Report 3

Record of Ministry Activities:
Meeting with Pastor/Supervisor: 30 minutes
Sunday School: 1 hour
Church: 1 hour 30 minutes
Youth Group: 1 hour
Total: 4 hours

Personal Reflection:
This week at church was ridiculously busy. On Saturday I received a call from the pastor wanting to know if I would help with communion that Sunday. I was instantly overjoyed and extremely nervous. I said yes, but asked what it would entail. He told me to dress nice and we would discuss it in the morning. This made me even more nervous. On Sunday morning, we met at 9:00 to discuss what the game plan was. I was to serve the bread and read a Scripture passage at the beginning of the service. I then went to Sunday school and taught about the woman at the well. I had heard a service on this not too long ago and, even though my students have heard the story 1000 times, I wanted to try to bring new insight to them on this story. It was a good time of discussion and learning (there were 4 there including me). We then went to the morning worship service. After we all got into place, I read my Scripture passage and it went better than expected. I practiced reading it to my class and stumbled over several of the words. After I was finished reading, my pastor announced that I am a ministry student at IWU and that I would be helping with communion that day and that I would be helping out more around the church with things like this. (Several people, including my youth workers, told me they were thrilled he finally said something about my ministry position, even though I was completely embarrassed. You have to understand my church; there are a lot of people who talk just to talk and I know people have talked about me and my role in the church and youth group, but I still felt put on the spot while the pastor was talking.) After singing some songs and the pastor giving a short sermon, it was time for communion. The pastor did all of the liturgy for it and blessed the cup and the bread. After he was finished, I helped serve the communion. I said things like "The body of our Lord Jesus Christ" and "Jesus' body that was broken for you at Calvary." At first I was really nervous, but then I said the same thing so many times i almost became natural. It was amazing to see children come to the altar with their parents to take communion as a family. I was greatly touched to be able to witness the Spirit move among His people.
That Sunday night, for youth group, the woman who was supposed to do the lesson decided at the last second that she no longer wanted to work with the teens. Although I was very upset about it, I also felt releived for some reason. I just did not have a good feeling about her working with the teens from the beginning (about 2 months ago). So instead of having a lesson, we sang some songs and prayed, then went to Cone Palace (the local ice cream joint) and fellowshipped as the Disciples did. I explained this to the other leaders as well as the teens, but they were more interested in the food. All in all it was a very good day, though. I love spending time with my teenagers.

Spiritual Reflection:
Last week was extreamly stressful. I delt with drama about every day last week. This week has been much more calm, which is really nice. Why is it that when there is so much going on already that more and more seems to pile on? I feel like God has really been teaching me to trust Him more and more every day. In one class, we have RAM camp going on next weekend, and basically nothing is ready. I know God will pull through in the end. In 4 weeks we have our own youth retreat. Basically nothing is ready, but I know (and am praying) that God will pull through in the end. I am graduating next Spring with no idea what God has instore, but I know God will pull through in the end. I almost feel as though He is testing me because He knows I like to plan ahead, and I feel like nothing in my life right now is being planned. Although this is a very hard lesson for me, it is teaching me to trust God with all I have. Tough lesson to learn...

Hope you have a great week!!!