God Works in Mysterious Ways

Karen Bartos--Adventure Challenge Team

God moves in mysterious ways.  In 2007, I had the privilege of being in the
Summer Leadership School Program and co-counseled a cabin of eighth-graders
with Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr.  Our picture
is below.

That summer I discovered how much I really love just “doing
life” with campers – walking faithfully in the events of each day and sharing
in whatever situations or conversations that come up.  Being a counselor is a unique role balanced
somewhere between friend and authority, maybe more like a guide or older
sister.  The experience taught me about
being an authoritative leader and
loving friend on emotional, physical and spiritual levels.

So, imagine my joy when I discovered that this summer (2010)
all of my eighth-graders are back doing various HoneyRock high school
programs!  Three girls did Adventure
Camp, two just finished the Sawtooth Mountains wilderness
trip, and one is an Assistant Counselor. 
Below you will find our picture from this morning, the first time this
summer that our schedules had us all in one place!

But why is that so cool? 
When campers come back to HoneyRock over multiple years, it reminds me
of the complexity of how God works.  He
worked through Nancy, me and the girls to impact each other's lives at HoneyRock
in summer 2007, and He had to have worked
in their lives outside HoneyRock to bring them to a place where HoneyRock can
once again work in their lives in summer 2010. 
When I think of the minimal impact that I and HoneyRock have by our own
effort, I know that it is by God’s sovereignty and power working through
me and beyond me that allows us to see His work in our lives.  I love these girls so much, but as I am
flawed and cannot care for them continuously, I am thankful for a God who loves
them through other people at HoneyRock over the summers and through His work
for eternity.