This time last year, I was still as lost and confused as the freshmen walking around with maps on their first day of class. The idea of an RUF large group meeting with more than 300 people was still very overwhelming, and as I was simply adjusting to a new job and a new city, I really didn't have too much to actually do.
One year later, however, I find myself in the role of "veteran intern." My two co-interns from last year, Anne and Mary Beth, have both moved on, and now I'm the one "showing the ropes" to our new intern, Catherine (who has jumped right in and been awesome, by the way!) I'll admit, it's been a bit of a transition having to remember a few more things and having a few additional responsibilities (thankfully, I learned from two of the best!), but overall, it has been a great experience so far this year.
They always told us in training that the second year of the internship was incredibly different than the first...in a good way. You arrive back on campus knowing your way around, with established relationships with the students, and plenty of lessons learned from victories and mistakes along the way.
Sometimes it's hard not to dwell in the past, wishing I could go back and do things differently last year, worrying about missed opportunities. But one of the main lessons I have learned through working with RUF is that God is at work, even in the midst of our failures. I have already been encouraged to see the ways I can learn from my experiences last year as I begin building relationships with this brand-new class of freshmen.
As I begin this second chapter of my internship with RUF @ UT, I'm really excited to see how God will be at work. I'll continuing to build relationships that were started last year, and I'll also be pursuing a whole new group of freshmen guys. Through it all, I pray that I'm continually reminded of God's faithfulness, and that I remember my job is to love these guys and point them to Jesus...not to myself.
A FEW QUICK NOTES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR:
- Large Group - We just had our third Large Group meeting of the year last night. We've been averaging over 300 students, many of whom are freshmen! Brent is preaching through the gospel of Mark this semester, looking at the person of Christ.
- Sophomore Guys Bible Study - I'll be leading the Sophomore Guys Bible Study this year, and we had 25 guys show up at my house on Monday for the first one! It was a little crowded in the living room! We'll be studying the Jesus Storybook Bible, looking at the larger Story of Scripture and how all of it points to Jesus. I'll write more about this later, but if you've never read the JSB, whatever age you are, you should check it out!
- Freshmen Bible Studies - We had a "mixer" for the freshmen guys and girls last week, and tomorrow will be the first Freshmen Guys Bible Study that I'll be helping our campus minister Brent lead. We have about 30 guys signed up so far, many of whom I've met, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better over the next months.
- Hiking Trips - I'll be leading a Freshmen Guys Hiking Trip in the Smoky Mountains on Labor Day, and Catherine will lead one for the girls. We each plan to hit the Apple Barn restaurant in Pigeon Forge on the way back. Hopefully this year we'll actually get to hike, unlike last year's experience...
- Family Weekend Tailgate - We'll be hosting a tailgate during UT's Family Weekend on Sept. 10, before the Cincinnati game. It'll be in Redeemer Church's parking lot, and it will be a great way for students, family, and friends of RUF @ UT to learn more about what's going on with us this year and have some fun before the Vols beat the Bearcats!
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement as I begin this second year! Please continue to check my Prayer Page for ways you can continue to be in prayer, and also my Support Page, as I'm still raising funds to meet my budget for this year!
Resting in His Promises,
Stephen
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