Juniata

summer

Since I started this blog for the purpose of giving updates while I lived in the Juniata area of Philly, I guess I should continue to give updates on it every once in a while—especially because that is one of the justifications I give for actually having a blog.

I just got back from Cancun, Mexico on a vacation with my aunt and uncle and cousins. My uncle called me the Friday before last to let me know they had room at the resort,
so we left the next Thursday, and then my flight home was last Thursday.

I’ll try to post more about my time in Mexico later, but this is a picture of what was one of my favorite parts of the trip—the trip to see the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.

Then my older sister was married on Saturday. I think I am starting to actually enjoy weddings now that I know the people…or now that I am in the weddings. Since I haven't gotten the pictures from the wedding on the computer yet, I wanted to at least post one of her and me. (I’m wearing a pin from children’s church in this pic, by the way)

So then I take this summer’s road trip tomorrow. I’m planning to drive up to Baltimore to stay with some family, then to Philadelphia to spend some time wishing I could be there longer working with Urban Imperative, then stopping in Boston for I think the first time.

Then I drive up to Camp Good News in New Hampshire to be the “Dean of Men” (that is really my title). It’s a big name for simply being the counselor of the counselor guys, plus with a few other responsibilities.

I have a vague sense that I should feel more tentativeness and lack of confidence coupled with a recognition of insufficiency to have a leadership position and discipleship responsibilities. But for some reason...these things haven’t been on my mind recently in the way I would expect them to.

I’ve been enjoying my time here in Greenville tutoring, being involved in church, doing yard work, FINISHING Evangelicalism Divided and The Four Loves, and working on my correspondence course in US history.

Getting to camp has seemed way off in the distance, almost to the point that it has neither worried me nor gotten me significantly pumped up. But I get there next Monday.

Now the excitement is growing, and at the same time I want to feel more spiritually prepared. So please pray for safety as I drive the thousand or so miles over the next week, and that my time with family and friends will be encouraging for all of us, motivating us all on to love and good deeds.

More about all this as the summer goes on, of course.
Thanks for reading,

Michael