Disappointing Week: A letter to a bummed out youth group.

Dear Cornerstone Youth,

This week did not turn out like most of us expected it to.  In case you haven’t heard, the trip to Gleanings for the Hungry was canceled this week.  While this is certainly a great disappointment for those planning to attend it is also a great opportunity.  That’s right, I said (wrote actually) opportunity.

It is an opportunity for you to grow in trusting God’s sovereign control over all things.  Nothing in this life happens by accident.  God is in control of it all and has a plan and purpose behind it.  This week, not going to Gleanings was God’s better plan for you than going to Gleanings.  So think about that and pray about it whenever you start to think, “Oh man, I am so bummed I am not at Gleanings right now,” and ask God to help you see His greater purpose for you this week.

It is also an opportunity for you to serve right where you live.  It is great to get away from home for a while, spend some special time set aside to love and serve others and to grow closer to your brothers and sisters in Christ.  But trips like Gleanings can also have the unwanted side effect of convincing us that we have to go away to be used by God.  To that end, our leadership team is trying to organize some service projects for this week that we can all get behind.  So be on the look out for information from Mr. Widstrand or Mrs. Pedone for some of those opportunities.  But don’t wait for them to arrange something.  Get out there and find some ways to serve.  Maybe you can do some extra chores around the house, pull weeds for a neighbor, help serve dinner at ECHO (El Camino Homeless Organization), offer some free childcare to a busy mom, help Mrs. Kramer (the church secretary) with some office work, whatever. Get out there and use your time to the fullest.

I appreciate each and every one of you and I greatly value your heart to serve others.  Keep up the good work.

I will be contacting Gleanings about the possibility of rescheduling our trip and looking for some other opportunities we may have to get away this summer.  Keep praying for God’s wisdom in these decisions and for the Gleanings team as they recover from this trial.