The Pace at Which We Run (Week One)

Being three weeks into my internship, people are starting to ask how it is going so far.  So many people asking the same question would seem frustrating (especially for me who hates to repeat myself) but, it has actually been a two-fold blessing.  Reason #1 is that I am able to really analyze how it HAS been by talking to people about it and Reason #2 is that I have been able to see the huge support network of people that God has provided for me.


However, if you haven't heard, it's going GREAT!: 

  

I got back to Harrisonburg on Monday, May 14th, & have been going non-stop since.  I moved into Cornerstone (my SG Leader Nate's house where I am living all summer) and went to Wal-Mart/caught dinner with my other SG Leader, Brandon.  It was really sweet catching up with him and talking about our previous weeks (me- the beach & Brandon- IV's Chapter Camp).

I hadn't talked to Pastor John in a week and had no idea what time to be at church the next morning.  I had two numbers for him but both of them went to the church voicemail so I ended up e-mailing him.  I got an e-mail from him the next morning and got to church at 8:30.

Turns out Pastor John was leaving for a conference in Texas for two days and he asked me to drive them to the airport.  I said, "Sure! Charlottesville, right?"  He said, "No, BWI."  I asked where that was and he said, "Baltimore Washington International," which was two hours away versus C-ville's one hour.  So I would have to drive them up there, then come back ,then go get them the next night, and bring them home.  We decided it would be cheaper for them to just park overnight and it ended up being a win-win for everyone :)

So the first three days of being at church, my mentor wasn't there (which was strange) but gave me an awesome opportunity to connect with the church secretary, Kathi, who is super great and does a ton!  I was able to learn about how the church handles their finances, have some birthday cake, and talk NCIS with Ms. Robin (an older woman at the church) which was great and a total God-wink/ pick-me-up.

Deacon Training was being held that weekend so I sent out e-mails and made calls to confirm attendance and worked through the workbook myself to better prepare.  Pastor John got back in the office Thursday afternoon after he finished getting the sermon for Sunday ready and took me to my first-ever Jack Brown's experience where I had my first (of many to come) fried oreos!

Friday morning I went to Chick-Fil-A with Pastor John's accountability group.  I shared with them how I needed prayer for working towards adjusting with being on my own and getting adjusted at work, as well as, in my house.  


The rest of Friday was spent getting ready for the deacon training with tables, chairs, and mints.  Then that night we had part one of the training with part two Saturday morning.

Pastor John asked me how I was doing on Saturday morning and I said, "Tired, I am still getting used to waking up early and going hard all day."  He responded with, "This is the pace at which we run."  I have totally adopted this phrase ever since and tell it to myself to keep going.  This phrase sets the tone in doing whatever it takes to, "Impact the Valley and Bless the Nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ," (Calvary Cross-Link's mission statement).

Sunday, I went to both services, lunch, and to Pastor John's house to rest up before visitation.  I had dinner at his house and watched some quality kids' movies.  He invited me back anytime!  Right then, I knew that the loneliness that I had been feeling with all my friends being home for the summer wouldn't be a problem because the Welborn's were now my family-away-from-family in my home-away-from-home, Harrisonburg.  

They are an answered prayer.