For the past 2 semesters I have had the BLESSING of being a part of Global Retreats (formerly known as Next Steps) at Liberty University. The retreat is for college students who are exploring the possibility of missions. The weekend is designed to provide a time where students (and mentors alike) can get away from the distractions of life and seek Jesus! Our time was filled with worship, awesome teaching, one on one time with mentors and lots of fellowship.
Although this weekend is for students, I think all of us mentors walked away learning SO much! Although we are already a few steps ahead in our missions journey, every teaching session challenged me.
Overall, I walked away with a greater passion to simply seek JESUS. I came to realize that it can be so very easy to seek everything other than Jesus…good things…like building a strong partnership team that will help you get and stay overseas, a good marriage, obedient children….however, if I am not seeking Jesus wholeheartedly, everything else is going to fail. Everything else will be a struggle.
God was so AWESOME to pair me up with Annie, a senior Advertising and PR major. We had a great weekend chatting, sharing meals, and praying together. I was so encouraged by her heart for the Nations and her willingness to be obedient to WHATEVER God calls her to. My life is richer because of this new friendship! I am thankful that we live close to Lynchburg so that we can remain in touch throughout her last year of school (and our last year in the States, Lord-willing).
I also had some very special visitors over the weekend 🙂 We had some free time on Saturday afternoon, so Chandler was able to come with the kiddos to see me (and also get a little breather from flying solo over the weekend!). The kids had a blast on the playground while I chatted Chandler’s ear off about all that God was teaching me. The girls (and Chandler) especially enjoyed a yummy treat! Sorry, Gideon…maybe next year, for now you get to chew on a name tag!
There was a prayer time after our free time and Chandler decided to stick around a little bit so that I could spend a little extra time with them afterwards. After the prayer time I came up to my room and found this sweet sight! I am so blessed by Chandler. He was willing to stick it out the whole weekend so I could pour into students and also be poured into by Jesus! It wasn’t an easy weekend, but he was thankful he could do it!
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