The most exciting, and most fun for me is Reading Rocks. We started our 4th year of Reading Rocks (at least, I think its been 4 years...) last week and this summer is by far the best one we have had yet! In fact, on Tuesday we had 34 kids show up! You can go to the Reading Rocks page on our website (which is linked above) and get some general info on what it is and how it works. I will try and post a more detailed description of it when I get the chance (or I'll just copy and paste Carisa's posts on How Reading Rocks Works...we'll see how lazy I get, hehe). Basically, the kids come in and read books for an hour, earning points which leads to prizes...and everything culminated in an awesome party in August!
One of my favorite parts about Reading Rocks this year has been our teen tutors. Trust me, I have not said that in past years. This year, though, we have some really awesome younger teens who just last year participated in Reading Rocks and are now serving. Its been so great!!
(recognize that teen?!? I'm still not over the fact that she is a teen!!!)I would have to say that my favorite part about Reading Rocks this year, though, has been Carisa and Shannon. Carisa developed Reading Rocks and she and I have worked together over the last few years to tweak things here and there and try to make it better. Little did we know that what we really needed was Shannon!! This year we have made a lot of really great changes and the three of us have each taken our own role in Reading Rocks, and so far I feel like we are working together like a dream team!! I LOVE working with other people, especially other women (most of the people I work with are men...who are amazing...but they don't quite get me, haha), and especially women I love and respect; so this team is just amazing!! Laurie, another woman on staff that I love and respect, is working with us as well, though she is away for 2 weeks and we miss her!
I mentioned before that last Saturday we also had our annual Block Party. Well, the fruit from that has been incredible! Literally almost half the kids at Kids Club this week were new visitors from the Block Party! We also had a ton of new people at church on Sunday, and at Teen Club last night!! Praise the Lord! I was SO excited when I left Kids Club on Tuesday night with so many new names and faces!!
And finally, Wednesday my roommate Jen and I took a group of 14 teen and preteen girls on an overnight camping trip. Any of you who know me are probably a little surprised, and that's okay...I am too. I am NOT a fan of camping! However, I am a fan of hanging out with awesome teens and getting out of the city, so I decided to go (well, that and they had to have at least 2 leaders go...and there are only 2 teen girl leaders so I didn't have much choice, haha). When someone asked me how the trip went, I responded; "terrible and amazing". Amazing because we had a lot of fun and all the girls were really open and honest about what was going on in their lives. Terrible because a lot of them have some really horrible things going on in their lives.
We spent most of the day Wednesday laughing in the pool, jumping on a trampoline and playing cards. We laughed a lot and all really enjoyed each other. We spent most of Wednesday night pouring out our hearts. As I listened to each girls story, I found myself saying several times, "Lord, I don't know how much more I can listen to". But, they kept talking, so I kept listening. It was incredible to see the honesty come from these girls, and the love and compassion they were showing one another. We all went to sleep exhausted; physically and emotionally.
I didn't get to stay too long on Thursday (I had to leave early to get back in time for Reading Rocks), but I was there for some more intense sharing, crying and praying. It was amazing and terrible all at the same time. I will tell you that I have the privilege of working with some of the strongest and most beautiful girls (soon to be women) in the world. I found that as I listened to them talk, they gave me strength. God is doing amazing things. I can already see the beauty forming out of the ashes. Thank you Lord.
I can honestly say that with everything going on, I have a million questions, and about 3 of them actually have an answer. With that, though, comes Jesus. I can see Him everywhere, working in the midst of even the hardest circumstances. I don't have any answers, but I have Jesus.
I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed (did I mention that I am also leading an AIM trip in 2 weeks, organizing the Teen Leadership Camp in 3 weeks and trying to prepare for the mission trip that is only 5 weeks away; with God's Girls squeezed on the middle?!), but all of that is just constantly taking me back to Jesus. His words, "I will never leave you or forsake you" are really taking root in my life right now.
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