Summer Update

My summer is nearly over and I feel like I've finally settled in. The majority of my summer has been a lot of ups and downs. I'd be lying if I said this summer was perfect, but it has been full of a lot of new experiences, both good and bad, resulting in a summer I'll never forget. My summer began with heading to a state I'd never planned on living in, but yet had a faint dream of spending the rest of my life in. That dream has changed. As much as I have learned to like Florida, I don't think I could ever live here. Again, I don't hate it, but I guess my Midwestern roots can't grab hold of anything I'm used to and leaves me scrambling for something familiar. I have learned to appreciate the monotony of it all, so many cultures in one place has taken on a culture within itself. But I sure do miss some changes in elevation, bluegrass, and evenings that are cool enough to hang out on your back porch.
Regardless of my opinion of south Florida, my internship has been an incredible experience. A job that combines the opportunity to interact with junior golfers and PGA professionals while traveling all over south Florida has been an incredibly positive experience. It's reestablished my love for developing the game for the next generation of golf. Being able to meet and build relationships with PGA professionals that work in the golf capital of the US has been an incredible experience within the experience. Just a few of the many lessons I've learned  from my interactions with PGA pros this summer include:
- Keep track of those that offer to be a reference, you never know who/when you might be able to utilize their opinion of you in your future.
- Treat every interaction as a job interview. You never know.
- Tied in with the last point, the golf world is so small, everyone knows everyone, so be smart.
- When you try to make youth sports fair you eliminate the element of fun for the participants.
- Build a brand for yourself. Invest in various ways to make yourself stand apart, even if that means deviating from the prescribed PGA path towards success.
I wish I could record everything that I experience beacuse there have been some priceless pieces of advice given to me by coaches and parents alike. Also there has been a non-stop flow of hilarious moments, because let's face it when you work with 6-14 year olds five days of the week you're going to have plenty of stories to tell. Just a few of my favorite moments include:
- A kid deciding to lay face down in the middle of the fairway while his playing partner is watching me with a smirk on his face just waiting to see my reaction. (Did I mention this group already had two other groups waiting for them on the tee?)
- A player told another participant that he did not deserve a medal because beating the course is not possible. This player was 4 years old and was bent on getting a medal.
- Another players pants falling down on multiple occasions and despite the belt's efforts his hands served as suspenders for the majority of his round.
Ultimately kids are hilarious. I've also learned a lot of patience... with parents. Forget dance moms, golf moms/dads/grandparents are a whole other world. For all of those times I prayed for patience, thank you Lord, I'm getting plenty of practice. I've learned how to graciously tell a parent that blames all the other players for the three hour round they're complaining about is due to the fact their child is slower than molasses. I've also been able to frequently remind parents TEAM GOLF IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN. I'd like to believe that whenever my children begin playing golf, no matter how big of a golf rockstar they are, I solemnly swear that I will not be overbearing and will only let my children play when and what they want to. Also I will read every email and piece of paper containing information regarding the event they are participating in. Because Lord knows, the answers are out
there, but why read it when you bug the snot out of the facilitator? That's what they're there for right?
I digress. But truthfully, it's been a treat to work with those I've been blessed to call coworkers. Working under this section's executive director and director of operations has been one of the greatest positives of this experience. I hope someday I get to work with or lead like them in the same setting.
But this summer hasn't come without its struggles. At the beginning of the summer I found out my mom has stage 0 breast cancer. Praise the Lord it is only precancerous, but not being able to be there for her procedure or radiation has been tough. But it's a true testament of my mom's testimony, seeing her strength, peace, and seeing all of those that love her pray for her during this trial. I'm so thankful for her example and the wisdom of the doctors that have taken such good care of her. I've also faced some of firsts of adulthood, including: dealing with a car accident, renting my own place back in Richmond, and considering my future occupation. All of these things have not been nearly as difficult as they could be and what a blessing to realize that. It's been such a sweet experience to find a church like the one I have. To sum up my experience there would be to say I have never experienced Christian hospitality in such a genuine and sweet way. From being involved in the college and career group I have true friendships resulting in my SoFlo being more difficult than originally planned. I could go on-and-on on just how great finding this body has been to my summer, but to sum it up, I do feel #blessed. Tacky I know, but seriously it's true.
My summer has been full of fun experiences at work, with my roommate, and discovering new places and things all over SoFlo. I only have three more weeks, but I hope to make the most of them. Don't worry pictures are soon to follow.

Adventure 2.0

Who's up for round two?! Last summer I got to head out to the east coast and serve my second internship for my major. This summer I get to serve my third internship in Atlantis, Florida! Last summer the best way I could keep people caught up with my crazy life happening all over the US was by my posting in this blog and posting it to Facebook. I plan to do the same this summer.
I'll be working for the South Florida PGA Section as a junior golf intern. I get to work team golf which is for the little nuggets playing scramble golf at various courses throughout the section. But part of the adventure is just getting there, which involved 18 hours in the car with my father. That in itself involved various quotes including:
"Grab your cha-chas" -referring to my chacos
"Oh look out for that! Tip it over! It's gonna explode." -referring to a megabus
As soon as we enter Florida: "All I see are gators, old farts, swamp land, and lots of golf courses!"
Can't ever go wrong with a road trip with David! Well I'm here and now I get to spend it sweating and learning more and more about section golf and how to run tournaments. I'll keep you posted on how it goes from here.

Liep,
Goda

James White- "Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done."

 I just wanted to type up all of my notes from Encounter and just read over them again to regain the truth that was poured over me within four short days. It's just need to see the truth you can pull from it and apply to your life once you've left the conference.

Our first speaker was James White from Christ's King Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was exuberant and full of life and so exciting. He kicked it off joking about "grace of God couples." You know the one's where you see the girl and you say Wow! you see the guy and you go Whoa! Only by the grace of God could those two end up together.
He was opening up what he would cover for the next few days. He began covering how his father used to have him pray every night. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by they name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Isn't that an outrageous concept? Where the least become the greatest with Jesus as King. Isn't it crazy that things on earth would occur just the same as they do in heaver when Christ in charge?
He focused on 3 scenes where Christ is King throughout his 3 different talks.
This night he focused two scenes where he heals with the power of God. Looking at Mark 5:21-43 (written with a sense of urgency) he looked to where Jesus heals the Jewish leader's daughter and the woman with the condition.
Jarius was a synagogue official, was in charge of the order of worship and possessed power and prominence. Jarius comes to Jesus giving him directions. Have you ever prayed giving God directions? Have your every prayed, "Hey God, I need you to give me patience so I can love this person." "Hey God I need you to give me clarity so I can know how to decide where to go for grad school." Jesus was in control in this moment and that was alright.
Isn't it funny how we aren't happy with the way the God of surprises us? The God of surprises doesn't answer our prayers the way we expect him to because HIS PLAN IS BETTER.
Now the woman who had been continuously bleeding for 12 years/hemorrhaging for this long time. Because of this bloody condition she was considered unclean and was not able to worship in the synagogue. She was even lower than she was originally as a woman. This woman was even prophesized in Malachi 4:2 idea of healing in the wings of the coming one when translated from Hebrew can be understood as the wings of his clothing or his tassels bringing healing.

#faithintassels

"A faith that has not been tested cannot be trusted."

Isn't it crazy when bad things happen, people tell you what to do with Jesus?Too often we don't assume God can do the impossible. What have you stopped praying for?

I love it when Jesus interrupts our disbelief.

He says, "Hello, I am still in charge." When Jarius stops believing Jesus can save his daughter because she is already dead, Jesus foretells how he will surprise everyone and serve us in a way we don't believe he can by raising again from the dead.

I learned that Jesus spoke in Hebrew when saying, "Talitha Kum." Little girl arise. rise up in Christ.

He closes the talk with these questions:

• What will it take for our to listen?
• Will you listen and stop telling Him what to do?
• Will you trust in His timing?

It's interesting how I am so much like Jarius. I expect God to do awesome things, but when he doesn't answer my requests the way I want him to I stop asking. I hate the surprise and think that's not what I need. When I expect him to heal my daughter and see him starting to work the way I have asked him to. Yet when I hear my daughter has died, I think God has failed me or he's trying to teach me something. Maybe he is trying to teach me something, but is that really the point? Why can't I just be elated that God's timing is perfect. Instead of just healing my daughter instead he can bring my daughter back to life. I can see God's omnipotent power in a greater scale in a simple prayer request. Wow. When I ask the God of all creation to do something limited to my mind power, why shouldn't I be surprised when he does something greater? Why should I direct God's plan, timing, or power? Instead to have #faithintassels and believe that even the littlest things can happen with small faith in the greatest one.

Video from James' first talk

Encounter 2015

Whoo hoo! The day finally came! I finally made it down to the land of the pine in North Carolin(a). Greensboro was the meeting place of over 2000 students and the rest was staff. Encounter was upon the Sheraton Conference Center this last week. It was incredible to once again get together and worship and grow in an awesome God. I was thankful for the time I got to spend with two friends and reconnect with many of my other friends. Despite my selfishness and busy-ness I've still been able to return to some of my best friends for encouragement and wisdom. Freshman self verses junior self has faced an entire revelation. It's crazy when we come to conferences like Encounter with our broken edges and we expect to have a beam come down from heaven and give us a new sight in Christ (like a Saul to Paul revelation). However it's so much more... it's more of coming and realizing that there is a necessity for confidence in Christ because we have nothing less to fear. We are seated at the right hand of God in heaven. Our position is literally above everyone else on this world. We have a call and after we leave we are to indeed answer. To sum up all that I learned would take an entire essay. But I am surprised to say that I didn't have a huge revelation that drew me back to Christ like I was becoming a whole new believer all over again. Instead it was through the speakers I found a healthy conviction that  it is our duty to remember the awesomeness of the simplicity of the gospel. It's great to just remember that we are to be contagious with the gospel. It's not enough to just appear to be consumed with it but instead to tell others how you have been. Just cool to think, if God works in your life every day, why not bring it up everyday. I'm also excited to begin investing in younger women to increase the spiritual multiplication effect on our campus. Just so many cool things that happened. I hope to be able to sum it up over the next few days.

Liep, Goda