Progress, Patience, People and Preparation.

Talking Life with Brendan and Troy in My House

These P's are the themes to my time in FranCo right now. The first is progress. Progress is being made. In past weeks it has moved at a break-neck speed. Lately it has slowed down to what seems normal. That's a good thing. As we move forward in establishing ourselves within the community and within the school we are being recognized. That awkward "Who is that guy?" look is slowly fading off the faces of our high school friends and many more people are understanding what Young Life is. We are meeting kids left and right and building relationships. We are moving forward.

However for myself, this takes patience. I don't know when I got the idea that everything should be immediate. Biblically we are called to be workers of the harvest, a year long process of toiling through intense physical labor for the joy of the harvest which comes once a year. If I work at something for a day and there isn't a harvest I wonder what I did wrong. But I'm learning. I'm learning that building relationships with kids take time. I am slowly getting to know kids in yearbook. Slowly getting to know the kids that we took to club. Slowly becoming recognized in the school. The other night, for the first time, I wondered what the heck I was doing at a volleyball game. I had been there the whole time and only had a few brief conversations with a few kids. What was the point? I realized though that I had to rest on the truth that I was there in Christ's stead. I have no idea what He accomplished by my being there. Even if it seems like nothing, my call to obedience doesn't change. We aren't to be fair-weather followers. And I'm being a brat if I get whiny when a kid isn't my best friend and asking questions about Jesus after one day. Pump the breaks, Nagle, just sow seeds.

Troy and Brendan joined Me In Praying at the School

The third theme has been people. I am incredibly thankful for the people in my life. In the past few weeks I have been visited by a lot of the people who support myself in this venture of Young Life in Franklin County, be it through prayer, friendship or financial donation. The joy of sharing this incredible vision we've been given has been beautiful. To have people experience the beginning signs of fruit in something they are investing their hearts in is an awesome thing. While we have been received with open arms by those in Franklin County, we are backed with the prayers and support of those all around the state and even a few scattered throughout the world. My hope is that everyone supporting me would want to come visit, partially because I want to see my friends and family, but more importantly because I want to share this vision; a main reason also for doing this blog.

Our Incredible Fall Weekend Flyer, Cudos to B. O'C.

Preparation is the final theme. We've talked about preparation for the banquet, which continues to make progress, but the thing I am currently most excited for is our Fall Weekend. Every fall young life areas get to take kids to a Young Life camp for the entire weekend. Kids get the opportunity to disconnect from a world of noise and expectations and just be themselves. You'll see on the flyer that it says "The Best Weekend of Your Life Guaranteed." and it will be. It is an absolute blast. Camp is carefully and thoughtfully planned out from beginning to end to blow kids expectations away. The greatest part is that for the first time, a lot of kids going will get to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that makes sense to them for the first time. While last year a small group went from here through a church, this will be our first official Fall Weekend with Young Life. It will also be my first time leading on a weekend. Putting things together for the trip is no simple task, but the process is one that gets me more and more excited everyday. We are given 20 spots to take to Rockbridge this year, but I'm hoping to be able to take 30 or more kids. My vision often outpaces my situation, but I want to pray big. This has the opportunity to be a huge boost. It also is a chance for kids to make eternity-altering decisions. And nothing is worth laboring for more.