Picking up where I left off with my last post (Where in the World is the Zbylot Family?), the children came home from a
great week with their cousins and studying God’s word. We shared the weekend
together as a family and worshipped for the first time with Silver Springs
Baptist Church as Scott preached his first sermon as the pastor. Overwhelmed with the joy and love from the
congregation, God continued to confirm the place He wanted our family to be
serving.
With the undeniable knowledge of
recognizing God’s plan for our family our children were still unsure about how
changing churches was going to affect them.
Leaving behind friends at a church they mostly grew up in and had built
relationships was weighing heavy on their hearts. Scott and I, watching their concern and
anxiousness, began praying for them as far back as March. The first thing we recognized could aid in
this transition was to attend Silver Springs Baptist’s Vacation Bible
School. The week after Scott preached to
come in view of a call we attended to allow the children to meet some future
friends their age while giving us a glimpse into the church life at Silver
Springs. This act helped the children
but it still seemed they were struggling.
In June as God revealed more and
more the direction He was taking us, we asked permission for our children (all
but Peter because he was too young) to register to attend camp with Silver
Springs. Attending camp is a huge relationship
building experience for all ages. Deep
down Scott and I knew this would be a great way for the children to make new
friends and begin the process of relationship building at the new church. This would prove to be a huge faith building
experience for them as well as for us.
As Wednesday, the day of departure
approached, Hannah, Dawson, and Nathan were expressing anxiousness about going
while I became more and more anxious about letting my children go to a camp I
knew very little about and did not even know the sponsors who would be in
charge of my children while there. (No
offense to the wonderful team who took them, it was just so knew to me and just
meeting the sponsors two sometimes three times is not at all my protocol for
releasing my children into strangers hands.)
So as it got closer and closer my prayer partners lifted me up while our
family prayed together and prepared for KidsLifeCamp.
Of course, knowing our sin nature,
Satan began to attack before the children even left. I always like to have things in order, etc.,
but as we unloaded their stuff from the car onto the van, Nathan realized he
did not have his pillow. A quick trip to
Wal-mart produced a travel pillow for him. I felt like I did not even get to have a
proper send off.
Later that afternoon I received a
phone call from my husband while I was in a meeting asking if Dawson left his
luggage in the car? What?!? I felt helpless. I excused myself and doubled checked the car,
knowing full well it was not there because we had taken everything out. Sure enough it was not there which left me
even more helpless because I knew my son was miles away without any clothing or
bedding, etc. and his mother was not even there to help search for where it had
been misplaced. I returned to my meeting
while Scott assured me he would let me know when they found it. I sent off some text messages to a few of the
sponsors I had their information for and began praying for Dawson to remain
calmer than I was at that time and for them to be able to find his
luggage. Of course I don’t’ remember
what I was suppose to be learning at my meeting for the next 20 minutes as my
mind was obviously not focusing on what I was suppose to be focusing on. However, I finally received a text that set
my heart at ease…Luggage Found. What a
relief.
The Lord graciously allowed us the
opportunity to visit the on Friday. All
my fears and anxiety left as we saw our children and walked around the
camp. Seeing and hearing that Dawson had
found a friend and had been fishing during every chance of free time they had,
Nathan running around with a huge smile on his face and laughter in his voice,
and Hannah taking off and not even “needing” me only allowed for one
response. Thank you Lord and forgive my
disbelief.
Yes, this is why God provided the
extra funds to send three children to an extra camp this summer. Yes, this is why God allowed us the courage
for all of us to step out of our comfort zones.
Yes, this is why we have to walk by faith and not by sight. Hannah, Dawson, and Nathan each had begun to
build relationships with the children at camp while listening and studying the
Word of God. Watching our children trust God for the courage to leave for four
days with children and adults they barely knew and seeing how God protected and
gave them the courage to walk by faith was a lesson I would not have
voluntarily provided for them. However,
God knows the steps of faith they need and gave Hannah, Dawson, and Nathan the
opportunity to see His character in a new light.
After an amazing week at KidsLifeCamp
and witnessing huge answers to prayers for our children we rested one week at
home before finishing off the month with one last week of camp where God was
not through demonstrating and showing off His awesome love and power!!
My Heart’s Prayer: Lord, how can I thank You enough for the love
and tender care You have for my family and me?
How can I put into words the utter amazement I feel when I see You work
in the lives of my children? You are
worthy to be praised. Thank You for
hiding Your children under the shadow of Your wings and training them and
taking care of them in a way that only You can do. Thank You for being faithful to them even
through my doubt. I love You Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
“Oil and incense
bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than
self-counsel.”
Proverbs 27:9
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