Hey everyone!
Just a quick reminder that I honestly don’t proof read these before I post them. I literally type them up and post them as fast as possible- especially on a day like today where I don’t have much time. Thanks for showing me grace!!!
God has prepared me for this lifestyle in ways that I never could have imagined. The more I do ministry, the more I see that God has this in mind since the beginning. One thing that really stands out is my time in Boy Scouts.
Since I turned 12, I have been super involved in the Boy Scouts. Now there’s a lot of interesting things that the organization has been doing as a whole, including going bankrupt not too many days ago, but I had a unique experience. My troop was all about transforming boys into Godly young men- and that’s the focus and intention for everything we did. I had MANY growing moments in this organization. This is where I learned to camp- to have almost nothing on my back and shutting up and not complaining about it, but solving problems with what I do have. It’s where I first started to learn what it looks like to be a leader- a Godly leader. It’s where I learned the importance of team work. It’s where I learned to be organized and try to get things done in the midst of chaos. And so many more lessons as well.
This last week, there have been a couple instances that have made this really obvious. Times that I don’t have anything, yet I have to make it work.
One night I had a camping trip in a supply closet! There’s a group of inner city kids that stay here in the building over night to go to church the next morning, and one night I was their chaperone. I didn’t find out until just a few hours before, so I didn’t have time to get anything for the night. I slept on homeless shelter mats in a tiny closet with some Colombian kids that don’t speak English. It was one of those using your two day old T-shirt as a pillow nights. Some people know what I’m talking about. I don’t think I could have handled it without my previous experiences camping. When I was sitting in there with nothing but a homeless shelter mat, I was taken back to my camping days and laughed.
The schedule here is also very changeable. I never quite know what I’ll be doing until the morning of on most mornings. Being adaptable to the constant change is something that I have definitely had to learn.
Learning how to work together as a team.
It also takes me back to my time in Africa. I had very little water, little electricity, lots of walking.
All of this makes me think back to Moses. So many people know the story of how great a man and leader he was. How he was the leader of a people in the desert for 40 years. God had to prepare him too. Before he ever did anything to free the Israelite people, he was a shepherd in the desert for 40 years. God had him in the right place to prepare him for what was to come. Moses has no idea what was to come.
I had no idea how much my time in scouting would affect my future. All of the many camping trips, hard leadership moments, times of adaptability, specific merit badge classes. Even times from my first camping trip alone that I still carry with me. God had me where He wanted me for that season. No matter what season you’re in. If you’re a high school student or 35 years into your career. A new believer or a pastor. Regardless of your age or experience, He is preparing you for something greater. Something greater than where you’re at now. I never could have imagined the ways my experiences helped me in the future. Be present where you’re at. Learn the lesson God is trying to get you to learn. Hear His voice.
And be obedient when you’re called into something new.
Leaving Boy Scouts and my leadership positions and dreams I had in the organization was super hard for me. There was so much I wanted to do there. So much I still wanted to accomplish. But God had a greater plan for my life, abilities, and lessons He taught me. The journey I’ve been on this last year and a half is so much greater than anything I could have done staying where I was at. Be obedient in following Him to the next thing, no matter how scary it might be. There is something greater He has for you.
Thanks for spending the time to read this post. If you want to see pictures, look at my Instagram (matthewthoenen). It’s the only social media I use, and I typically only use it once a week. I do keep it updated though and post pictures every time I post a blog.
Also- I’m always open to talk with you. Give me a call or voice message on WhatsApp or shoot me a text on iMessage. Or email me… that’s cool too I guess… I’d love to talk.
P.P.S. Shout out to Joe Winkelmann for being the best advisor/ mentor a guy could ask for. You’re awesome and an amazing Godly leader to work with. You have helped so much to get me to where I am today!
Thanks again!!!
