LifeStories

I woke up to the most incredible view this morning.

Just thought I should throw that in there.

Since it’s Sunday, breakfast doesn’t start until 8:30, so I slept in a bit, showered, and went to breakfast. I ate some yummy oatmeal and packed my lunch – we have to pack it on Sundays because the kitchen gets the day off and we can just eat our sandwhiches whenever we want. The base is on a tight budget, so oftentimes you have to choose between meat and cheese for your sandwhich. I missed the whole choosing thing because I was busy drinking tea, so I had a cheese, lettuce, what they called grass (it’s like sweet spring onions), with mayo and mustard. And it actually was pretty good. I had Rebekah’s sandwhich too.

After breakfast, we were supposed to have a meeting, but instead we walked into a worship service merely because the leaders felt lead to it. and that made me so happy.

We eventually got down to business. You know, after we got done praising our Creator.

 Then we toured the entire base, which is equipped with amazing things like a library, a recording studio, a room for only us students to hang out and worship is, a room that is open 24-7 for prayer – it is so lovely, decorated like a temple to really encourage a spirit of prayer.

I’d say that the biggest highlight of the day was finding out that we could turn on the stove to heat the entire kitchen.

jk.

But really, the kitchen was so toasty.

Anywho.

The real biggest highlight of the day was what we call LifeStories. Tonight, the staff leaders told theirs and tomorrow and Tuesday are the students’ turns. The Stories are so unreserved and they left no stone unturned, no addictions left unsaid, no hurt, no pain, no sin was hidden. I am truly terrified of telling these people that I love already so much my demons – things I haven’t even told my best friend or even struggles I’ve not journaled or written about. I’m scared of what how they might judge me or how their perceptions of me might change – that I’m not the person that they originally thought I was. It scares me that I might drive people away with my confessions and my prayer tonight is that I have to courage to give it all up and that God will give me the peace to do so. No regrets. Nothing unsaid. No shame, no judgement.

Oi, God, soften my heart and lend me yours for the next few days. I know, especially as a young woman, I tend to judge – especially other young women. Prepare me to love unconditionally and receive these Stories with an open and loving heart.

Also, I want to keep those whose first language is not English in prayer. I know it is going to be so exhausting to tell their Stories in the first place, even more in a tongue that is not their own. So please pray that God gives them the words and us the understanding to be able to reach out and draw just as close as those speaking English.

 

Big breath.

Peace out Girl Scout.