I leave Summit Ministries in four days. It is hard for me to believe that my time here is already over. I had no idea that such a place existed. I have made the greatest of friends, grown in my leadership skills, drawn closer to my Savior and learned a ton. I left home to come to Summit during a huge season of change. My sister's wedding was the weekend before, my brother Josh was leaving for college, my friends were moving to different states and getting married. I had this attitude that change was my enemy. Everywhere aspects of my life were touched by this battle. Little did I know that Summit was going to be the dawn in my darkness.
The pictures below were taken by Summit staff, I am using them with permission. But I thought it would be wise for me to introduce you to the people and job that have made such an impact on my life.

Jason Poarch, age 25, has been at Summit from start to finish this year. He grew up as a missionary kid in Indonesia and graduated from Bryant University with a BA in Philosophy. He is hoping to join the Marines this fall. I had the privileged of working side-by-side with him everyday. If you could watch Jason walk around the halls of Summit you would see the mood of the students perk up wherever he goes. Jason has been a huge example to me of doing ALL THINGS with excellence. He pours everything he has into his job including making an effort to invest in the students lives.

Koryn Van Dyke, age 19, has been working as classroom staff since her second session working at Summit this summer. She just went home after session 6 for her junior year as an English major/music minor at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. Koryn is full of energy, life and passion. She absolutely loves Summit and everything she was able to do here. As I sit here and think about our time together tears come to my eyes. God in HIS Sovereignty allowed Koryn and I to be friends this summer. Her love of people is AMAZING. She taught me what it means to truly live your life completly surrendered to an All-Knowing God.

Jason showing his sacrificial love for the students.

While we are all all incredibly focused, working with Koryn, Jason, and Judson taught me how to have fun while maintaining the respect of the students. The funniest thing Jason, Koryn and I would do is move the exact same way down a hall. The students never really knew what to think or do. It was hysterical.

Judson Alphin, age 27, is the classroom director and has worked for Summit for the last 3 summers. He is also the Principal of Admissions for “Summit Oxford” in England, another branch of Summit Ministries. He graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan and the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland and will be attending Oxford University in England this fall. The students know and love him as the guy who does morning pledges and prayer with them, keeps them moving, gives breaks, introduces speakers, and without fail, makes them laugh. He is always working and running….not only because he has so much to do for Summit, but because yesterday he fished his 20,000 word dissertation on Winston Churchill to get his PhD. I know, nerd alert.

These people have raised my standards. Each one is an example to me of living life for the Glory of God. I am blessed to have been a part of their lives even for a short while.
While coming home is going to be hard after this "utopian" experience I am leaving with new perspective. First, when you are doing what you are designed to do, the Creator can direct you with a mere whisper. Second, God always has a bigger plan. I don't know how God is going to use this Summit experience in my life. At moments I feel hugely blessed and then in other moments torn apart. But this I do know. Life is to short to sit with my head down. I am looking boldly forward with great expectancy of what God will do next.
-Elizabeth