ups and downs

Despite several ups and downs I had this summer, I can honestly say that the kids were awesome to work with. I learned so much about who I am as a Christian and exactly where I turn when things get rough.

One thing that I have brought back with me in my spiritual life is to pray over the places that I am each day. Before, as well as during camp, Sara encouraged the interns to pray over the neighborhood and the churches each morning. I really enjoyed feeling like maybe the stranger that walked by me would have a better day just because I prayed for them.

One week during service we focused on prayer and praying for others around us. We had a volunteer help us one day, and he had the kids sit down and draw a person. After all of the kids had drawn their pictures, we went outside, and if we saw anyone wearing the same color shirt as what the child had drawn, we would walk up to the person and ask if they had anything that they wanted us to pray for.  It was fun watching the kids' excitement as they would find their person or their friend's person. It was so overwhelming watching the responses that we got from the people that we prayed for. Most of them had tears in their eyes as our kids said precious prayers for their neighbors.

I was already a big fan of prayer, but even for me, learning a new way to pray with the kids was a very cool experience! So the next time you are saying your daily prayer, ask God to show you someone who needs a prayer said for them or pray over the places you go everyday.