Unexpected Friendships

 I went into this summer with high expectations of what the Lord was going to do, but nevertheless He managed to surprise me over and over again in so many different ways. I was expecting to probably be the staff member in our teen group most of the time because Kayla, the other summer staff member, is SO gifted with young kids and was the perfect person to be with our preschoolers. Though I love working with teens, and have a passion for sharing the gospel with them, I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I was nervous, and felt unequipped to spend a large chunk of my summer trying to teach people so close to my age who I wasn't sure would even like me. With the younger groups you just have to show them you like them and they like you back, but with the teens you have to earn their trust a bit more and just be your authentic self. The enemy really used these insecurities against me at the beginning of the summer, but slowly as I spent more time with the group the Lord reminded me that He had me there for a reason and there was nothing to be worried about.

Over time He placed a huge spot in my heart for our teens and watching them seek Him and grow so much in their relationships with Him. I had expected Him to work in their lives, but what I didn't expect was the friendships that blossomed out of my time there! Every night we had a few of them join us for dinner back at the building and two of them, DJ and Mya, came with every day during our last two weeks of ministry. As we spent more time together we formed genuinely close friendships that have a foundation in the Lord. Seeing the Lord move in their lives in that time was such an encouragement to me, reminding me of the importance of community and surrounding myself with other believers. These two went from people who were complete strangers to me mid-June to now two of my closest friends.

As the summer came to a close I dreaded leaving more and more. I wanted more time with these people, more time in my home away from home! The Lord provided opportunity for so many special moments with them in my last two weeks there, making me dread saying goodbye more and more. One Sunday night we were able to bring the team to a worship night at Woodside Church, and those two tagged along. Getting to watch them encounter the Lord in such an intimate setting was so beautiful. Throughout those weeks we played many games of Uno, took many BeReal.s, and had many fun conversations. Another day we sat on the stage with our last team of the summer, throwing around a beach ball with icebreaker questions written all over it. Though it was chaotic, it was cool to watch the bonding that happened over something so casual and silly.

I remember one night specifically as we were driving the teens home I decided to turn on worship music instead of taking song requests per usual. I teared up as everyone began to sing along, not talking but instead just worshipping the Lord together to end the night. It was so special and sweet, and in that moment I prayed that that heart posture would last even as Detroit Love's summer ministry ended. I prayed that genuine transformation was happening, and that they weren't just singing memorized words but they truly believed what they were saying. I thought about how much I love them, and how much bigger the Lord's love is for all of us!!

These newfound and unexpected friendships made leaving so much harder, and I am already looking forward to the day I can go back. I already loved the kids at Big A, and love them even more now which I didn't know was even possible, but now I have true and intentional friendships with the older ones. Detroit already had such a big part of my heart, but now it holds an even bigger and softer spot. I am so excited to see what the Lord has planned for the future of these relationships!