From our dear friend, J.W.
I didn't really believe Dave when he said there were hundreds, even thousands, of international students in Wildwood over the summer. I honestly thought, "right." I'm on staff at Cornell, there are a lot of international students there! But, now, I see, there really are a lot of international students. This year, when I invite students to consider WWSP, I'll tell them, "No, really, there are a lot of international students!"
There are 500 students from Bulgaria alone! They commented on Saturday, "we really want to practice our English. But we keep meeting and running into other Bulgarians!"
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wildwood
Our staff team of 24 is preparing to leave the Wildwood Summer Project. Today we had some time to share with one another and remember what God has done during our time here. Here are some highlights:
One staff shared about a student who had a great desire to go to Asia this summer, instead of staying in the states. However, God led her to Wildwood, and she obeyed. On Saturday, we hosted our annual neighborhood cookout, and this student met a few Taiwanese students who are growing Christians. The student shared, "Instead of having me go around the world this summer, God has brought the very people I have a heart to minister to to my backyard [literally]."
One student shared, "At McDonald's [his place of work], I have a hard time remembering I'm in America. There are so many people from other places working there!"
One staff shared about her group of girls she has been working with and the way they are ministering to one another: "One week one of the girls came and shared openly about her struggle with identity. She had spent time journalling all the things she doesn't like about herself. In response to this the other girls were able to speak in grace and truth. And then one of the girls said to her [the student who had journalled], 'give me that paper.' Then, she took the paper and ripped it up." A powerful example of our dream that students would learn and experience the beauty of transformational community, where they are all important contributors to the life of the group and the life of one another!
Another staff shared about her group: "I had a hard time seeing how this group could come together. I had a southern belle, a punk, a homespun middle America and a smart Asian. Quickly they have learned to love one another and share their gifts. Fro me this is the closest to Philippians 2 that I have ever seen lived out."
About a men's group: "Our group is quiet, teachable and they are becoming vocal. They are most comfortable behind the grill. If there is ever something, they grill. So, on Saturday [at the project cookout], our guys were grilling. So I wondered what would happen when they finished grilling. I didn't give them any direction. They got their food, and went and sat with international students and had great conversations!"
One of our staff guys had a group of men who, at the beginning of the summer project, would blankly stare at him in response to his questions during their time together. He shared today that "they are getting it!" They are leading and mining the Word together and encountering the Gospel together, too. When he asks questions like, "What does this Scripture reveal about your brokenness that requires the redeeming work of Christ? How does this Scripture point to Jesus?" they have answers and a discussion!
This year, we had four students from WWSP10 return as "student staff." Although they are not on full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ regularly (they are still students!), this summer they served exactly like all of our full-time staff. One guy shared, "Last year, at my job, I became pretty good friends with a girl, Jess. We kept in touch. So, on Saturday, late in to the cookout, I realized I hadn't invited her. I texted her [at 9:30pm], expecting her to be like "no thanks." But instead, she responded, "ok. see you soon." As it turns out, Saturday was the first time she had actually completely heard the gospel message. So, I invited her to Monday [our large group weekly meeting]. She came and loved it. When she left [the meeting on Monday], she asked, "How do you get there?" Meaning, how do you know God? It's been great to see God work over time, even though I had no idea what His purposes were at first.
One staff shared about a student who had a great desire to go to Asia this summer, instead of staying in the states. However, God led her to Wildwood, and she obeyed. On Saturday, we hosted our annual neighborhood cookout, and this student met a few Taiwanese students who are growing Christians. The student shared, "Instead of having me go around the world this summer, God has brought the very people I have a heart to minister to to my backyard [literally]."
One student shared, "At McDonald's [his place of work], I have a hard time remembering I'm in America. There are so many people from other places working there!"
One staff shared about her group of girls she has been working with and the way they are ministering to one another: "One week one of the girls came and shared openly about her struggle with identity. She had spent time journalling all the things she doesn't like about herself. In response to this the other girls were able to speak in grace and truth. And then one of the girls said to her [the student who had journalled], 'give me that paper.' Then, she took the paper and ripped it up." A powerful example of our dream that students would learn and experience the beauty of transformational community, where they are all important contributors to the life of the group and the life of one another!
Another staff shared about her group: "I had a hard time seeing how this group could come together. I had a southern belle, a punk, a homespun middle America and a smart Asian. Quickly they have learned to love one another and share their gifts. Fro me this is the closest to Philippians 2 that I have ever seen lived out."
About a men's group: "Our group is quiet, teachable and they are becoming vocal. They are most comfortable behind the grill. If there is ever something, they grill. So, on Saturday [at the project cookout], our guys were grilling. So I wondered what would happen when they finished grilling. I didn't give them any direction. They got their food, and went and sat with international students and had great conversations!"
One of our staff guys had a group of men who, at the beginning of the summer project, would blankly stare at him in response to his questions during their time together. He shared today that "they are getting it!" They are leading and mining the Word together and encountering the Gospel together, too. When he asks questions like, "What does this Scripture reveal about your brokenness that requires the redeeming work of Christ? How does this Scripture point to Jesus?" they have answers and a discussion!
This year, we had four students from WWSP10 return as "student staff." Although they are not on full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ regularly (they are still students!), this summer they served exactly like all of our full-time staff. One guy shared, "Last year, at my job, I became pretty good friends with a girl, Jess. We kept in touch. So, on Saturday, late in to the cookout, I realized I hadn't invited her. I texted her [at 9:30pm], expecting her to be like "no thanks." But instead, she responded, "ok. see you soon." As it turns out, Saturday was the first time she had actually completely heard the gospel message. So, I invited her to Monday [our large group weekly meeting]. She came and loved it. When she left [the meeting on Monday], she asked, "How do you get there?" Meaning, how do you know God? It's been great to see God work over time, even though I had no idea what His purposes were at first.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
WWSP 2011
The Wildwood Summer Project is up and running!
Our staff team, 22 staff including ourselves, arrived May 23 for a week of preparation. 47 students from around the country arrived June 1. Most students have jobs, which they will work all summer; only about 12 are still looking.
Our theme is "treasuring Jesus, making Him known."
The other day I was talking with one of staff and she expressed how God is using this summer in her own life: "I just have a tendency towards performance and trying to do things in my own strength. I feel like this summer, I am experiencing some freedom from trying to perform in order to be accepted. And I am seeing things happen [like the student relationships in her small group] that I couldn't make happen. God is just doing it and better than I could."
We are so thankful that God is moving in the lives of our staff and students!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
