So obviously both Mikaela and Caitie’s friendship means a lot to me, but their friendship extends beyond having fun and a great college experience. When I met Mikaela freshman year my heart exploded when she told me she lived in Nashville. Tennessee had always been one of my favorite places, and since I was little I told my parents I was going to live there. My heart began to grow closer to Tennessee as Mikaela shared memories and stories from growing up.
One time we drove to my house for the weekend, and she spent the entire 4 hours telling me everything about Long Hollow Baptist Church. I knew names, I knew love stories, and I knew monumental moments. At that time, I had no idea what a special place it would become to me. That February, Mikaela was going to be taking a car to Quest, Long Hollow’s weekend retreat. That weekend they really needed male adult leaders, so I wasn’t going to be able to go. But something in my spirit told me otherwise, and I began praying that the door would open for me to be a college leader at Quest. Two days before we left, a group of girls cancelled and somehow we had three cars leaving for Nashville that Thursday night. The Lord had not only answered my prayers, but opened a door for life change and ministry like I had never experienced before. The weekend was crazy and there are so many inner details that go along with it- but I ended the weekend saying to Mikaela, I want to work at Long Hollow in the student ministry.
Sophomore year, I began praying about an internship, and when I went to visit for Thanksgiving break, I talked with the student pastor, and it was official – I was going to be spending my summer as a middle school intern. I worked Quest again that year before my internship and got to know a really special group of girls. The Lord was already opening doors for a beautiful ministry and beautiful relationships.
I came into that summer not having any expectations – and my mind was blown. It was one of the hardest, but by far the best summer of my life. The middle school girls exceeded my expectations. We grew together, we laughed together, and we cried together. These girls have no idea how much they mean to me or how much I learned from them this summer.
There were 14 interns all together that summer, and we became a family. Let me tell you, you will never understand the intensity of what I am saying when I say we grew together, we laughed together, and we cried together. I learned, that ministry is not easy. It is hard and draining, and a lot of work goes into it, but the reward is so great. We also established strong relationships with other college students in the church (Shout out to Taylor Flatt for starting up the Fun Things Club.) I got sick every week, whether it was an allergic reaction to a cat, a spider bite, or ending the summer with bronchitis. We walked through a lot of change and transition for Long Hollow and I learned a lot about the headship of Jesus in the church. I fell in love with Long Hollow, but I had no idea what Jesus had planned for after that summer. In fact, I ended the summer thinking my time there was up.
Thinking about this coming summer, I thought the Lord had something else in store for me. I looked into summer camps, mission trips, and other possibilities for my upcoming summer. In November, I went through a really clear season of being called into the American church and its ministry. During that time, it also became very clear that I would someday return to Long Hollow. I am so happy to say that The Lord’s plans are so much greater than my own, because I will be returning to Long Hollow as an intern this summer and I couldn’t be more excited.
When you’re walking through challenging, distracting, unknown, and unclear seasons, its easier to try and figure out plans on your own. I spent the past semester trying to figure out what I would be doing in the fall, and being completely stripped of everything I thought I controlled. Every week a new struggle appeared and a new plan came to mind. I still don’t know what I’ll be doing exactly, but I am excited to say that I will be moving to Hendersonville, TN in the summer for my internship, and staying there until the Lord calls me out of that season. I have known for a long time that one day I would call Hendersonville home, and its exciting to see that come together, even if so much is still unknown.
In 2 weeks, I’ll load up my car and drive to Hendersonville, TN… and the exciting thing is – I don’t know when I’ll be leaving.
One time we drove to my house for the weekend, and she spent the entire 4 hours telling me everything about Long Hollow Baptist Church. I knew names, I knew love stories, and I knew monumental moments. At that time, I had no idea what a special place it would become to me. That February, Mikaela was going to be taking a car to Quest, Long Hollow’s weekend retreat. That weekend they really needed male adult leaders, so I wasn’t going to be able to go. But something in my spirit told me otherwise, and I began praying that the door would open for me to be a college leader at Quest. Two days before we left, a group of girls cancelled and somehow we had three cars leaving for Nashville that Thursday night. The Lord had not only answered my prayers, but opened a door for life change and ministry like I had never experienced before. The weekend was crazy and there are so many inner details that go along with it- but I ended the weekend saying to Mikaela, I want to work at Long Hollow in the student ministry.
Sophomore year, I began praying about an internship, and when I went to visit for Thanksgiving break, I talked with the student pastor, and it was official – I was going to be spending my summer as a middle school intern. I worked Quest again that year before my internship and got to know a really special group of girls. The Lord was already opening doors for a beautiful ministry and beautiful relationships.
I came into that summer not having any expectations – and my mind was blown. It was one of the hardest, but by far the best summer of my life. The middle school girls exceeded my expectations. We grew together, we laughed together, and we cried together. These girls have no idea how much they mean to me or how much I learned from them this summer.
There were 14 interns all together that summer, and we became a family. Let me tell you, you will never understand the intensity of what I am saying when I say we grew together, we laughed together, and we cried together. I learned, that ministry is not easy. It is hard and draining, and a lot of work goes into it, but the reward is so great. We also established strong relationships with other college students in the church (Shout out to Taylor Flatt for starting up the Fun Things Club.) I got sick every week, whether it was an allergic reaction to a cat, a spider bite, or ending the summer with bronchitis. We walked through a lot of change and transition for Long Hollow and I learned a lot about the headship of Jesus in the church. I fell in love with Long Hollow, but I had no idea what Jesus had planned for after that summer. In fact, I ended the summer thinking my time there was up.
Thinking about this coming summer, I thought the Lord had something else in store for me. I looked into summer camps, mission trips, and other possibilities for my upcoming summer. In November, I went through a really clear season of being called into the American church and its ministry. During that time, it also became very clear that I would someday return to Long Hollow. I am so happy to say that The Lord’s plans are so much greater than my own, because I will be returning to Long Hollow as an intern this summer and I couldn’t be more excited.
When you’re walking through challenging, distracting, unknown, and unclear seasons, its easier to try and figure out plans on your own. I spent the past semester trying to figure out what I would be doing in the fall, and being completely stripped of everything I thought I controlled. Every week a new struggle appeared and a new plan came to mind. I still don’t know what I’ll be doing exactly, but I am excited to say that I will be moving to Hendersonville, TN in the summer for my internship, and staying there until the Lord calls me out of that season. I have known for a long time that one day I would call Hendersonville home, and its exciting to see that come together, even if so much is still unknown.
In 2 weeks, I’ll load up my car and drive to Hendersonville, TN… and the exciting thing is – I don’t know when I’ll be leaving.