The most impactful lesson that I learned over the summer was that I cannot do ministry out of my own will or power. This was a concept that I knew in my mind, but I still tried to control relationships and to make the Holy Spirit move in the way that I saw fit.

I had positive intentions, but God revealed that instead of attempting to make the Holy Spirit move within my relationships, I needed to recognize that the Holy Spirit was already moving and working, and in turn simply follow His lead.

I was making ministry more confusing than I needed to. Instead of forcing relationships, I just needed to be present and love people, allowing God to move rather than trying to make Him move myself.

Mikaela V., Acadia National Park, 2017