But Every Year You Grow, You Will Find Me Bigger: beca y comunidad

Ok, so something I really haven't blogged about enough has been the FAAANTASTIC church small groups for young adults I've been attending. This group study has been one of the largest blessings from my entire summer for 2 reasons:

1. We're studying Tim Keller's book "Gospel in Life". During my studies last semester, I was so engrossed into the theory and practice of community development that I forgot the whole lot about the gospel work within that. This study has integrated both the heart of community development AND the gospel. Some of my favorite quotes from this book follow:

- "True virtue comes when you see Christ dying for you, keeping a promise he made despite the infinite suffering it brought him. On the one hand that destroys pride: he had to do this for us, because we were so lost. On the other hand it also destroys fear: because if he'd do this for us while we were his enemies, then he values us infinitely, and nothing we can do will wear out his love."

- "In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul wants the people to give an offering to the poor. but, he doesn't put pressure directly on their will, saying, 'I'm an apostle and this is your duty,' nor pressure directly on their emotions, telling them stories about how much the poor are suffering and how much more they have than the sufferers. Instead, Paul vividly and unforgettably says, "you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (yeah, kinda like what Dave and Clara said in their blogs.)

- "Live in a community where you don't let others carry their load alone. help others and let others help you. It's a form of hypocrisy to be willing to help others with their weaknesses but to hide your own or refuse help." (yeah, kinda convicting.)

The book has helped me in SO many ways! It's really helping me through my internship work as well as preparing to be an RA next year and continue to work in a community after graduating.

2. The people. Oh my gosh. So, I think the reason why I'm homesick/school sick is because the people in my small group remind me a lot of my friends and family (I even discovered some of them are hard core about card games). They are wonderful! It's amazing to hear some of their stories and be able to encourage one another as well as challenge each other. I don't know the guys very well because the small group splits into girls and guys. But the girls are incredible and I LOVE being with them! Some of them are even doing development work here in Miami and have given me practical advice for the future.

The reason I'm writing about the small group is because today we all went to have a bbq at the beach and it was SO GREAT! I leave you with some scenic pictures (sorry, I don't have any of the group because 6 other people were taking care of that).