Students' reflection on Tacoma Summit

Facebook status updates upon returning home

To study the economics of inequality and to browse through the numbers and literature is one thing, but to experience first hand the poverty and need that is hidden away under the facade that we are the richest nation in the world is truly a unique and eye opening experience. Summit 2014 was worth every moment.           

What an incredible two week experience at Summit 2014 in Tacoma. These experiences with InterVarsity and Jesus continue to grow me in ways I never thought I could. Met amazing people and lived in community, learned to live simply, and really grew in understanding God's love for the poor. Beautiful. Excited to see how this will change my life. Want to hear about it? ASK ME! I'd love to share.                                

I didn't wake up in the two story furniture-less house in Tacoma surrounded by 25 other people whom over the last weeks grew with me in search for God in people different from us. We grew into family after day two of being strangers. It was a blessing to work, eat, and pray with my brothers and sisters from all around the Pacific Northwest. May God bless them wherever they are from this day on.           

I loved being on summit.. I learned a lot with these wonderful friends about how to live out simplicity of life, community in life and God's heart for the poor - with Jesus being Lord over it all. Now time to head home and try putting some newly learned things into practice.

                           

From project evaluations: How are the things you learned at Summit going to change your life as you leave?

Listen to God’s voice always.  Have faith. Learn to live simply.

                           

I hope to judge less, feel for and with others more, and actually act on what I feel God is prompting me to do instead of being concerned about what others think of me.  I want to keep learning more about Jesus’ heart.  At some point, I’d like to move to a community like Tacoma and work with kids in the area.

                           

I will definitely try to build more of a community at my school by engaging in bible study and everything else I’m involved in. I will try and talk to my parents about the experience and the ways we could potentially change our lifestyle and rethink what we buy, what we need vs. what we want.