September 2009
It is hard to believe that the summer months
are behind us and 2009 is almost two-thirds
finished. Let me begin by expressing my
heartfelt thanks for the kind generosity expressed by Newtownbreda in
particular at the beginning of July when my group of 22 Americans
journeyed across the ocean. The impact on those from Allen Park
Presbyterian that travelled to Northern Ireland has been incredible. The
level of hospitality and thoughtfulness expressed by so many different
people was very humbling, and it made our mission trip that extra bit
special.
Upon returning from Northern Ireland (with my little brother) we had a
day to recover before we left for camp with our 5th and 6th grade young
people (11 and 12 year olds). Since then the summer has been a
smorgasbord of Camp, my parents visiting, preaching and planning for
the year ahead.
The one thing I definitely value about my role in the summer is the
magical opportunity to spend some time at the Church Camp teaching,
talking, befriending and escaping. I think we often struggle to find that
time to escape from our reality on occasion and to ‘lose’ ourselves in
the wonderful creation all around us. What a wonderful challenge just
to take that little moment each and every day to value the abundance of
ways that God speaks to us.
Camp evaluating has begun and the planning for the year ahead is well
underway; what an exciting year it promises to be. We kick off our
Youth Programmes for the year with an overnight for all of our young
people. The 22 youth advisors and I stay up all night doing some
wonderful and crazy stuff like baseball games, renting a sports complex
or adventure lands. One year they even flew to Canada! What an
awesome time to get to know faces and to build relationships, with
perhaps a 3am conversation and slice of pizza, for the year ahead.
I often read in the media over here (as I do at home) how troubled many
of our young people are. I definitely think nothing speaks more to our
young people nowadays than spending time with them. It doesn’t need
to be an all night overnight, or even an entire evening. It could merely
be taking half an hour to have a coffee with somebody after school, or
11
to watch one of their sports games or to give them a call and see how
school and life are going. Who knows what doors it will open and what
privileged positions it will allow you into.
As this new programme year dawns, why not take the time not just to
be thankful to God for all the wonderful things we see around us in
creation. Let us also take the time to be thankful for all of the wonderful
people our lives are blessed with and if we haven’t done so, let us take
the time just to say ‘Hi, how are you today?’ and see where it leads us
to. I pray a safe and rewarding year lies ahead for all!
Steve