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2 days have passed since my last blog.

 

2 days that were quite similar.

 

Wake up at 6:30, breakfast at 7. Chapel at 8.

Sunday, went to church at our ministry site, played with kids.

Monday, went to the church, ran VBS program

Came back to camp. Played soccer, ate tacos, dinner, chapel, bed. 

 

Fairly straightforward. The next few days will look mostly the same. 

So, here are 5 things I have learned about myself.

  1. I really am not a fan of children's ministry. Playing with small children drains me of energy probably quicker than any activity. Ever. 
  2. I love doing ministry alongside teenagers. Having the privilege of “tagging along” has been great. There are no decisions to make, no responsibilities. I truly get be a youth pastor. We have great fun playing, teasing, eating, and ministering. And these all lead to great conversations about personal faith and ministry.
  3. I really like showers. There are no showers here at camp in Mexicali.  I sure miss being able to shower.
  4. Community is worth it. Overcoming conflict between brothers and sisters is better than not. Luckily, there has not been much conflict on this trip. But, spending as much time together as we are, we are bound to annoy one another. Getting to know our stories, fears, hurts, and hopes turn those annoyances into quirks and then they’re a lot easier to deal with. This isn’t rocket science, but when you shrink a community down to 16 people, these things happen as a good reminder.
  5. I love the small parts of these trips. I am a big fan of "small" when it comes to church things. I do not look forward every day to our large chapel/worship gatherings with everyone (350 people). What I really crave is our small group time where we can worship without the ban and the lights, but just a guitar, someone playing some percussion on a cooler, and the dark. There our worship is authentic, raw, and because we want to praise God, not because a worship leader has designed the perfect the set, or made the right build. It’s a place to soak in the collective wisdom of our conversation, be soaked in prayer, and soak in the glimpses of the Kingdom. I love the small. The small ways that God works in our lives that we down often see, the small group gatherings, and the small moments of community that pop up. These compound into something that is amazing. 
pastor curtis. 
Ministries
Youth Ministry