God of This City

Well, I've been here 2 weeks now. I survived two youth group events and second Sunday! Everything is going SO well!!! Even though I'm starting to get a little tired from staying so busy, my heart has never been happier. I have never felt so confident in what I'm doing for the Lord. There's just something about how you feel when you're in God's will for your life. It's peaceful, energizing, invigorating, it's.... Well, like I heard someone say one time "It's like the taste of water, you just can't describe it."

My first Wednesday event we had youth group had a family's home and had a pool party. The students had SO much fun. It was wonderful just to be able to hang out with them and start building relationships. We have a lot of activities planned this summer, but every Wednesday we'll be singing God of This City and the youth pastor will be doing a quick devotion on a section of the lyrics. This week I had to lead the group beside a pool with lots of flies in my bathing suit and I will tell you that was an experience! I'm really excited to be able to lead the youth in worship. I know it's going to be great!

Sunday School has been going well. I got some feedback on my teaching from one of the middle schoolers and he enjoys it. This was SO encouraging to hear being it's my first feedback on my teaching. This past Sunday I got to sit in on Children's Church which was precious. The teachers and helpers were so patient and loving towards the children. It was precious to observe the love within the church family.

This past Wednesday we went to King's Dominion which is a lot like Carowinds. We had a blast! The students were really funny and lots of memories were made. I felt like I got to know some of them a lot better. The youth pastor and I even got to ride a ride together and let me tell you, I was dying laughing the whole time at this 33 year old man screaming his head off. It was great to observe the dynamic of the group as well. They all seem to have a great time together and they all love to cut up with their youth pastor.

Since being in North Carolina, there are a few fun "first time" things that I've done. I've tried North Carolina barbecue (which trust me, it IS different than South Carolina's), had a fox cross the road in front me of, played guitar in my bathing suit, played corn hole (which I lost terribly in), gone to a new Mexican restaurant, been to Kings Dominion, and taken a picture with Charlie Brown!

Even though the past couple weeks have been a little crazy, God has been teaching me about relationships. He's teaching me how to connect with, work with, encourage, and just plain love people, quickly and genuinely. He's teaching me how easy it can be to simply show others you care about them. The people here have been so kind to me. I know there is no way I can be as much of a blessing to everyone here as they have been to me, but I'm going to try my hardest to be!

Here's my awesome group at Kings Dominion.

One Big Family and One Little Hello

God reveals Himself and speaks to us in so many amazing ways. As I was driving to the church Tuesday afternoon, I was amazed at how much farmland there is here. Everything is so green and some fields have a tall golden grass and I couldn't help but think of Matthew 9:37-38. "Then he said to the disciples 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field.'" I had a few little butterflies in my stomachs but after remembering these verses, they died. When arriving at the church, I had no idea and I STILL have no idea what this summer is going to entail, but I DO know this is where I need to be. I have been blessed with a wonderful host family, a beautiful location, and an amazing staff that is excited to utilize me in every area this summer from children's and youth ministry to music to outreach!

The next day as I was driving to the church The Garden by Needtobreathe came on my iPod. If you don't know the song the chorus is this:

"Let the songs I sing, bring joy to you. Let the words I say, profess my love. Let the notes I choose, be Your favorite tune. Father, let my heart be after You."

It reminded me that everything I did that day and the next and the next was all for Him. What a wonderful reminder to start the day with!

Wednesday night was my first church service at Southside. Before the service, I was lucky enough to meet with the Children's committee and see what they were planning for the summer and give some input after the associate pastor and I swiftly headed to the youth building. During the youth meeting, I was able to lead worship for the group and introduce them to a new song (God of This City) that will be our theme song for the summer. The youth group here is an exciting group that are very active. Most all of them like to talk and like to hang out with each other.

After the service, the associate pastor's sweet little 6 year-old went around and introduced me to some families. She went around pulling me by the hand asking everyone in her sweet little voice "Have you met Lydia?" After she had introduced me to many of the people that were still hanging around the church, I let her go play. For a little while, I watched as some of the guys played basketball while some little ones ran around them as they played. I noticed one guy leaned down and talk to one of the kids in the middle of the game; I noticed another one pick up a little boy and tickle him and make him burst into laughter. Then something came to me: Why was I so nervous about coming here this summer? We're all apart of God's family. This was just another part of God's family that I was getting to join for the summer. Seeing the adults smile and talk and joke with each other and watching the youth play and chase the children made me feel at home. I felt my shoulders relax as I took a deep breath and I couldn't help but smile.

If we're all a part of God's family, why does it matter if we're in Norris, South Carolina or Rocky Mount, North Carolina? I started thinking, why aren't all churches welcoming to newcomers? Do we even think about the baggage people could be carrying or where they come from when they walk through our doors? What if they've never had anyone look them in the eye and genuinely say "I'm happy you're here tonight."? Let's wake up church and realize that not everyone has seen and felt the love of God like we have. And also, let's realize that there are other churches just like us with the same goal we have. We are ALL here for HIS glory and not our own! Next time you pass by another church, why not pray for how God is using THAT church for His kingdom. And next time you see that guy slip in the back row or that woman you've never seen in your Sunday school class, maybe you should say hello. You never know what God could do with one little hello.

Hit the Road, Jack!

God calls us all to different things. We each have a special and unique role within the body of Christ. This blog is simply about my journey in finding how the Lord wants me to serve this summer and in many summers to come!

My name is Lydia Baker and I am a Music Therapy major at Converse College. This summer God has called me to something awesome: to be a summer missionary! If you're wondering what in the world does that entail? That's what this post is for!

Tomorrow morning, I will begin my journey to a small place in North Carolina called Rocky Mount. God is doing some pretty amazing things at Southside Baptist Church. The church is quickly growing, even the building itself is growing. I am blessed to even have the opportunity to be able to join the growth here this summer.

I'll be working primarily in the youth department but am mainly there to add extra support to the staff through the busy season of children and youth ministry. I'm really excited about some of the opportunities I'm going to have. I'll be teaching Sunday School, assisting in planning youth events, helping with Vacation Bible School, and possibly even starting their youth praise band (which I'm super pumped about!)

This blog is mainly meant to keep my loved ones posted on what's going on, but it is also a way for me to express where this journey is going to take me. God always has a way of getting us exactly where we're supposed to be without us even knowing it.

I once heard a message that had these three points about trusting the Lord with the future.
     1. We have to wait for God's timing
     2. We have to follow for God's leadership
     3. We have to believe God's promises

Well, I waited and God brought me an opportunity: Southside. I'm trying to follow by leaving my friends and family for a majority of the summer to live with strangers and show love to people I've never met. And I know without a shade of a doubt that He is going to do something way beyond are pitiful human expectations.

Quickly, I want to thank my church family. I know some of them will be reading this and I just want you to know how thankful I am to have a church family that not only prays but strongly encourages missions as much as we do. We may be small but God is blessing us for our efforts!

I also would like to say thank you to Southside for even hiring me. I know a lot of prayer and decision making went into picking me for this position and I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to simply love on people and serve others for an entire summer!

Most importantly, I want to thank the Lord! He has blessed me in so many ways and my only hope is that I could use those gifts to point them towards the one who gave them to me.

I'll be keeping this updated as much as I can on events and what God's doing in Rocky Mount.