Day 12

Hey all. Here's an update of my past week.

Day 1 Saturday.
I was greatly encouraged on this day because the Lord shifted my focus from others to Himself. I had been thinking about how I could help the teens learn and grow, but I wasn't listening for what God wanted to say to me. I prayed that God would stretch me.

Day 2 Sunday
Sunday at CYIA is the day of preparation. As a team trainer, I was anticipating the moment when Rod Franz would announce who would be on my team. We all gathered in the auditorium as he read of the list of names. I had been praying that God would give me a good team, and as I heard the list of names I knew that He had answered. We studied together and prepared to teach the five day club the next day.

On Sunday we drove to our club location to meet the hostess. She hadn't passed out invitations yet so we went around the neighborhood inviting kids. We passed out the little pink pieces of paper until we ran out. As we walked it began to sprinkle, and then to pour.
Rain is not a good thing when it comes to five day clubs. Rain keeps kids indoors and away from the gospel. That day, everyone at the camp was praying for good weather.

Day 3 Monday
Before we went to club we prayed together as a team that God would give us good weather and five salvation decisions. When we arrived the sun was so hot that we actually had to move under the porch. Praise God! There was only one kid. Praise God. The week was not going to go as I expected.

Day 4 Tuesday
Christian Youth in Action is an amazing week because it is so gospelcentric. Yes, I made up that word.
We wake up and read about the cross, we worship together twice a day, and in the mornings we are challenged by David York. Each year his sermons blow me away by pointing me to the gospel and work of Christ. York's bible challenge hour is the fuel we need for the rest of the day.

The fact that only one kid was attending our club made it difficult for me to continue to pray that God would save five kids. On Tuesday night we gathered in groups and praised God for what He had been doing in our clubs. I was excited to hear of the salvation decisions and the ways God had worked during the street evangelism. There's a lesson to be learned here: it is important to share with others what God is doing in and through us. It might sometimes seem like boasting, but it really shifts the focus to the Lord. As I listened to story after story I was encouraged with the knowledge that God is alive and working in hearts. I prayed that God would bring more kids to our club.

Day 5 Wednesday
On the third day of our club we still only had one kid. He wasn't a bad kid. His name was Joey and he had auburn hair; how bad could he be? Joey had already received Christ so we focused on teaching spiritual growth. Looking back on the week I pray that God will continue to use it in his life.

Day 6 Thursday
Day four of club brought Joey along with his four year old brother. We were very thankful he could make it, but it didn't look like we were going to get the turnout I expected after all. If nothing else, this club served as a training ground for the teens on my team. They would be ready to teach when they returned to their own counties.

Day 7 Friday
The last day of club went by quickly. We had a fun time with Joey and his little brother playing water games in the hot sun. Then we returned to camp to say our goodbyes and leave for home.
God didn't bring the five kids that I had asked for, but I know that He was working out His will. I rested in the fact that my faith in God is not based on whether He decides to answer all my requests in the positive. He knew exactly how my week was going to go and I praise Him for it.