I cannot begin to comprehend where 2011 went and that it is truly 2012. It seems like time is like the wind. One second it's there, the next it's gone. I am happy to say that 2011 left in a blaze of awesomeness.
The very last week of December, approximately 200 people (112 high school and 88 serving ones) went to Toronto, Canada for a conference called The Rock. This was a time for the high schoolers to get into God's word and really come to know and love His Word. The topic covered was the trial of Jesus, through His crucifixion, to His resurrection. It was eye opening to take a closer look at something that started so dark and evil that ended up the being the most glorious, most wonderful, most amazing thing that this world has experienced.
One big highlight of the week was the gospel outreach activity we did in downtown Toronto. We first went to a populated square and spread about 130 people across the streets and each person had a portion of the Holy Bible. All at once we read the entire Bible for everyone within that vicinity to hear. Then after that, we moved near city hall and had a giant flash mob of frozen people pretending to read the Bible or holding up signs with verses on them. We got a lot of weird looks and it was freezing cold, but for Christ we suffer willingly. One person was even frozen in wearing shorts and flip-flops!
The second half of the week, around 150 college age and older gathered at the church retreat center called the Ashland Woods Manor. This time was called Empower and we spent an intense 3 days diving into and dissecting the book of Galatians. Just being with all these people, whether it was in the meetings, in small groups, eating food, or just hanging out, is something I cherish and treasure deeply. It's amazing to see what God can do in one week.
The very last week of our break, 10 interns (4 from Cleveland, 5 from Buffalo, and 1 from Ann Arbor) went down to North Carolina to visit the saints and have a little vacation as well. This trip moved me in many ways, the first being before I even left.
When I first heard about this trip, I was down for going right away. Who wouldn't want to ditch the Cleveland snow and hang out with some pretty awesome people for a week in 70 degree weather? Well, on the first day of break (a week and 3 days before departure) I got a grand jury summons for the day I was supposed to leave for NC. And that puppy is not easy to get out of. And then a few days after that, a situation came up at the apartment I live in (I was at my parents house for break) that was going to hinder me from going. So I did the only thing I could do. Pray. I just gave everything to the Lord. I told Him that I really wanted to go, but if I was meant to stay, I would. I also told Him that I knew He could take care of these problems.
Five days later, on the way home from Toronto, as soon as I crossed back into the good ol' U.S. of A. I checked my email and there in my inbox was and email saying that my jury duty was not deferred but rather I was released...meaning instead of being re-selected around a specific time, my name gets put back into the pool and I am as if I wasn't even selected before. As for the issue at the apartment, we had to take a brother with us down to NC but he couldn't leave until 2 days later. So in that time, we managed to take care enough of the issue that I was able to go to NC. The Lord is so amazingly sovereign.
The trip was amazing! On the non-spiritual side, we did things such as ice skating, shooting 12-gauges, toured Duke and UNC, scavenger hunt in downtown Raleigh at the history and science museums, mini-golf, laser tag, go-karts, launching a home-made parachute of the roof, manhunt, bonfires, and getting fed lots and lots of food. On the spiritual side, we went over to Cody's cousin's house where we got to meet a chunk of his family, had some good fellowship and sang hymns for over an hour. The next night we went to a saint's house (Luke) where we met his family, had more food, and shared some experiences in our lives. Saturday we went to the YP meeting. They sing some songs, then get into a book of daily lesson by Witness Lee. So we went over the lesson on ministering and shared some of our own testimonies. Then on the Lord's Day, we attended the meeting of the Church in Raleigh. The saints there were so warm and welcoming. All the interns gave testimonies and the saints were all very appreciative of our coming. Finally to end such an amazing adventure...you guessed it. Food. That was the biggest love feast I have ever seen.
This new year has started off with a bang and I hope and pray that the Lord will outdo Himself as he has done year after year.
