that didn’t go as planned...

So Club has been a little bit of a roller coaster this year.  Lots of kids, no kids, lots of kids, no kids, no kids, no kids.  It’s just super unpredictable and can be really frustrating.  We have been faithful, and continued  to plan events in the hope of kids coming...believing and rejoicing over one.  Wednesday night was no exception.  We had, or were supposed to have, Hunger Games Club.  Our leadership team met weeks before to pray, brainstorm, and plan to make it the best possible night for kids.  We were so excited!  We arrived early.  We dressed up.  We had everything set for a great night.

Or so we thought...

One girl showed up, which was great!  But most of our plans would be a little bit of a failure with just she and a couple leaders.  Alex and I had a meeting in the kitchen.  Not going to lie, we were a little frustrated.  We weren’t really sure what to do.  But we prayed and talked about it and decided to give her the decision of how she wanted the night to proceed.  Either go on with Hunger Games or hangout by the bonfire.  She choose to hangout with the leaders and make smores.  AND IT WAS AWESOME!

Where we saw discouragement, the Lord saw opportunity.  Out of all the kids I know in CR, she is the one who would most enjoy and feel most loved by hanging out with a group of young adults pursuing Christ.  She got to see our team be our team.  And she didn’t just see it, she experienced it.  She was invited in to it.  That night, she was part of our community.  We ended up having a pretty significant conversation that started with a debate of Team Gale or Team Peeta and ended with serious evaluation of what the world says of relationships, how that’s warped, and how Christ gives us another option.  There is no way we could have planned that!  So thank you Jesus for not leaving us in our discouragement, and for faithfully providing an opportunity to reach just one kid here.  It was a great reminder that I am not needed for this ministry.  That this is not my work or our doing, but Christ’s.  And He invites us in.  He invites us to be his hands and feet.  But it’s not about us.  And it’s not about anything we do or don’t do.  Plan or don’t plan.  Ultimately, it is His.  And I say that with freedom and gratitude, it is HIS!

If you are willing, please join us in praying for Club the rest of the year.  For wisdom of how to proceed.  If Club is the best option for our students here, given the reality of their crazy lives, or if we should consider making changes to our schedule and programming (and what those would be).  Thanks for being in this with me.  With us.  With Him.