Blog

I watched a lot of my northern hemisphere friends send their kids to start the new school year this past week. I’m also a former teacher who watched plenty of my friends in the field begin their new season in the classroom as well. This is my second September in a row not being in a classroom and not starting out a school year. Last year I was still learning lots of new things in my role, and this past week I’ve hit a lot of turn over as I run things that were brand new at the start of my transition.

My brain still gets confused by the seasons, and Christchurch weather doesn’t help much with the unpredictable weather, but I’m freezing cold less frequently these days.

To be honest, the weather was the least of my brain’s worries this week as I navigated through a busy season of preparing for youth to transition into youth group next term by meeting new parents, finding leaders, and getting camp planned. We’re back to camp. I was talking with one of my former students on the phone the other day, and he asked me, “Didn’t you already have a big camp?” Yeah, my dude, there are like three to five depending on how you count them.

Junior camp was a healing experience for me last year as I got to read the Bible with young people and actively not die while eating on camp. My friend Haley is in charge of the food, so I know I’ll be safe, and I know a few of the young people already and am excited for more rapport building opportunities. But my life can never be simple, so I have to mention that my body has had some annoying SCI complications that make this camp experience more difficult. Fortunately, one of the amazing church members asked me some key questions and had the time and resources to help with some super practical details to reduce my anxiety over certain symptoms outside my control.

My head had a lot to deal with present in this place with a few extra things on my plate, but then I also had a couple extra morning calls with my TCK care team that were encouraging (and also took some time and headspace). To top it off, my dad had some health stuff on another continent, and I had a moment where I sat with Jesus to acknowledge how hard it is to have my heart spread across so many time zones. I love the life I live, and love watching the daffodils peek out in August and the trees burst in blossom in September. But I also miss basking in the hot August sun and layering up as the leaves change colour in September. And spelling colour without a ‘u’ like a cheapskate. (Do you know the history of American spellings?) I’m not here to complain about my privileged problems of being able to live overseas and to have a flexible work schedule where I can go on camp and call people an ocean away to share ministry tools.

I’m just here to be honest that I’m not Jesus, and it’s hard to make it through some weeks.

I’m really looking forward to camp, and I’m acknowledging now that if I’m knackered on Sunday afternoon, I won’t bother with a post until the next week. I’d love your prayers through the next two weeks that I can stay focused on those values that camp brings while I navigate the frustrations and limitations I live with alongside that. Let’s also pray for a miracle because I haven’t given up on that.