For those of you who don't know, I am working with an organization this summer called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP). They take volunteers to go work in the National parks doing jobs like food prep, or front desk, or house keeping. Then on Sunday hold a worship service for visitors and fellow workers or any body else in the area. But where the real ministry happens is with those that you work with and see every day. Loving them with the love that God has giving me. I don't know what that will require of me for the whole summer, so I am figuring this out as I go.
Walking on to the campground that I will be living on for the rest of this summer was slightly intimidating with the high walls of the Mountains leaning on either side of me trees all over and people that I didn't know. I felt out of place because the reality hit that this wasn't Crown College or Missoula, MT where I know where I belong and can just get into the swing of things. However, it only took a little longer for me to fall in love with the people here too. I already have a nickname, "Churchy" they know where I stand and (somewhat) respect that. I guess more so they respect me for matching my actions with my words, and I am not coming in condemning them. The Guy who coined the nickname for me definitely wants to push all of my buttons to see if I am worth trusting or if I will actually stand with my convictions.
Right now to me the smell of ministry is the mixture of alcohol and smoke. Many of these people I am hanging out with are hurting, scared, don't know their identity, and trying to get away. To them Alcohol is their escape. I know what I say to them while they are drunk might not stick but they open up so much when they are in that state. I know that nothing I say or do could ever heal them but I hope to point them to the great healer that has touched my life. I love these people so much I have already cried over them and I am fighting back tears now.
Pray throughout this summer for me for:
-Strength: and that strength that comes only from the Holy Spirit. I know if I try to prove to them that I am strong enough it wont do any good and I will fall for sure. The temptation to drink is not strong but the desire to feel accepted is, so also strength that comes from the knowledge that I am already accepted by God. Also persecution is already happening (I expected it) but that I would have a strength that comes from the Joy of actually living out Philippians 3:10!
-Wisdom: I haven't even scratched the surface of any of these people but they are already starting to ask the hard questions that I wanted to prepare myself for but no amount of preparation eases the reality that these are real people asking the hard questions because of the real pain behind it.
-Peace and Love: Nothing so far has made me stick out from the others besides my Foosball skills and the fact that I am a "real" Christian actually hanging out with them. I desire peace and love to flow from me that they are over whelmed by God's presence.
-Pray for my roommate: She seems like she is seeking or at least desiring to seek to see if there is really a God. I think she is awesome and it is paining me to see that she is hurting so much. Pray that God would continue to call her and draw her near to Him.
-Also my Co-workers: more and more are coming and they are hearing about this girl nick named "churchy" I pray that the nickname doesn't scare them off but that they would be drawn into God's love.
-Finally My partner in Ministry Sarah: Her Grandma past away this week and she is traveling back home for a few days. Pray for safe travels, time for grieving her loss, and also the ability to come back and feel as if she can fit in.
I love all of you and praise God for you and your prayers for me.
Your Sister In Christ,
Ana Kaufman <><
