I get paid to hang out with my friends.

I have the best job in the world.  Seriously.  Most summer jobs for college students involve working in an office or waiting tables all day.  While there is nothing wrong with that at all, my job is different...I get paid to hang out with students.  But not just students, some of my best friends.  So, I get paid to hang out with my friends.  I'm shaking my head in unbelief just typing it!

Granted, I do actually do work.  And a lot of it is spent in an office (well, sitting in the conference room next to an office...I'm just the intern remember?).  However, even that is fun for me.   Not only do I enjoy yelling back and forth with Kris about my tasks, or covering his desk with sticky notes letting him know that I have accomplished those tasks, but I love the time I get to spend in the church office as a whole.  Just today I had some copy-machine issues (now I really sound like an intern) and the amazing ladies came to my rescue with laughter and love, not scolding.  It's a learning process, and I'm just soaking it all in.

Most of my work is a continuous cycle of planning and executing.  I work with Kris to plan out Middle School and High School Powerplays (weekly youth events), and then execute them on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Whatever tasks have to be completed, whatever errands need to be run, and whatever phone calls need to be made happen on the days leading up to each event.  The church credit card makes its home in my purse frequently, and I've only abused the privilege a couple times.  Kidding!  I would never do that...I work for a church remember? :)

Along with planning and executing, I've been given a few super random tasks this summer like:

• Purchasing 25 giftcards at Starbucks.  My barista loved me that day.  Not to mention I taught the people behind me in line a very valuable lesson in patience.  Obviously, I'm just constantly thinking of the well being of others.
• Unloading, organizing, and re-loading a coke machine.  You would think the people that drive the trucks with 2394872947 cans of soda would do this job, but that would just be way to obvious.  Of course it was one of my tasks, and I made it out alive and with a free can of Dr. Pepper. (Shhh..don't tell Kris)
• And for the grand finale, one my jobs last week was to weed the sand volleyball court.  I know what you're thinking...it's just a few weeds right? Like your grandma's garden in the backyard? Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong.  This thing was overgrown with weeds and grass.  But, we needed it for the Powerplay last Sunday, so it was one of my jobs.  Cons: heat, blisters, bugs, tedious-ness.  Pros: happy students and tan shoulders.

I hope you know by now that I am extremely sarcastic sometimes.  I really do enjoy the wacky tasks that I am given throughout the week,  blisters and all.  In terms of the volleyball court, it was well worth it just to see the students laughing and playing in the weedless sand.  Seeing a giant volleyball fly through the air didn't hurt either. :)

But, the best part of my job by far is the relationships I get to build on a daily basis.  I am so very thankful for every minute spent teaching and growing with my students, or laughing a leading with my peers and mentors.  Here are a few pictures from the High School kick-off that we had the first Sunday night in June at the Howell's home.  It was a beautiful night of food, fellowship, and gearing up for a summer full of fun with FSM.

 

As you can see, my job is full of smiling faces that are eager to spend time together and learn more about deepening their relationship with the Lord.  I couldn't imagine spending my summer any other way!

Becca