Friday night we read Jesus' stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son while looking at Finding Nemo. The main focus was to look at where Nemo's worth came from. It wasn't based on something Nemo had done or who he was, it was what his father had sacrificed to rescue him. The same is true with our relationship with God. We can't earn his favour or love; it actually lessens the cost of his sacrifice when we think we can earn it!
Saturday morning we took a love languages test to help us realize how we feel love and worth from others, and how we enjoy giving love back to them. It was especially helpful for the leaders who have deeper relationships with people. I had some good conversations with the them about how they can show love to people in their life and how we, as leaders, can show appreciation to each other. But I think the girls enjoyed it as well; I learned that most of them feel loved based on quality time...not the best language I show someone love, but it means I'll have to sacrifice more because they are worth it!
Throughout the whole weekend, we got to hang out with Beth (an English gap year worker, and a girl from the youth group I worked with in 2010) and a younger girl who Beth's currently discipling. Beth shared her testimony and it was so powerful. Many of the girls were in tears as she was so personal and open about her struggles. The girls related to her so well and found it so encouraging to see that God was working in someone so close to their own age. During this session we looked at The Little Mermaid and how God wants to be our kind and protective father, just like Ariel's father, the King. Beth shared how she has learned how God is her heavenly father and what it means to be a confident daughter of the King, a princess. The girls and the leaders loved spending time with Beth and seeing how fun it can actually be, giving Christ control of your life.
Saturday afternoon we baked biscuits (cookies) and decorated them. Then we split into groups to deliver them to the elderly in the community. When I first suggested this idea to the leaders, they seemed very against this idea. They weren't thrilled at the prospect of taking the girls out into the community, for fear they might be rejected or laughed out. This was so discouraging to hear, the church didn't want to leave their comfort zone and serve others. But the girls loved it, and I think the leaders got the vision for it when we went out into the neighborhoods. My group went to a local nursing home and the girls loved seeing the joy on the residents' faces as we brightened their day with some sweets and kind conversations. The girls all came back asking to do this again and to spend more time with the elderly. We're planning on going back to the home this next weekend, and the leaders are on board this time! I think they see the importance of the church going out and being the hands and feet of Jesus, even when it's awkward or uncomfortable.
Saturday evening we looked at Beauty and the Beast, we are the Beast and there's nothing we can do to be good enough for God, the Beauty. We looked at God being a groom and we are his bride, his Beloved (the name of the weekend). The beautiful aspect of the film is that Belle loves the Beast even when he's despicable! God loves us when we are the unfaithful and adulterous bride. We watched this video, which I encourage you to take a look at. When you know the Jewish tradition, it makes so much more sense for Jesus to call us his bride!
Almost every Disney movie ends in a wedding. And the most important part in the proposal is how the bride will respond to it. This was the call to action for the girls. At the end of the session they had some time to reflect on what God thinks of them and what they will do in response to Him. I've talked to a few of the girls since last weekend and I think this was a big turning point for a lot of them. Their process of becoming a Christian and accepting Christ will be a lot more gradual than it usually is with America's repeat-after-me prayer. I think the majority of the girls who came aren't just "checking it out" anymore, but have actually chosen to step on that path and start the journey. 7 of the girls have asked for teen Bibles and we've looked at some Bible and devotional apps for their phones. Some of them have even started tweeting Bible verses every day!
While this is so exciting and such an answer to prayer, it makes me sad that I'll be leaving soon. The girls and leaders are just now starting to open up and ask for more direction and help to grow in their relationships with God. I pray that this will continue and that they won't lapse back when summer comes, exams are finished, and holidays start. The UMHB team will come in less than 3 weeks, and we'll have a weekend retreat with them while they're here. I pray that this will be another spiritual boost for the girls and that they will take advantage of this time with so many leaders who want them to grow. There will also be 2 girls from UMHB who will stay through the summer. My prayer for them is that they can transition quickly and that the girls will trust them and ask for help in this early stage of growth.
May promises to be incredibly busy. We have lots of planning during the week and big events every weekend. We're planning on taking the oldest group to Beth's youth group nearby; they have a lot more leaders and resources to make each group engaging and thought-provoking. Then the UMHB team comes May 10th-21st. We'll be in schools in religious education classes almost everyday so we'll get to see a whole new lot of students! On Friday, the 24th of May, we have a high school lock-in for my good-bye party/welcome party for the summer interns. That'll be pretty emotional. And then I leave the 27th of May. Wow, time has flown by, only 5 more weeks! CRAZY!
Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed for Beloved. It was such a success, and we'll never know what the Holy Spirit did in some of the girls' lives. Please continue to pray for me for the next month. Pray that I will finish strong and have clarity to recognize those who are ready to grow and take the next step spiritually. Pray for spiritual warfare, which will no doubt be an issue as girls are inviting the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness!
