Introducing my team:

The Ladies....

The gentlemen....

Alright, let's hear it for the RC TEAM!! Woohoo!

The first set of goodbyes are over...but consequently, they were the hardest. My brother and all my other amazing friends from the Blue team hit the road this morning, leaving me crying behind. Knowing they were leaving so soon hasn't really affected me that much over the past few days, but this morning the full reality of who was leaving hit me and left me an emotional wreck. A wreck, which I continue to be to this moment.

In a sense, I'm glad to be on "this side of the goodbye," but I'm still going to miss my wonderful brother, and the other three individuals on that team who have made the past few weeks here some of the most wonderfully memorable of my life. But I guess you have to say goodbye...before you can have the happy reunion. So, on with the show.

Some questions that were asked to us this morning, that have made me stop and think...

1) What would happen if everyone imitated me?

We are called to follow Christ, to be imitators of Christ. We also called to go out and preach the gospel. Everyone knows that our actions speak louder than words. We've all heard how it's what we DO that often makes the biggest impact for Christ. So, we're called to be imitators of Christ, to set the pattern of what walking with Christ truly is. What kind of example am I setting? If people imitate me...how would the world around me be different? Would it be good...or would it be bad?

2) Can people still hear the echo of my salvation?

Am I still walking with the same intensity and the same passion that I did when I was first saved? Or has the emotions and the wonder of the moment faded away into just a past experience? If I truly walk with Christ, that passion will not die. The echo of my salvation, the echo of my entrance through the gates of life, should still be a constant ringing! Am I still echoing?

This morning we went to the NMC (National Ministry Headquarters) and we held a clubs for all the adults who work there. It was fun! We combined our two clubs-- Dynamite and Happiness-- into one, which we called "Happymite." We wanted to present to the Life Action Headquarters staff basically what we do as the CM's on the road. It was amusing to call all the adults "boys and girls," and to treat them as if they where grade schoolers!  It was a good practice run for us, but it was enjoyable at the same time.

Me and my partner, Shanna, are working on the last of our lesson planning in these few remaining days. We're trying to come up with a modern day skit for Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo...which we would use three of the guys from my team's worship band to act it out.

Well, session is about to start, so I'd better head on over.

We had our team pictures taken this morning!! It was loads of fun! We all loaded up into our bus that we'll be travelling in this year (Blue team's old bus, for those who might like to know!), and headed over to the National Ministry Headquarters. The picture taking was relatively stress-free, and it was neat to be there, all dressed up and "team-like!"

I am so excited about this year! There are some amazing guys and gals on this team, and I am looking forward so much to getting to know them all, and becoming one big family.

The Lord has had me in the refining fire the past week. It's funny how everything I'm learning now, are things that I've been through before, but how in this particular circumstance, the Lord is making it all new to me. I am continually reminded about how great a God I have been called to serve!

The lesson bombed pretty bad, but it was ok, since our audience was a comfortable audience to mess up in front of.

I was just informed by my team director that the first church we are going to be at has 75 Dynamite kids!! Oh boy. That should be fun.

I'm starting to hear the countdown through the camp on how many days until we leave. That's not something I want to think about, really. There's just way too many very special people that I'm going to have to say goodbye to. My brother and sister included.

I would like to put up some pictures for ya'll, but I'm still working on that. Hopefully sometime soon I'll get everything working so that I can do that.

Incredible worship service this morning.

First trial run of clubs with my new partner in about 20 minutes. Panic button.

Hello, I'd like to introduce myself to you. I'm Kellie, the official Life Action ping-pong ball of '06!! I have been switched teams for the second time...and I'm now back on the RC (former White) team, which is just where I wanted to be!

After I was made aware of the switch and it had been announced (it was announced 5 minutes after I was informed about it!), I went back to my cabin and crashed on my bed. I just lay there, not knowing whether to just laugh or cry for joy!

When the original team postings were made, I was on the White team. But 24 hours later, I was moved to the Silver team. The adjustment was slow and hard. But just in the past few days, I was finally able to take my hands off and release it to all to God, saying "Lord, I will go with this team with joy, I'll invest all I have into them, and I'll learn to love it. I'm just an instrument of your hand."

And now...the Lord has moved me back to where I wanted to be!! I have been in a sense of wonder and awe since last night. Thank you, Lord, for teaching me this lesson, but also thank you for my team!

Ok, guess it's time for something more than just a vague one-liner.  Things are still hopping around here as the last days and weeks of training are rapidly ticking. Departure date is scheduled for August 31, and it's off to West Virginia I go! I am excited about hitting the road and actually putting into practice all the stuff I've been learning and studying, but the thought of saying goodbye to everyone that I have come to love and be so close with is not something that I'm looking forward to.

The Lord has shown me a lot this past week, through my own failures and mistakes. Sunday the Lord did an amazing work in my heart, and a lot of the walls of stubbornness and pride crumbed, and the Lord was free to do some housecleaning in my life. Praise the Lord! I am learning to let go, and trust. A phrase the Lord keeps pounding through my head is that "The Lord doesn't need my help...but He does want my trust." That's been a big issue for me lately.

What else? Training has switched from a class room setting to mainly just paring off with my partner and working on lessons. I am continually amazed at how the Lord knew what was good for me. I am finding a kindred spirit and like-minded teacher in my partner, Jessie. And the adjustment to being a Silver team member is going well. The Lord is faithful.

Anyway, there ya have it. Comments? Questions? Complaints? Leave 'em here.

The Lord is doing what I thought was impossible!!