I want to start off my last post by reminiscing for a second. I remember Sunday night before I went to sleep I had a conversation with Emily. She asked me if I would miss everybody a lot and I answered her that I honestly probably wouldn't a ton. Not because I didn't love my new family, but because I've never really missed people a ton when I was away (with some exceptions). I thought saying goodbye would be just like any other camp I've been to. We did our work together and now it's time to go home. I think that's part of the camp experience is knowing that you'll return at the end of it. I was wrong though. It's hard to summarize a whole summer in this short post, but I really consider my Union team part of my family. We may have gotten irritated with each other at times, but we served together, cried together, and fought together. This wasn't the normal type of fighting either. This was fighting for the souls of the lost and there is no greater fight out there. This was fighting for the broken hearted. This was fighting to break through our own faults and failures. Looking back, I'm going to miss this team because we were all willing to serve and they have taught me so much.
So the last week of camp I was determined not to let my ministry suffer because it was the last week. We had to do some inventory stuff during the week, but I still got to have a lot of intentional conversations with students. I was reminded just how real struggles are for younger students. You wouldn't really think that a 6-8 grader could have so much addiction or pain in their life just by looking at them. I can only imagine the pain that my classmates go through and do I really take every opportunity I get to know them or minister to them? Not really. Whenever I go to class I usually just take my seat, maybe say hey to a couple of people I know, and get ready for the lecture. My classmates are a part of my mission field.
Since this is my last post about my summer working for Centri-Fuge, it would be a good place for me to recap things that I've learned. I've learned that you don't have to go to seminary to be used by God and work in His ministry. I saw some friends who are going to seminary or plan on attending be used by God and I saw plenty of people who didn't be used by Him as well. I was praying that God would show me my future this summer and He's shown me part of it. I don't feel led to go to seminary, but I'm still not 100% sold on graduate school. That's always been my plan, but if God has some mission work for me to do then I need to do it. Whenever we serve God, He doesn't call us to give up of ourselves partially. He calls for us to give up EVERYTHING. If what we do is easy then we are doing it completely wrong. How many of us could look at our lives and honestly say that we're giving God everything? 100%? The "first fruits of our labor"? I know I can't and that needs to change.
I've learned how to operate on even less sleep than I normally get during school so that'll help once classes start haha. I've learned a lot about teaching a Bible Study and discipleship as well. I can't wait to get back to Fayetteville to live with my church. I want to see them grow so much and I want to continue to grow as well. I'm excited about being a Peer Mentor this semester because I get to just talk to new students and try to minister to them. This next semester is going to be an incredible one for me and I would like to ask for your prayers in leading whether that be in Bible Study, worship, or work. Thank you so much for your prayers for me throughout the summer. My team and I really do appreciate it and let me know how I can pray for you!
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
In Love,
Bill Bouillon
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