Priorities
We had our first students depart for Rock Nest Ranch today! They met at church at 5:30 this morning and successfully made it across the border. Praise the Lord! Some of our returning team members volunteered more of their summer to help fill needs at Rock Nest Ranch before the rest of our team arrives later next week.
As our students have prepared for departure, one of the things I do at our team meetings is walk them through an acrostic outlining our “PRIORITIES” as a team. When entering a two-week period with long travel days, little personal space, awkward sleeping conditions, tiring days of work, new experiences outside of our comfort zone, and unforeseen challenges, it is important for us to set the tone as a team, to outline expectations, and make a plan for when things get tough.
P Positivity
R Responsibility
I – that’s the problem
O Obedience first
R Relationships
I – that’s the problem
T Time
I – that’s the problem
E Embrace discomfort
S Sleep
Some of our priorities include inside jokes or stories of past experiences. Others won’t make much sense without explanation or context, but some of our main themes include (1) choosing not to complain or gossip, (2) looking for things to be thankful for, (3) being trustworthy in our work, (4) caring about others over ourselves, (5) and willingness to learn in uncomfortable moments.
We have a lot of fun going through our priorities as a team, and it sets us up for what is ahead. But one of my favorite reasons for teaching the “PRIORITIES” is that it encourages many habits that should be existent in our daily lives. In other words, setting priorities as a team is a discipleship opportunity for how the Lord calls us to conduct ourselves in all of life.
This year has been especially exciting because I’m not the only one setting the vision but many of our returning students and leaders are joining me in setting the vision after experiencing the difference it made last year. We are able to look back and see how choosing not to complain or intentionally loving others can transform our daily lives. Running from a wildfire late at night is hard and ultimately outside of our control, but when we choose to look for things to be grateful for, it is an act of dependence on the God who is in control. When we made a commitment to not gossip and to spend time with those on our team we are not naturally friends with, many people finished the two weeks with new friendships and unity they had never experienced before. When our campers unexpectedly dump you out of the canoe, it is an opportunity to demonstrate grace in our response. This isn’t something we have to do on our own, but we can rely on God and one another together.
Setting priorities is important for a short-term mission trip, but preparing ourselves for how we will respond in moments of difficulty in our daily lives is far more important! This is an informal invitation for you to join our youth with some of their priorities this summer. While some of them might seem elementary, the implications are enormous when we make small commitments for how we will choose to follow in Jesus’ ways!
Jacob Abrahamson
Youth Pastor