Reflections from a CCC Rookie
- Our CMG on the ramp we built!
by Krista Petty, Development Administrator
Yes, this was my first time as a camper with Carolina Cross Connection. A small hodge-podge group of us from different churches got together to form the “Church of Fun” and attend week 4 at Joshua Youth Camp in Albemarle. It was a great week of service, worship, new friendships and fun! Thank you to everyone who helped to break me in, especially my Christian Mission Group. The four young campers in our CMG taught me car games and made me laugh every day on our drive out to meet the family we were going to serve. And Dave, our fearless driver and leader, maneuvered Montgomery County country roads and taught me how to drive a nail in quicker and straighter! Together, the six of us tackled heat and rain, mud and bugs to help people with yard work, building a ramp and repairing a deck. Impossible tasks became possible one nail and prayer at a time!
I loved meeting the people we served as well as coming back to camp to hear stories about everyone else’s day as well. Worship was inspiring and surprisingly, I even enjoyed the volleyball tournament and fun in the field games! But my favorite part of the week?
The Daily Assignment
After morning watch devotion time there is a hint of anticipation that mimics Christmas morning. What is Ellen, our field coordinator, going to unwrap for our CMG to do today? That was my absolute favorite part of camp. I am constantly amazed at how God weaves and networks together our community contacts, the families we work for, staff members and then campers to form experiences that not only make a difference, but bring about transformation for everyone.
Yes, receiving our daily work assignment was my favorite moment. It was a refreshing break from the ordinary to give myself totally over to the leadership of the camp staff and to God. To be willing to say yes to whatever was in the folder Ellen held in her hands was exciting and refreshing. We woke up almost every morning not knowing what adventure God had in store for us. Where would we be setting the GPS to go? What would we be doing? Who would we be meeting? Where and when was God going to show up?
The week following camp I missed that excitement and anticipation greatly…But isn’t that what God actually invites us to every day? Each day when our feet hit the floor, we can ask God “What will I be doing for you today? Who will I meet? God, what experiences are you going to schedule for me this week?” While my field coordinator is not present with folder in hand, God is still orchestrating opportunities each and every day for me to share his love and grace and to be his hands and feet. It might be the opportunity to help the neighbor next door mow his lawn or the lady whose car won’t start at the post office. God has a daily assignment if we open our eyes and hearts wide enough to see it as it passes us in the parking lot, on the side of the road or as we walk down our own sidewalks. Sometimes, the adventure of serving others is right in our own households.
So thank you everyone at Carolina Cross Connection for not only providing me a new career this year, but an adventure this summer that I will never forget and hope to experience again and again. Thank you, God, for re-connecting me to the adventure that comes from daily surrendering and serving with whatever assignment God has in store.
If God places an opportunity or adventure for you to serve others during the year, share it with us! Send a picture or note to krista@carolinacrossconnection.org. We would love to post it on our blog or Facebook page! “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” - Hebrews 10:23,24