Changing Seasons

This month we welcomed 8 students from California to serve with us for 3 weeks.  They've done a great job so far meeting locals and re-establishing relationships! 

Playing games while building relationships!

Our "Kick-off Event"!

    It is intriguing how each season of my time here has been different.  Summer has its own rhythm with much camp work and activities.  Language learning had its own season of challenges and joys.  Now I'm in the final leg of my 2-year term.  This winter, I'm helping host a short-term team and leading girls group activities.  Soon, I'll began looking at ideas for this summer camp season.

    Something that has been on my mind is how each person is uniquely gifted and shaped for specific types of work.  God is the one who gifts each of us to things.  And according to 1 Cor 12:18 God has arranged each part of the body just as He wanted them to be.  It is very challenging at times for me to be content and satisfied in my own gifts.  I do indeed enjoy organizing details and coordinating things.  However, at times I feel a bit disappointed that I'm not gifted in teaching or other more "people-oriented" gifts.  I'm fine around people but there are certain areas of life that are not my gift.  God gave each person the gifts He wanted us to have.  We have to learn contentment.  We have to learn to be thankful for them.  We need to learn to use the gifts He gives us to serve Him in whatever opportunities He brings us.  If I spend my time wishing I had other people's gifts, it detracts from the time I could spend putting my gifts to use.  My desire is to keep focused on God and keep using my gifting for His glory.