Summer is coming to a close and our interns are finishing up activites and will be heading back to school and/or work. They were asked to give some highlights and areas of growth they experienced this summer. Keep them in your prayers as they leave us and continue on their chosen paths.
Without a doubt this summer I learned that no matter how well you have things planned, there is a high possibility that they will not go that way. I have learned to trust in God's plan even for the smallest things.
My favorite event was our laser tag event earlier in the summer. We had fun being competitive with each other and also making ice cream sundaes and just hanging out afterwards. I cherish those moments!
God answered and is answering one of my long time prayers. With teaching Bible study, I have verbalize my beliefs and the truths of the gospel more than I have ever had to do. This has helped me believe more in the truth that God is.
I am looking forward to living with my best friend and seeing what God has in store for my relationships at FPU. I will focus more on my future career, too. School and work will keep me busy, so I would love prayer for energy, good time management, for my relationships at school, and for my relationship with the Lord.
Brad Alkire - Children's
A highlight from my summer would have to be the first time I heard from a parent that their child was able to clearly tell them the next day what they had learned the night before at swim studies. As much as I loved teaching to these kids and trusted that God would work with me in some way, it was definitely reassuring to hear that the children were truly listening and learning about the lessons and scripture.
From this experience I have grown in how I understand and relate to younger children. Before this summer I had no idea how I would mesh with kids as young as 5-10, but now looking back at it all it seems like the only age group God has equipped me right now to relate to and lead. This summer has helped bring me back to the mindset of elementary aged students and has helped me look to God's scripture for what it is instead of constantly skeptically reading it with questions always loaded in the back of my mind.
My favorite event would have to be the many church families who invited me over for meals. Through these dinners I was able to get to know my students better, as well as the parents, and develop great relationships with the families I was serving.
God has grown me spiritually by showing me that just because I am serving in a church doesn't necessarily mean that I will always be in a great place spiritually. No matter what I'm doing or where I am I need to always be working on myself and constantly going to God and strengthening my relationship with Him.
This next school year I am very excited to be taking classes mostly within my major. Specifically, I am really looking forward to starting my Arabic class because it will be something totally new and different to me.
The day I finish this internship I move back to school, Biola, and start a new job there! Please pray for energy, stamina, and peace through it all.
My summer highlights were watching my kids at swim studies and getting to interact with them in my lessons. They loved getting to do competitions off the diving board, and I loved getting to have serious conversations with them about their lives in our lessons.
I learned about planning and how much time it takes to prep, study, and organize yourself to make events or lessons happen. Kids can take a lot out of you, but organizing yourself and prepping beforehand can make your days go a lot smoother so you have more fun rather than stressing about what you need to do next.
My favorite event of the whole summer was going to camp with the students at Sugar Pine. I loved building deeper relationships with some of my girls and getting to know what questions they have about their faith. I loved everything about that week and the way God worked in me and the students.
I have felt myself get closer to God in my readings, prayers, and daily actions this summer. I've been more willing to try and seek God in everything rather than look at everything like a checklist.
I took last semester off, and so I'm excited to get back to school. The enjoyment I received working with children has made me excited to go back finish my liberal arts degree to become a teacher.
Once the internship ends I will be traveling to visit my parents and then two days after I get home I start school. Pray I get the rest and I need and that I can organize and prioritize to give myself the rest I will need to make it through the school year.
Amelia Morrow - High School
A highlight from my summer was Wednesday nights at Swim Studies. Having that time each week to play games, and talk to students really helped me feel a part of Water’s Edge. I loved being able to share my testimony, the gospel, and work through some hard questions with the students. It was such a great opportunity for me to reflect on where God has me in my life, and to learn and process what His will is for me as a Christian in each season of my life.
This internship provided me with opportunities to grow in my understanding and experience of event-planning. I am pursuing a degree in Communication-Public Relations with the hope of being an event-planner post graduation. Having to organize, advertise, and make the high school events happen each week gave me practical experience with my degree. I also grew in my ability to articulate the gospel. Planning the lessons for Wednesday nights helped me learn how to engage different learning styles better, and how to structure my message in a way that will be easy to listen to and understand.
My favorite event was the pool BBQ at the Barrows. I had a blast playing Crab Volleyball and All-in-the-Family with students. I really felt like I was able to get to know students better that night.
God grew me in many ways this summer. Not only did I grow in my understanding of God’s will for my daily life and in my ability to articulate His gospel, but He also grew me in my dependence on Him. Because I was interning for another organization and taking an online class in addition to this internship, I was exhausted a lot of the time. On the days when I felt tired, God challenged me to literally lean on Him for energy and a positive attitude. It sounds simple, but my understanding of depending on God daily was something I was able to experience and practice this summer.
This next school year, I am looking forward to planning my wedding with Lucas Franklin, and graduating from University. I would love prayer for our relationship with as an engaged couple, that God would challenge us this next year and grow us closer to Him as we transition into marriage. I would also love prayer for my immediate family in Florida, for God to unite us as a family and that we would experience His love and grace daily.
Mark Jen - High School
A highlight from my summer is going hiking with the seniors in Kings Canyon. Practically from this experience, I grew in the area of teaching the Bible with organized thoughts. My favorite event was the day trip to Avila. God grew me spiritually in better understanding servant leadership and letting myself be led by Him. This next school year I am looking forward to working on campus. You can be praying for my full class load and continued growth in Christ.