Our Suitcase of Questions

Today I got to hang out with my beautiful campaigner girls. It was glorious. After a little craft session, we went to Skinny Minniz and ordered 3 volcanoes to eat. And then, of course, we played at the park. I love hanging out with them.

After thrifting last week, we found an old suitcase. We had the idea of mod podging pages from an old Bible we found onto the suitcase and then adding pictures of ourselves and pictures from things we do in Campaigners. Today we decorated it, and after spilling glue everywhere and laughing hysterically, we started to see the masterpiece we were creating come together. All hands on deck, covered in glue. Such a great memory.

My girls told me they want this to be their Campaigner suitcase that goes with us everywhere we go and meet. I told them I want them to fill it up with their questions, their thoughts, their memories, their prayers. I want it to be safe place for them to throw in whatever they want...and for us to go through together, to talk about, to fill up with whatever is on our hearts. It's so cool that these girls have let me hang out with them and get to know them....and it's even cooler to think about what God is going to do through Campaigners.

This week at club, I got to talk about our need for Jesus. I got to look out at the crowd of Lenoir City High School teenagers and see their faces. I got to look them in the eye, and I got tell them about Jesus. Me. A scared, nervous, introverted girl got to be the mouthpiece of the Lord. I never ever ever ever ever thought I would be doing something like that...especially to teenagers.

Earlier this week, one of my girls who I've known since I became a leader talked to me on a bench at the park. We talked about all kinds of stuff. Hurtful stuff. Memories. Laughter. Parents. Sex. Friendships. It was amazing. I thought about how a year ago if you would have asked me if I had a close relationship like that with one of my girls, I wouldn't have been able to say yes. I also thought about how that's okay...and how if it took a year for one girl to open up to me and trust me like that, it's been worth it. What a privilege and an honor we have as young life leaders to chase after kids and point them to Jesus. I take it for granted.