If I have learned anything from working with Toronto City Mission, it has been the importance of being intentional. During training we were taught that to get to know the kids at Kingston-Galloway, we would need to intentionally plan, pray, and put into practice the kinds of characteristics and attributes God commands us to display in His word. This idea of intentionality has also been very important in how I approach my relationship with God. The more I learn to seek God intentionally, the more I can love the kids like He does. I first learned that in order to be intentional at camp, I needed to understand at least some of the ways God is intentional. I found that God is an intentional creator, He intentionally loves, and He intentionally moves/works.
““For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.””
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“Your way, O God, is holy, What god is great like our God?””
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.””
This kind of intentionality looked so different to me once I started week one of camp. I never realized just how often I would need to be intentional. Everything from how I worded things to the kids, to how I utilized even my free time after camp. Each activity and moment of the day was an opportunity to love others and worship God through my words and actions. When one of the kids felt hurt or sad about something, my response needed to be one of care and compassion. I have come to understand that how I react to things can often, if not always, be felt by the kids. They are impacted by how I choose to be intentional. While I can’t necessarily find out exactly what is bothering them in a lot of those moments where they are hurt, angry, or sad, for example, an incident at home, I can put my best effort towards helping them through the current situation trusting and praying that God will work in the parts I don’t know about.
Another way I think I have been able to be intentional like God is through teaching bible lessons. Though sometimes I felt like the kids weren’t particularly interested at times, one of my Outreach workers, Mila, helped me to understand that what happens in the kids’ hearts and minds is up to God. In other words, that part is out of my control. This was a good time to learn that despite even my best efforts, the results of my intentions are often, if not always, up to God. I have come to appreciate God’s timing as He works at the Kingston-Galloway site and I look forward to seeing what else God has in store. When it comes down to it, being intentional is more than just service or the work we as staff are doing, it has become one of the ways I keep my eyes on God. When I look to Him for each moment, especially the moments I don’t know what to do, I can allow Him to work His own intentionality through me. My hope is that the kids will come to know how intentional God is through how intentional I am with them. I also hope to continue being intentional like this outside of camp as well so that everyone I encounter would come to know how intentional God is as well.