It's Tuesday morning but I'm sharing our Monday with you.
"Wakey, wakey" happens at 6:45am and our kids and adults are popping right up to get ready for the day. On the other hand, I wear earplugs and hear it just faintly and linger in bed until the crowd has left. Mornings come earlier every day, but we are all ready to get to work with a smile right on time!
It's unusually hot this week in Wisconsin, and it was too hot to organize the trailer Sunday night, so I took care of it while our campers were in the morning program. As they exited the school, they came to the trailer to claim their tools and get some supplies from the group's cache. The only tools at Workcamp are the tools that we bring. Then they all found their crew and their vehicle and rolled out of the parking lot to the four corners of Wausau wearing the same shirts.
This is when I head to a local coffee shop with wi-fi to connect with all of you. I feel just a little guilt to be sitting in the air-conditioning drinking delicious coffee while everyone else is working so hard, but just a little bad! I have a friend from high school living in Wausau and she came by while I was writing. It was so good to see her, and she and her husband have arranged to give us a tour of their Synagogue on our Wednesday afternoon off. I spoke with the kids last night about our history as people of God and pointed out that Jesus was a faithful Jew. We are looking forward to seeing Karen and Peter's place of worship and hearing about all of the symbolic things Jesus cared about as he practiced his faith.
As we returned to the school in late afternoon, I was able to catch some of our people checking in as progress reporters, devotion leaders, and quartermasters. I overheard the joys and frustrations that come with the first day and the Group staff/red shirts taking it all in and giving great feedback for problem solving and, bonus, Kali was asked to share her "God sighting" in the program that evening! As I walked through the hallways of the school and joined our youth and adults for dinner, I heard about the residents being served; everyone is so kind, thoughtful, cute (kids in the homes), etc. The needs are great among the residents, and I shared photos of the site Matt is on, and, like me, you'll have to wait for the "after".
Life at the school is really good. All 310 people have been kind and encouraging to one another, and our youth are breaking off once-in-awhile to hang out with new friends. They sat with their crews in the evening program and are getting to know them better. By Thursday they will be great friends! Kali shared her God sighting in the program and you will have to join us on our presentation Sunday to hear it for yourself! Scripture was read, the story about Peter walking on the water and then sinking. The MC asked for two primary youth group leaders to volunteer for an activity in the program, and I found myself standing up. The two of us were asked, "Whose voice comes to mind from your youth that you listen to?" That made me think I needed someone who isn't shy about speaking loudly and clearly and said, "Sydney." The other youth leader called for a boy. The two of us were blindfolded and mats with squares taped off were brought out and the crowd was asked to participate. We were playing The Floor Is Lava, blindfolded, in a loud cheering room, and I thought I was going to be hearing Sydney's voice lead me into each taped off square; they tricked us and the boy was directing me and Syd was directing the other guy. The young man's voice was difficult for me to hear and while I made a valiant effort, the other guy won. I think it was Sydney that won it for him with her clear, strong voice. The lesson being, do you trust the voice of Jesus to lead you through the noise of the world? Don't be afraid, God's grace is enough.
We broke up for small group devotions and once again, our youth led each other in scripture, discussion, and prayer. I'm so proud of them. Then they disperse for games and hanging out. They take a lot of photos of each other and of themselves. It appears to me that the quiet and the loud are doing life together well.
I still can't say enough about our awesome adults. God is good.