This was the theme of my whole summer for sure.
I seriously am nothing short of amazed at how God is still teaching me through that since I've been back in Tennessee.
My last week in Tahoe was definitely a week to remember.
Sunday.. we had our Lake Baptism service that only happens once a year.
12 Baptisms were done. 10 being BIGA kids :) PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!
It was such an encouragement to see, and to remind us that we are planting the seeds for the future missionaries. One of the older missionaries from the past got to baptize many of her kids. WHAT A TESTIMONY. I can only pray for that opportunity one day.
We spent Sunday afternoon jumping off rocks into Lake Tahoe. lots of last fun team time.
Monday, we spent out on the boat. Some people from the church took us out for our last day off. I have to say I don't think I'd ever get tired of seeing the mountains all around me, and clear blue water from that view.
Tuesday, was a somewhat rough day. Reality began to hit as it sank in that this was my last week with my kids, and I found myself that night on the third floor of the church just pouring my heart out to God. This place became so familiar throughout the summer, as most of the time, it was one of the only places to get away, and be still in the building. I was dreading Friday so much, but chose to continue and make the most of the time I had left.
Wednesday was a busy day as we got ready for our summer musical. This is what we had been preparing for all summer. It was SO good to see it all come together as well as it did, and to hear all our kids singing about the story of Joseph, and how God provided :)
Thursday we took all the kids to the beach. What seemed stressful walking them all down on the way down from the church ended up being a lot of fun. That night, we all had our staff dinner at a Church member's home and went out on the dock after to share memories, talk about the summer, and share in the Lord's supper together. I held myself together quite well until we started singing the BIGA Club theme song, which is "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH." I absolutely fell apart. Stood there in awe just reflecting on the summer, and letting it sink in that I had one day left with the kids that I had invested every inch of my life in for the past 10 weeks.
Then came Friday. way too fast.
I started the day off so good, feeling so strong.
and as I made it down to the playground with all the kids,
one of my teammates came up and told me how Seth (probably my favorite kid from this summer, if that's allowed) had told her that he wanted Miss Megan. Obviously three year olds are constantly giving away so much love, but to hear that from his sweet little mouth, I can't tell you what it did for me. The tears started flowing as I ran and tackled him and squeezed the life out of that little angel.
The rest of Friday off and on had its weak moments. but for the most part, I LOVED my last day with them. it ended exactly how I wanted it to... until that afternoon came in Aplus.
Leslie, my team teacher for the summer runs down and says, Megan, Seth's dad is here to pick him up. I grabbed his brother's hand and walked probably as slow as I could up to the building. I squeezed both of them SO hard, and held every emotion in that I was feeling. (I squeezed Seth so hard that he told me I was smooshing him.) :)
Watching him walk up the stairs with his dad was definitely the hardest moment I had all summer. But also bittersweet. He has come so far with me this summer, as far as opening up. Going from a shy little boy, to an absolute goofball.
I have to tell one story from Friday. Lucy, a little girl who came to my class Friday for the first time at lunch time ran up to me FULL of excitement. She said "Teacher, teacher.. I have a fortune cookie. Listen to what it says!" I bent over to read it for myself, waiting for her response, and she said it says, "WILL YOU scratch my back?!" haha. I won't forget that story ever, and brought the piece of paper home with me as a reminder :)
Saturday morning was another tough one. But I could definitely feel all the prayers that were prayed for us that day. Telling my team bye was incredibly hard, as expected, but after I left them, I was able to be strong for the rest of the day, and at peace, for where God was sending me now.
Since I've been home, I've done so much thinking about the past summer.
First off. I KNOW I WILL return to Tahoe someday. God has put that city in my heart, in my blood, in my life, and I know it's for a reason. My life won't be complete without seeing my three year-olds sweet faces ever again.
Yesterday at church we read from Psalm 63.
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
I don't know that there is a better passage to describe my feelings right now.
My heart hurts to be away from Tahoe, but I have such a hunger for God,
and a need to keep growing. The verse that says I have seen you in your sanctuary and beheld your glory.. There is not a better way to describe my summer. 2 new decisions were made for Christ in my last week there that were made public!
I saw God this summer, and I wouldn't have changed any bit of the experience. Not even for a second. :)
