My Summer

So, I am finally sitting down and writing about the summer. I really did enjoy my summer assignment. I know that most people look at it as if you can't preach then it is not really anything. But, this summer really helped me to see what I want to do. I enjoyed visiting as many people as I did and meeting with the post high people, no matter if there was only two most of the time. Do I count only having two people as a big let down? Not really. Having two people allowed me to really focus on their needs and talk to them about these needs. I did enjoy visiting the elderly people of the congregation also. I would have to say, even though I got in trouble for it, I most enjoyed those visits with people that lasted over two hours. Sure, I need to work on time management and getting more done in a day, but I learned so much about some of those people. Take for example a man who I went to church with almost my entire life. When all was said and done I visited him for six hours this summer. You know how much I enjoyed that? More than anyone else will ever realize. You see, three days after my last visit with him he had a severe stroke. A week later he went on to glory. Those six hours that I spent with him helped me to see what he was all about. It helped me to see the real Tony. He lived in South Holland for all but three months of his life, the last three months, which were spent in a trailer park just south of South Holland. He was a real pal. All that I learned from him about South Holland will remain firmly implanted in my mind. I also think of the elderly couple that no longer can go to church for fear of falling. They have serving hearts and these people just mean so much. The woman is such a nice woman and she sure does care for others. She kept me up to date on Tony when he was in the hospital, even though I did visit twice in the week that he was there. These are just two examples of people that really encouraged me this summer. Any moment that I really got down on myself this summer I could call one of the elderly people up in the congregation and it would just cheer me up to see how strong their faith was. I never heard anyone complain, even though a lot of them were limited. Tony had three knee replacement surgeries, yet he still made sure that everyone around him was comfortable. The other woman that I refer to, Jean, if asked how she was would turn the question on you, and say that as long as you were doing well she was too. It brings me to tears to think about these people and think how much they truly mean to me, and how I tried to show them Christian love, only to return to seminary to find out that I may not be capable enough to bring Christ to others on a professional level. I have this heart for God's people but it is like my body doesn't want to do the studying that is required.