I've seen have shown me the grace of God. He's powerfully at work in each and every one of our lives, we just have to take the time to notice it. At times it may feel like we're completely alone and no one out there will hear our cry, but God is always listening. I've experienced this first hand. I've been battling depression for a few years now and these trips and turning to God always take me out of the cycle of feeling worthless and pathetic. I've come to appreciate so much that I am given and try to always put others before myself. It's not an easy life, but if I can make a difference in someone's life in any way, no matter how small, I'll count it as a good day.
Welcome to the religious side of Sam Jones. It's always been there, but it took me until now to realize that I can share my whole self with those around me. Sure, not many read these, but if one person reads this and sees how God has worked in the lives I've seen, maybe they'll start to notice it in their own lives. Besides, what's wrong with a positive outlook on life, each and every day, religious or not?
These trips have made a huge impact on my life and they've really showed me that a life of service can be much more rewarding than living my life for only myself. Helping others and lifting them up makes me feel good, so why would I do anything but that? Gone are the days of grudges, negative attitudes, and hopefully complaining. My goal is to live a full life of servitude to those around me, in whatever way I can. Will you join me along the way?
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