Y the L not.

Biggest blessing in my life. Biggest challenge in my life. And it has definitely provided some of the MOST awkward moments in my life. I know the suspense is just killing you... YOUNG LIFE. Easily the coolest ministry I have gotten to be apart of. To sum it up Young Life is when you combine hundreds of college students who go out to high schools and show kids Christ's love. And I don't just mean your little sister's best friend you have grown up with all your life or the adorable kid you have baby sat since you were younger...because let's be honest, loving those kids are easy. I mean the kids that are gonna yell at you and say "GIMME YO PHONE HOE. I GOTTA CALL MY MAMA." And you have to smile and hand them your phone. It's a daily prayer that God will help you love those who may be hard to love. But that's why I love this ministry. It challenges you in all kind of ways. 

I got placed at a local private Christian school...which has only been my life growing up. BUT like I said, it will still challenge you. Let me guess...you are sitting there thinking... how hard can it be to form relationships with girls in high school right? UM freaking hard. Try walking into Junior/Senior lunch and trying to start a conversation with girls you have never met. Keep in mind WHILE awkwardly standing behind them at the lunch table...I'm over here like "Heyyyy girl. That ham and cheese looks tasty...?" (smooth, I know). But it's hard! My thoughts go a little something like this as I'm walking into the school..."Alright Brianna, pull your self together. Just BE COOL and for the love of all that is good and holy DON'T say something dumb...Crap is something in my teeth?!" That's my usual train of thought. But, then I usually have one of those moments when I think...why the heck am I nervous?! I don't care what they think of me because the God of the universe has my back and when focusing on that I cannot fail. 

So how cool is this... the gist is, you get placed at a local high school in your area and just begin showing up at the school to form relationships with these high school girls. I'm talking whatever you gotta do to show up in these kids life. Whether it is waiting outside the school with popsicles just to talk to them like a creepy stalker (GET IN THE VAN...jk) or just showing up at the Friday night football games and eating a funnel cakes with girls. It's our job as YL leaders to be a light to these high school kids. It is not easy whatsoever. In fact it may be one of the most challenging things I've ever done. Real talk, sometimes it's disappointing and feels like the work you are doing is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. But, then I stop and remember that no matter how bad of a stare I get from a girl or how awkward of a conversation I have, God is working and doing big things. I may not see them, the girls may not see it, but God is working in these girls lives. So for now, I will laugh at the awkward sandwich covos I have at lunches and smile at the cheerleader who looks so wicked intimidating because God is sovereign and when remembering that, I can fully trust in Him.  

1 John 3:18

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth."