Spark Reflections: Such as These

Delanie Kamarad, incoming senior, shares her experience of her summer in ministry on the Spark Team. 
 
When I became part of the Spark team, I didn’t know how many life-changing experiences I would have.  We signed up to help others grow spiritually, but the true growth happened in our own hearts.  Students Standing up for God Against Satan Himself: that should’ve been the headline of our job description.  Speaking upfront was supposed to be when the movement happened, but making personal connections with strangers on the streets or having people of all ages come to me in tears telling me their story was when I felt closest to God. Through everything, God blessed me with His own form of support.  

Throughout the summer, I was constantly uplifted by the smiles of the kids.  No matter where we were, I had a magnet to find Jesus’ children.  By the time we were ending our summer in Grand Junction, I truly understood the meaning of having “child-like faith” from Matthew 19.  I had the company of three beautiful, little girls at Chapel Haven, continually encouraging me to be a better woman for God. Angelee, Haddassah, and Everleigh.  These three showed me Jesus every day in VBS and our evening meetings.  When I was battling doubts spiritually, they were the ones who showed me Jesus.  They were my blessing the first few weeks.  

Continuing on to Estes Park, I remember one day I was feeling low.  I didn’t feel much momentum at the time, and it felt as though the program was not yet being blessed.  Then I heard the voice of little Noah, one of Campion’s own.  He was giggling and ecstatic to be visiting our team in the mountains.  I took him in as my own and even joked he was my son.  He showed me Jesus when I was searching.

And lastly, I met three little angels in Grand Junction.  When canvassing and asking to pray with strangers at doors, Kendra and I met a mother whose little girl came out to greet us.  We asked to pray with her and Juliette piped up, only being nine years old, and said she wanted to pray for her Dad who is atheist.  Juliette attended our evening meetings without the presence or push of a parent.  She did it simply because, “loving Jesus makes people more happy,” she proclaimed.  Juliette brought her little sister Jipsie the second night, and her best friend Kaitlyn the third night she attended.  Our last meeting Sabbath morning, I spoke on Heaven and the two older girls came forward for the baptism appeal.  

Child-like faith.  That’s the lesson I will never forget from this summer.  Though our world may fall apart, we often feel lonely and lost, Jesus is with us.  Loving Him will make us happier, we simply have to show Him to others like these kids.  I envy their faith.  They are our next leaders in the church, and one day I will see each of them and their bright smiles in Heaven.
 
Delanie Kamarad, Senior at Campion