Study camp part 2

ex·haus·tion
1: extreme fatigue
2: serious weakening and loss of energy [syn: debilitation, enervation, enfeeblement]
3: the act of exhausting something entire
4: neurosis following overstrain or overexertion especially in military combat

So that's me. I came home from study camp yesterday afternoon and promptly put myself into bed. It was 5:30 in the afternoon. I slept for 13 hours...

I like the fact that the dictionary definition includes the military illusion. That's the way I've felt about this week because there has definitely been a battle with some of the students (esp the bali 9!) and Satan. I've come away mostly feeling spent and weak. There has been disapointment, frustration and trust that has been broken. At the moment I'm working through how not to feel cynical (thoughts justin?) about my ministry and whether it is valued at all by those whom I'm trying to serve and work with and how to keep going when you're feeling attacked and undermined.

But it hasn't all been bad. For those who were praying, some of your prayers were definatley answerd in a short space of time. At least ten became Christians this week (!!!!!) - and many more seeds where planted in young minds for the Holy Spirit to hopefully start growing.

And our beloved Bali 9 started to show signs of cracking and breaking. In the end some of the leaders, myself included, started to find them incrediably entertaining. They got worse before they got better - but on the last lunch time some of them joined me and we had a really good chat. I was able to show them friendship and ask them questions that will hopefully challenge them to think about the type of people that they want to become.

I want to finish by thanking some people who will never read this post - but who made this week a true joy that i wont forget for a long time - my new friends Paddy, Michelle, Mark and Annabelle. Thanks for being the ones to laugh with and make me laugh (esp through the very cold very late nights on patrol!), to run away with for that well earned drink, to hug away a couple of tears and finally for busting out dance moves with that nobody else will ever understand - hooters and dramatic door openings will never be the same...