The Mission - part 2

My time in Nashville climaxed with the arrival of the Fine Arts Summer Academy. This was my first year to be a "mentor" (basically, mini-faculty). I also have a newly found respect for coffee.

In the 2 days right before FASA began, I found myself in the music library of the college with a giant printer (we named it Sven), a dropbox account packed with sheet music, a bunch of un-assembled name tags, and like 200+ meal cards. And a guy named Cole who volunteered his time. And a slice of oreo cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.

Somehow, over those 2 days, I managed to get only about 4 hours of sleep each night. Registration day came and I handed out the *multitude* of sheet music I had just printed the days before.

Somehow I ended up a unofficial official music librarian for the rest of camp.

27,000+ pieces of paper, not near enough sleep, a twisted ankle, and a happy heart later...

I've printed portrait, landscape, enlarged, reduced, letter, legal, double sided, stapled, hole punched, copied, scanned, pdf, mux, word, pages, mac, pc... replaced the toner, called tech support (twice), cleared at least 2 paper jams, and practically trained for a marathon delivering music to the jazz band.

During my time, I got a chance to build relationships with almost everyone at camp. Were they the deep, life-changing, future-biblical-counselor relationships? Not yet. But the relationships were built on a foundation of service, and I pray that the foundations will provide for beautiful friendships in future years.

One of the most special moments was taking 4 10-13 year olds for popscicles and spending an hour listening to the sweet childhood thoughts. Now, hopefully, those 4 little girls (plus the ones we managed to pick up along the way just for fellowship) know that there's someone out there they can turn to. I love those girls, and I am so thankful for their cheerful companionship. And the coffee they brought me. :P

Another beautiful, unexpected moment happened when I ended up teaching 5 private lessons. Some of private lessons were simply lessons, where hopefully I was able to impart some violin wisdom to the kids. Other lessons, though, ended of being more. A few of the girls I taught were very talented girls... who didn't believe that they really did know how to play. I found myself teaching them, not something new, but that they really did know how to do the techniques they were struggling with. It seems so simple, yet to hear the difference by the end of the lesson was truly incredible.

I arrived home physically sick and exhausted, and I slept for 12 hours the night after FASA, just to sleep almost all day in the car the drive home. I don't know that I've every worked harder day in and day out in my life. My payment? A full heart and a bunch of facebook friend requests.

This was my mission trip. It was perfectly designed just for who I am, and I can't imagine any other way of spending my summer. I wouldn't change a thing about my FASA, and I can't wait until next year.