"Let God have control" - Scott

Half way through and this mission trip is turning out to be very different from last year. A much longer, stressful drive (LA traffic, even on a Sunday is no picnic), kind of a rocky start on our first day and being assigned to a mission site I found less than challenging, all contributed to my not so great or Godly  initial attitude. At our 5:00 afternoon leaders meeting, all these other adult leaders were talking about working in nursing homes and food banks and homeless shelters and I got to relate my experience helping out at a basketball camp at San Diego Community College. While the others sweated and labored to help truely needy people, my group sweated and labored running up and down a flight of stairs, unless we used the elevator of course, to get ice, and fill water jugs. We did help out a little with some drills and we helped prepare and serve lunch for about 200 kids, but a lot of the time we sat in the bleachers or stood around and gave high fives and said "nice job". Then, to top it all off, we had issues within our own group with respect and unity. I was wondering why I was here, giving up my time, missing my family and not feeling like I was doing anything of any spiritual value for myself or anyone else.  
But three things happened that turned this trip around for me. On our evening outing, while driving, I was talking with Kodie, who's in my group, about how I was disappointed that we weren't doing more meaningful work, especially considering the fact we were going to be at the camp the whole week. Kodie  looked at me and said; "Scott we just spent the day with 200 kids, who knows how or how many lives we might have touched." I'm supposed to be the leader, and here's one of our awesome youth giving me some pretty amazing perspective. That evening, while discussing my frustration with Sara and how I was struggling with my attitude about dealing with the respect and unity issues with some of the youth Sara reminded me that the only attitude I had any control over was my own. This lead me into prayer, which was the answer all along. To stop putting my expectation on this trip and start letting God work through me instead of trying to get God to work for me. That evening we had a group meeting and had a frank, honest discussion about our problems. Sara summed it up best saying, "we are a family in this group and families don't always get along. They argue and sometimes feelings get hurt, but strong families love each other and get through their problems".
Today was totally different for me. Not because the basketball camp was different, or we didn't have any problems, but because I chose to have a positive attitude and let God have control. We have a long way to go but I have great hope and have seen great things. I look foreward to seeing what else God has in store for us. Thank you all for your prayers, they are a great blessing.        Scott