June 28, 2013

JHSP 2013, the end.

Well, this morning we put all the students and staff on airplanes and waved goodbye to Jackson Hole Summer Project 2013. There was both a sigh of relief and a tear of sadness on my face. This month was so very sweet for our family... the students and staff were so dear. But when it's time to go home, it's just time to go home.



I have to brag on my husband for a minute. This was his first state-side project to lead. (We led the East Asia one together our first summer married and YIKES we did not know what we were doing.) He did so well shepherding our staff and students and leading us all to the good, green fields of the gospel... amidst the stress of watching over 40 wandering sheep.




I was just looking over the students' evaluations of the project and thought I'd close up this blog series with their words. They are why we came, after all. Here are some of the ways they said they've grown over the past month:

"I matured in my faith, gained a deeper understanding of the depth of the gospel and how it applies to situations in my life."



"I grew in understanding how much the Lord loves me despite me."



"God taught me that being a Christian is not about works, but about the relationship with him. I truly learned why Jesus died on the cross for our sins."


"God is asking me to leave all idols and things behind so that I can fully depend on him."



"I am confident and excited about sharing the gospel and better equipped to do so."



"I grew in my walk with the Lord in so many ways. I have grown in my desire to study the Bible and pray consistently, build a community, and grasp unconditional love."



"I've grown in my awareness of how big the cross is and how Jesus covers all my sins, not just the small ones. Also, I'm learning more and more to be content in all kinds of circumstances, not just the ones I see as 'good'."




"I really learned foundations in reading the Bible, praying, and starting a small group! Very pivotal in my growth."



"I really grew in my understanding of the gospel. I learned what it really means to trust in the Lord and walk with him."



"I have fallen more in love with the gospel and put a stamp of 'worth it' on it."




"I have really grown in my faith and really developed a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord." 




It's always so hard to say goodbye (cue Boyz II Men) to our students from summer projects, but I love knowing that we are sending them out well equipped to pursue Jesus at home and share Him with others. And we know that ultimately this equipping is not our doing, but that of our good Father... because:

"seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." 2 Peter 1:3

We are praising God tonight that these 28 students are not in our hands... but the hands of a Father who loves His children so well. 



2 comments:

John Gunter said...

Great post. . . really excited to read about your summer.

A & E Harwell said...

Thanks, John! Thanks for skyping in with us. All the students loved it and we had a lot of interest in stint/overseas projects.