The impact of summer-staff and beyond:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct you paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God has challenged me through this verse and revealed to me my need to live in complete abandonment to Him. My name is Nadine Spencer and this past summer I was a counselor at Miracle Mountain Ranch. God gave me the opportunity to counsel girls ages eight to twelve. Through various experiences I have seen that God works miracles through the most interesting circumstances. Before the end of the summer, all of the summer staff wrote down something that we desired to grow in and to be held accountable. It is neat to see how God has continued to challenge me in the weak areas of my life. Since returning home I have had the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic for a short term missions trip, as well as continue my education at home.

After returning home this past summer I had many things to ponder, God taught me so much and I needed time to process it all. One of the first things He revealed to me was my need to put all of my trust in Him, and to stop relying on my own strength. “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).  God showed Himself faithful so many times over the summer, and gave me the joy of seeing His children accept Him into their lives. However, He didn’t stop there, since returning, I have also received many opportunities to put all that I have learned into practice.

On February 6, 2010 I traveled with a team to the Dominican Republic. Our team participated in various ministries including: construction, women’s ministries, medical clinics, vacation bible school, evangelism, and pretty much doing whatever was needed. I mostly worked with evangelism and experienced true joy in sharing the gospel with the people of the Dominican Republic. Through the Holy Spirit working in their hearts, around fifty people accepted Christ throughout the week. God has continued to challenge me to live each day for Him as if it were my last. “The measure of a Christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love” (Clarence Jordan).

-Nadine Spencer (MMR Summer Staff 2009)