Becoming Greek

Quatro

This was a hard Wednesday night for my at FYM.  I only have a few left, but this week was the last time that Andrea and I would have a service together. She has been the worship leader here now for 3+ years and has done a superb job.  She started as a HS student and has been an amazing leader.  Next week she will go to

Ecuador

on a study abroad program.  I am so proud of her, and the growth I have watched in her.  She has taken our group to a new level, and we will miss her.  She is like family and we will miss her while we are itinerating…..  My favorite Andrea moment was this years great escape when we played “the stand” about 50 times….  Good stuff.  I have put her blog on the side bar so check it out!

Broken

Here are some personal thoughts I wrote down on the last night of the trip in Derry…..

Tonight we had a great prayer time before the street time. Andrew said some kind leadership words about me to our team. As we prayed for the events ahead a member of the church slipped next to me and said these words, “Tony, these students are quality”. As I stood in the back I watched our students pray, praise, and cry out for a hurting city. I literally could not hold the tears back. Part of me was so proud of them in where they have walked with Jesus. Part of me was sad that I was leaving these youth. Part of me was sad to leave Derry. Part of me was sad to think about going to Greece. I thought, there are no established works there. There are no individuals that will help us in the near future. I will be alone with my family and will start from ground zero. I began to break. I have not cried that hard in years. Even as I am typing this I find myself wiping the tears away. Is it selfish to want to hang on to such great kids? Not only do I respect their heart for God, but I love them. I have invested everything I possibly could have these past five years in their life, and now I am reaping the reward. But now instead of reaping the reward, I feel as though I am taking a giant leap backwards. I am going to leave all the relationships I have built and go to a city in a foreign land. A land that could care less if we even will show up in the next year plus. This room cares, and Derry cares. I asked God what was going on in my heart. The call is evident and firm inside of me. So I asked is this selfish feelings? Am I being a baby? Who would not want to stick around in this youth ministry? The kids are tremendous. I cried thinking about the end. This was a landmark part of the process for me. When this trip is over, the end is near. I am excited to go to Greece, but my heart hurts…. It was a moment of pure sadness that the Lord chose to move. Andrew told a story about a hurting student that he met last week on the walls. The Lord then spoke to me…. Is it not the hurting that need a doctor? Not the well, but the sick?
I wiped tears from my face got up and realized something terribly important. I am leaving a healthy group. That is why I can leave, I am going to help the sick, hurting, and helpless.