racin' to the finish line (pun most definitely intended)

this week daytona welcomed nascar groupies by the van full for it's biggest race since february's 500...the Jalapeno 250! last night was the big event. it was an epic gathering of scraggly-bearded rednecks, rhinestoned nascar tees, and enough free swag to stock a junk drawer, all to help to fist-pump Dale Jr.'s 3 car to victory. i've said it once, so i'll say it again: nascar is cool! seriously. my roommates and i had so much fun adopting nascar-fanship for a night. tv just can't do justice to the speed of the cars, the intensity of the fans, and the roar of the engines at start up. there you go--a former naysayer now converted. (to be honest, i could probably do without the muddled smell of exhaust and cigarettes, but for the sake of "the experience", i took it all in stride:)) with 2 races under my belt, i'd say i'm on my way to becoming a regular!


see the car in the bottom left!!




one of the giveaways we got our hands on was a stock car Bible passed out by a local church group. cleverly, the verse on the cover was 2 Timothy 4:7-- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." enter my own race metaphor: my summer project "race" is now nearing the finish. you could say that the checkered flag is in sight, the streamers are ready, and the fans are on their feet. with 3 days left, it's a sprint to the finish. i'm working hard to make every second count, pouring into my girls as much as i can, sharing my faith whenever i get the chance, and tying up remaining loose ends. i've even started to say my farewells and begun preparing spiritually and emotionally for the transition back to "the real world". as i process through all of the learning i've experienced these past 6 weeks, i can say that this summer was one well spent. i'm planning on using my 5 hour plane ride to think through all of the things i've learned and shared, so look ahead to a lengthy post after my return to CA. i can tell you now, though, that this summer was worthwhile because God used me in the life of my students. humbly, i am a witness to the fact that their growth is the product of the Holy Spirit and not myself. i got to see the fruit of their immense growth in a a powerful day of ministry today; each confidently shared the Gospel with a few beach-goers and, in huge praise to God, Lauren got baptized! i am intensely proud of both of them and so grateful that the Lord let me be a part of their lives this summer.





as i dash to the finish line, please pray that i would not overlook any opportunities to teach, encourage, and train these students. please also pray that my heart would be ready for the next phase of the summer, that i would leave project on a high note, and that God would equip and develop our newly appointed student leaders.

thanks for being a faithful fan!
<3katie