Jennifer Lawson

Then: Summer Staff 2010 Session 1, Covecrest.

Now: Now, I’m a Junior at MTSU studying English Education and just trying to survive the craziness of college. I want to teach middle school in the inner city and I had this desire placed on my heart while I was at camp. My last week of camp I had a group of middle-schoolers from Toledo and they absolutely stole my heart; I had no problem loving them with everything I had and watching them drive away at the end of the week was so heartbreaking. They really made me realize what exactly I want to do with my life, and it is to go where no teachers ever want to go and love as hard as I possibly can. God placed these kids in my life at the perfect time (like He usually does) and gave me the drive to continue my education. After all of these blessings, I’m so excited to see what else He has planned for me!

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Was it worth it? Would you do it again? I couldn’t think of anything more worth my time. If I ever had the choice to go back and do something over in my life I would not change a single thing about my decision to be on summer staff. I was super hesitant about giving up so much of my time but it was undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made. I gained a family and a support network and I grew so much in my faith. I would do it again in a heartbeat! The kids taught me more about myself than I would have ever thought possible. I had so many beautiful people enter my life this summer and I couldn’t be any more grateful for them. I was so impacted that, even if I wanted to (and I don’t), I wouldn’t be able to go back to who I was before camp.

Do you still keep in touch? There are some girls and guys that I still keep in touch with and they keep me sane when my friends just can’t seem to understand what I’ve been through. After such a life-changing experience, I needed these people to stay in my life. The girls have a message thread on Facebook that we started before we left for camp and we still post on it. Prayer requests, funny stories, glory stories, anything and everything. It’s so beautiful to hear from my sisters and to be able to share things in my life with them.

Why should a college student apply to be a summer missionary at camp? College is such a trying time. Without a solid faith, it’s really hard to get through everything that’s thrown at you during these four years. Covecrest gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and love in ways that aren’t possible with most college students. Because of Covecrest, I met the youth minister from St. Rose here in Murfreesboro and I have the opportunity to be with the middle schoolers here every Sunday. I also got in touch with the campus ministry here at MTSU and they’ve been so wonderful. Besides, everyone needs a few weeks away from the hassle of adults anyway. Why not take six weeks to be a kid, to be a child of God?

Interested? Apply now for summer 2011

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