June.
June has been a big month.
It started with me missing the last week of school because of my training in Colorado. The training I went to was called Cross Cultural Orientation, specifically for Young Life International staff going ALL OVER the world. Literally there are people going to Germany, Belgium, France, Scotland, England, Singapore, Malawi, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Nicaragua. It was such a sweet week to get to meet people with the same heart for different nations and to see how the Lord is preparing each of them for His mission.
The couple in PR has already been there for about 10 months and the girl starting Young Life in the Bahamas will be leaving in TWO DAYS! I can't even imagine what that is like but I can't wait to get to that point. Hearing everyone's story of how they said yes to the Lord's calling was so sweet and encouraging. I remember when I was on the plane to Nicaragua in February and how encouraged I was then just knowing that people had a heart for missions in Nicaragua but to meet people who have a heart for every nation just fills me with amazing joy. That's the Lord's heart, for all the nations, and we get to be a part of it! I am thankful that people are choosing to follow Him to Singapore and Malawi because before that week, I didn't really know where they were on a map but now I do and will be praying for them!
By the end of the week, all the information of what to expect when moving cross culturally to do ministry left me encouraged and energized! God just keeps confirming this in my life and I couldn't be more satisfied.
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| The amazing people I met at CCO going all over the world with Young Life! |
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| One of my newest teammates ELLA! She's trying to make it to Costa Rica by September too so pray for her too! |
After returning from CCO and a friend's bachelorette weekend in the mountains, I had two teacher work days to pack up life at DMS and say my goodbyes. I was thankful for those days to start the closure in life. DMS was a sweet time for me and will always be remembered as the place where I started my teaching career. Go Blue Jackets!
From Raleigh I made my way back to Asheville for a few short days to have a few appointments with former teachers, friends and even doctors! The highlight of my week though was getting to spend a day with the Nicaragua team and students who were visiting Windy Gap (a camp 30 minutes north of my parent's house)! I got to zipline and go down the waterslide numerous times! I felt like I was at camp for the week with them, it just felt so natural. I even went to dinner and club! I know that ministry will not always be easy and rewards may be few and far between but just the taste of what it could be like in Nica was good for my soul. I think it's going to be great to know a few faces when I get down there and have memories to reminisce on! Four of the students in the picture made the decision to follow Christ at camp (Praise the Lord!) and three others renewed theirs, what an amazing week it was, so glad I got to see a glimpse!
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| Nicaraguans don't like to smile in picture, he's really have the time of his life, trust me. |
Right after I got back from Asheville, the next day I left for camp with Wyld Life from Raleigh! We drove a suburban to North Bay - a camp in Maryland that Young Life rents out for a month in the summer to host Wyld Life and Capernium camps. It was an amazing 5 days with a small crew. I know I've said this a lot but this too was good for my soul. I know the kids had the times of their lives and I won't be surprised if Raleigh takes a whole bus next year! The program and speaker were some of my favorites I have ever seen in Young Life and the camp was beautiful. I can't wait to see how the Lord moves through conversations at camp and the seeds that were planted.
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| PJ dinner on the last night! |
It's time to kick fundraising into HIGH GEAR! I seemed to have been stuck around 40% for a while and I am still praying for September 1st! I know the Lord can move in great ways and His glory will be shown in all that happens. I am thankful for the summer because fundraising is my primary concern now without having to teach or lead Wyld Life. I think of this time as a sweet gift after working so hard all year, that I get a chance to focus on this part on my ministry.
If you or anyone you know would like more information about how to start a monthly gift to send me to Nicaragua this fall please contact me at jaboulos5@gmail.com
Fear not for I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
