By Patrique Harris, Associate Director
And just like that, the summer season has come to a close. The season brought many sunshiny days, honest conversations, significant milestones, happy reunions, and hard goodbyes.
One of my favorite things to do is scroll through my camera roll and remember what I've been up to. There are so many memories I didn't capture, but here are a few of my favorites!
Intern Reunion
One of my favorite summer traditions is gathering current and former Mission Adelante summer interns. I have so much fun catching up, reminiscing about the best moments (and the tough ones!), and hearing about where life has taken everyone.
After five years at Mission Adelante, I've now had the joy of helping disciple five groups of interns. They have all grown up so much! What a blessing to have played a small part in their growth as leaders.
Plant Babies
My plant collection has grown significantly, and it keeps growing. We (mostly my mom) love visiting plant nurseries and can't resist bringing a new plant baby home. We especially love visiting the plant vendors at City Market on the weekends and then making a stop at Larry's Nursery!
Learning Social Graces
I was charged with planning weekly training workshops for our summer interns, and this was one of my favorites because it was so yummy!
Volunteer Julie invited our group into her home to learn and practice our social graces over a lovely three-course meal. The goal was to help our interns feel confident and prepared for some of the fancier occasions they may find themselves in.
Planting Roots
If you've heard me go on and on about the woes of rush-hour traffic…I apologize.
My mom started working at Family Tree Nursery, and I am so proud of her and the ways she is planting roots in the United States. If you're ever at the Overland Park location, you may spot her in the Tropicals department. She'd love to say hi!
World Cup Summer
I can't be the only one who became a fast football/soccer fan this summer! Seeing Kansas City come alive as a host city for the World Cup was amazing.
I visited FanFest at the WWI Museum and, of course, had to get a photo with the giant heart installation at the entrance… iconic. I loved watching the games and seeing teams from smaller countries emerge. If Jamaica isn't in the World Cup in 2030, Cabo Verde will be my team!
Learning Contentment
If there's a Scripture I keep coming back to this summer, it has been Philippians 4:12: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…"
Contentment that isn't circumstantial is a confusing but freeing truth. The Apostle Paul insists that this contentment is learned and absolutely possible through faith. The Lord gives us the capacity, endurance, and hope to walk through any situation.
Latino Church Family
Our Latino Church community is such a meaningful part of our ministry at Mission Adelante. Some folks have been connected to Mission Adelante since its inception, while others joined within the past year. But no matter how long they've been around, this group is so welcoming and committed to sharing life with Jesus as a family.
To celebrate the summer, we spent a weekend together in Branson. I think a few folks didn't get great sleep courtesy of a small group of us playing volleyball well into the night.
30 Years of Marriage
My dad arrived in Kansas City just in time to celebrate 30 years of marriage to my mama, Sandra. What a milestone! I'm so happy for them.
To celebrate, we road-tripped to Colorado for a couple of days. We explored the mountains, and I felt so grateful to make new, cherished memories with my parents.
The unlikeliest highlight of the trip was our pit stop in Topeka so my parents could visit the Kansas State Capitol building. We ended up doing the Dome Tour, and let's just say my dad was not thrilled about the suspended spiral staircase at the very top! He is sure he will not be doing that again.
There are so many photos I didn't include and memories I didn't even capture. But I'm feeling incredibly grateful for this summer: for every experience, the highs and the lows, every person I get to love, and all the places in God's great creation I get to enjoy. More than anything, I'm grateful for the ways God has been present in the ordinary and the extraordinary moments alike.
Bring on the fall!