I'm back from Mexico and Steubenville San Diego tireder, with more stories, and a year older. Going from event to event makes it hard to really process everything, but I think both trips were good. They were growth and growing experiences - received and given, if that makes sense. In one sense, the Mexico trip was a little harder this year because it's frustrating to see institutional poverty rather than just situational poverty. With a lot more Econ knowledge under my belt (hey, I finished my degree) this year, I just kept thinking of the ways in which the country could/should change things to promote growth. I felt more like a bandaid rather than a developer this year, if that makes sense.
Steubenville as well was different this year. It seemed less intense in many ways and at the same time more personal. I do these trips for the teens, but I really felt like I'd be a better witness (pun on the name of the SSD this year not intended, though very cool) by allowing myself to lean into the conference rather than being distracted with every detail of the teens' experience. That's not to say my focus wasn't on them, but that I prayed and sang as hard as I could w/o constantly worrying about how the teens were praying, etc. It was a good experience for me and I think really helped bond or open up our small group Saturday night more than if I hadn't leaned in.
Most of all, I received a huge blessing of feeling very loved with all of the little and big things that the leaders and teens, family, and friends did for me on Sunday for my birthday. They really helped a 10 hour bus ride on a smelly bus be fun. Gifts aren't my love language, but it was the thought and energy they put into the surprise balloons, banner, cake, ice cream sundae, card, and the list goes on that was pretty overwhelming. A lot of the time I wasn't even sure how to take it all in.
God is amazing, through the good and the bad (or difficulties).
1 week ago
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