Hi friends and family!
My first service project for SLAM camp was helping organize Catholic Charities food pantry. The task seemed simple at first, but soon our team was re-tasked, and re-tasked again. The nonprofit has suffered losses due to cut funds, and they were scrambling to get their organization in order. Their leadership first told us to put boxes here, now move them there, furniture goes in the attic, just kidding bring it back downstairs… Through the whole morning. It would have been easy for our team to grow frustrated and complain for the lack of good direction.
Instead, these kids lived out Philippians 2:14, which says to do all things without grumbling or disputing. That passage of scripture goes on to talk about how this kind of behavior is what sets us apart, so that we can shine as lights in this world. And that’s what our team became. When faced with confusion and frustration, they carried peace and joy. One of the internship trainees facilitating our group encouraged the kids to stay flexible, respectful, and hardworking. We even made up a team motto: Extry-Flexy. She helped me understand that work ethic is what makes the difference between a volunteer and a servant of God.
I’m really grateful to have had this experience to prepare me for when internship gets harder. We’ve been told that flexibility will be increasingly demanded of us as interns. I will continue to shift my responses to eager obedience and grace for my peers and leaders, knowing that this is how we are a light to the world – at home and abroad.