Before we left Summer Beach Project, we were encouraged to
reflect over all we learned this summer in the few weeks leading up to school
starting back. As I began looking back over all the talks we had, the bible
study and prayer trainings and even times I studied the Word on my own, I
realized that nothing I learned this summer would leave an impact on me like
the girls in room 518. Living with 4 other girls in a hotel room for 9 weeks
had to have been one of the most frustrating challenges I’ve had to face. God
revealed so much of my own personal sin, grew me in patience, kindness and
humility, taught me how to hold my tongue and used each girl in a unique way to
impact my relationship with the Lord. This blog post is dedicated to them because
I want everyone else to know how awesome they are!
Cami Gresham
One of the first things I remember Cami saying to us was, “I
am going to mess up. I am going to fail you as a leader.” That spoke volumes to
me. Cami took on the challenge of leading four very self-motivated, hardheaded,
goal oriented women. Cami did such a great job of challenging us in specific
ways that were catered toward our personal walks. We weren’t just girls that
she was supposed to talk to about “Bible stuff” but she genuinely wanted to
know what we were struggling with and wanted to help us. The times that she did
mess up, she took criticism humbly and thanked us for it. How many people do
you know thank people when they are criticized? I could go on and on about Cami
but the thing I learned the most from her was her genuine delight in the Word.
Every time we began to read the Bible, she got so excited! There would be a joy
on her face and she would just want to read more and more and more! I pray that
I can continually delight in God’s Word like she does. Finally, have you heard
this girl sing and play her ukulele? Ask her to play Bonnie Blue. You won’t
regret it!
Aubrey (Baby Aubs) Danielson
First, I want to applaud Aubrey for being the least lazy of
all the 518 girls. This girl not only did the usual SBP stuff but also
consistently woke up at 6:30 to exercise for Athletes in Training, had a job
selling fireworks, and had multiple internships during the summer. Her schedule
made me tired! This just shows how driven Aubrey is. Aubrey also loves people. She shared
toward the end of project that loving others is something she struggles with
but you would never ever know that. Aubrey would always be the first to hug you
after a long week, ask you how your day was going and bring you McDonalds
fries on the way home from work when she knew you were craving them (Thanks love!). She was
also my partner in crime in spontaneity this summer. Whether it was jumping
from the pool to the hot tub to the ocean, fully clothed, 15 minutes before
curfew, constructing a SBP bucket list, or convincing my room to drop what we
were doing and go visit a lighthouse on the other side of Daytona, Aubrey was
the ringleader and I love that about her. Aubrey plays soccer for USC Aiken and
I’m so excited to see how God uses her this semester to lead the girls on the
soccer team!
Everley (Bev) Perryman
I don’t think you could have two girls more similar than
Everley Perryman and I. My first thoughts were, “Oh, we are so similar! We are
going to get along great this summer!” HA! We slowly started to realize that we both
like to be in charge, we both like things going our way and we are both
incredibly passive aggressive. This was
NOT a good combination. God put us in a room together because we were mirrors
of each other. When Everley and I interacted, our sin was revealed to us
through the other person and then reflected back to us. We saw the sin in each
other and at first that caused bitterness and tension but then once we were
both able to talk about it and begin pealing back each other’s layers, I
realized how much of a blessing and God-send she was for me. Once we finally
got done comparing ourselves to each other, I learned that Everley is an
incredibly strong woman. Seeing her begin to break down walls and slowly let us
in on things she was struggling with was amazing and I literally saw God refine
her over the summer. I was also so encouraged by her dedication to writing in
her prayer journal every single night. No matter how late it was, Everley would
not go to bed without writing in it and that definitely challenged me. Some
other things the room learned from our sweet Bev: how to properly tuck in a
shirt, to always go to the mirror when you need rebuke, encouragement, or
simply someone to talk to and that you don’t need much talent to become an
incredible song writer.
Rachel LeGear
If you want your mind blown, ask this girl to share her
testimony with you. It is one of the most beautiful stories of redemption I
have ever heard! Rachel was our room’s sweetheart. She is probably one of the
most selfless people I’ve ever met, always putting others before herself. In
the midst of frustration and anger in the room, Rachel was always the one who
kept her head on straight, who never had any rude remarks and who I never once,
the entire summer, saw get angry. While Rachel and I seem like we don’t have
much in common, we found out towards the end of the summer that we are a lot
more similar than we thought. We both struggle with seeking the approval of
others. Both in very different ways, but it was something that bonded us and
left us with a two hour conversation in the Laundromat about whether we are
seeking God’s approval or man’s (Gal. 1:10).
I also saw God work in Rachel’s life this summer and He challenged her
with an INCREDIBLE opportunity for the fall that I won’t share on here because
I’m not sure who all she has told. (But I’m sure if you asked her she would
love to share it with you!) I know God is going to do incredible things with
her in her next three years at Georgia College. I get excited just thinking
about it!
Cami-Cam, Aubs, Bev, and Rach: As you all know, I have a slight musical obsession. (Thank
you for bearing with me on days that I needed to burst out in song and dance.)
And I think there are some lyrics from the song “For Good” from Wicked that
sums this up perfectly.
I've heard it said,
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are lead to those
Who help us most to grow if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.
