God’s Grace if Sufficient For Me
This summer is my second summer with Toronto City Mission/Sonshine Day Camp and it has been so awesome to see how God is working in the lives of the kids, interns, and staff. While the summer started off somewhat hectic for us at Kingston-Galloway, we have had lots of fun getting to know both the new and returning campers. It’s amazing to see how God even works in times of busyness to bring us closer to Him. For myself, preparing the bible lessons for the kids has also helped me remember not only to speak God’s word but also live it out day to day both for his glory and to show the kids God’s love and grace.
One of the key things I’ve been reminded of this summer is how important it is to be present for the kids. Not simply being another person in the room with them or keeping them in check, but being engaged through listening, participating in some of the games and conversations they have, or even serving them when they need help with something. After week two I realized how easy it is to get caught up in just the serving aspect alone or focusing on discipline alone, but it is so important to take some time to know the kids on a little bit of a more personal level. This act of being intentional also lets them know that you aren't just trying to tell them what to do and get them in trouble, it helps them understand that you want to be at camp and that you care about them.
Some of my favourite moments from camp so far have been small group time after bible when the kids are put into various groups with different interns to review the bible lesson of the day and complete an “exit ticket” activity sheet which usually consists of some reflective questions and some aspect of the memory verse. I have had the pleasure of getting to sit down and discuss each day’s bible lesson with my main group of girls for the past three weeks now. I enjoy hearing both their usual answer of “Jesus” and their more vulnerable moments where they discuss how the bible lesson applies to friends, family members, situations at school, etc. These moments of openness and vulnerability remind me that they are placing trust in me to listen and hear them out. I thank God for these girls and all of our good talks. Seeing the kids’ answers on their exit tickets also brings me a lot of joy as they can sometimes be so different depending on the camper who wrote them. Some of them share exactly what is going on in their mind and some of them take creative liberties and draw out their answers instead. Regardless of how much they write on their page, it is always a blessing to see them takeaway at least something from the bible lessons.
For myself personally, I feel that God is yet again growing my reliance on Him. At Kingston-Galloway one of our outreach workers, Mila, takes the liberty of opening our doors earlier than needed for our staff to engage in personal devotional time with God each morning. This time has been especially precious to me as I am reminded each morning at our workplace that I cannot do this role as an intern alone. I cannot lead alone. Each morning as I look around the space, usually filled with kids talking, playing, and sometimes running, God shows me that this is all for His glory and requires His strength each day to do it.
Sometimes I struggle with my internal thoughts after work. What did I get wrong and how do I make sure not to do it again? Or sometimes it's simply replaying something that went wrong on my part over and over again. While these are helpful to make sure I do better in the future, they can do more harm than good when they become dwelling thoughts. This being said God has been teaching me to have grace for myself in my mistakes while keeping in mind solutions for the future. Though I still can’t help but think about moments where I could have done better for the kids directly, simply serving the kids, or even how I work with fellow interns and staff, I know that I’m not perfect but my God who gives me strength is.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
This verse really comforts me about this. Christ’s power which gives me strength is made perfect in all of my weaknesses. I can’t do this life, walk with Him, or even Sonshine Day Camp alone. It is all in and through the power of Jesus Christ.
I am excited to see how God continues to work at Kingston-Galloway for the rest of the summer and my hope is that by the end of the summer, I have grown even closer to God, the kids come to have their personal relationships with Christ, and that my terrible farmers tan would be fixed/evened out (lol).