By: Misha Ursula, Summer Intern in Willowtree
As we are half way through my third year interning at Sonshine Day Camp, I felt more than blessed. It was like returning home when I reunited with returning campers. I was happy trusting my new team, and with the fact that God had been showing Himself as a "Good Good Father" to Willowtree once again. Everything was just so familiar and comfortable... and with God things can only be familiar and comfortable... right? Well, not quite. I soon found that God had also been mixing things up and changing things this summer, from the training period, to the attendees and TLCs of the camp. I was out of my comfort zone, but this is where God began to challenge the way I viewed the camp and campers.
He showed me that this world is more supernatural, mystic, and within His divine ordinance than I typically realized. And maybe His divine will isn't for my "good Christian" agenda to happen. My view of a good day at camp (where the children are docile and listening and absorbing the lesson) might not be His agenda. Maybe, when I prayed for His will to be done, and the kids went BUCK WILD, that IS His will – not for them to learn in the way that I want them to, but for me as an adult to learn in the way that He wants me to. Suddenly, He evened the camp-field, and turned us all into children in need of learning.
God also brought me back to Jesus' geneology...
"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations." Matthew 1:17
There are some embarrassing legacies in this genealogy. Some horribly wicked people, some peasant nobodies... even the mention of *gasp* WOMEN! And yet, these high-class oppressors, low-class no ones and everyone in between, through God's sovereignty, worked to bring forth Jesus.
And so as an intern, I have no pride or legacy to hold onto at Willowtree except that I am part of bringing forth Jesus to these kids (failures and all). As a family, I need these kids to help bring me to Jesus too. Because we need each other. And there is only one true teacher. One true Father.
Misha is a long-time summer intern at Willowtree. She first became an intern as a result of the love and encouragement she felt while volunteering amongst the team and their campers. She can't wait to see what God has in store for Willowtree this summer!