One Sweet Summer

So my summer is coming to an end tonight. I'm heading back to Chapel Hill tomorrow afternoon for my senior year of college. It's both exciting and overwhelming. I can't believe I'm a senior! College went by so fast. It went by twice as fast as high school. So before I begin my last year as a Carolina student, I want to take some time to reflect on my last real summer.

As I look back over this summer, I thank God for blessing me so greatly. He gave me many opportunities to serve and to experience Him. I learned more and more that He is good, grace, mercy, justice, sovereign, kindness, and holy. I pray I will remember His attributes daily and how He displayed them to me this past summer.

I particularly enjoyed spending time at Lawndale with the youth group. It's refreshing to be a part of the youth ministry again. I missed hanging out with all the students and pouring into the younger generation. I sense a new unity in the youth group because the summer was filled with so many activities. From Consumed camp to a countless number of 'Body! Body!' games to the filming of X-Teens: Rise of the Tanzanians, all the youth experienced the joys of Christ together in unique ways. I attribute the success to the outstanding Christ-like leadership of Chris and his two interns, Adam and Ashlie.

I liked being part of the Lawndale college ministry too. I regret not getting more involved with it earlier in my college career. Over the summer, I had the privilege of getting to know Curt Dean and Dave Clemens better. Curt and I met and talked a couple of times to talk about the college ministry, theology, and spiritual disciplines. I met with Dave at the beginning of the summer and shared my testimony with him. We got to know one another better through hanging out at the White House. He now cuts my hair and he wants me to help lead the college ministry in an outreach program for the community of Greensboro. Needless to say, both Curt and Dave are men of God who desire to see His name lifted high!

I've already mentioned the African refugee families some on my blog, but I can't help mentioning them again. They're such a blessing! I will miss not getting to see them as much as I've been able to this summer. However, I look forward to seeing how God will use their lives to serve His kingdom in the future.

I'm thankful for the blessing of my accounting internship. The internship gave me the opportunity to learn some practical accounting skills and I got to meet some interesting people. Specifically, I learned how to apply the book knowledge of accounting to the actual practice of accounting. As for meeting new people, my boss is from Peru, one of my coworkers is from England and another is from Argentina. They're all very unique and I like hearing different stories about their lives. I look forward to working there this semester part-time.

I will miss this summer. It was probably my last 'real' summer. I'm glad my last summer was a good one. Thank you Lord for a wonderful season!

In Him,

Mark