Do you hear what I hear?

Imagine three young girls growing up in different parts of the world and God drawing them to the same place at the same time to begin a journey. A journey of a lifetime! Then imagine someone close to double their age joining the journey.  Do you have it? Can you picture these four women?

Meet Jenni, Shelby, myself, and Ana. This year we began a journey of following God’s calling in our lives, the journey of Young Life Staff Training. It’s a perfect match, and the best part about it, we get to do this “Together”.  We’ve already enjoyed 5am plane rides, downtown Denver adventures, and multiple slumber parties together, and we’ve only just begun.

It’s incredible how the Lord calls us, but more incredible when we listen. Ana from Mexico, Jenni from Indiana, Shebly from Yakima, and myself from good ole’ Cali, and He called all of us to the Inland Northwest Region at this exact time.  Crazy but completely how God rolls.

I’m reminded of the Magi from different parts of the region being called. Called to follow a star.  In fact, the Lord calls all of us. Of course, many of us have different journeys, but certain paths cross. So, here we go.  We will study together, cry together, laugh together, and loose sleep together.  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

What about you? What have you heard from the Lord lately? Has He asked you to follow a star? Go for it! It is so worth it.

Jesus' Second Hand Smoke

I was off this summer, yet miracles still happened even without me around. Shocking! (please discern the obvious sarcasm!)  Let me share a few amazing kid stories. I'll add more in the coming weeks.

Friends of the region, the Morells and Tanya Huber, showed up to see the 175+ Spokane Malibu campers off for the bus trip. I ran into one frantic looking YL leader, my real estate agent and friend, and asked 'what is one thing we can pray for?'  He said 'pray for *Stoney.  We are looking for a place to throw away his drugs he brought.'  After catching my breath, we prayed. I just heard the rest of the story. The leader and Stoney dumped the drugs at the first rest stop. In the first days of camp, Stoney commented that it had been the longest he had gone without drugs in his system since being a little boy. His week was incredible. He tracked 100% with the gospel all week and gave his life to Jesus. His leader said 'I love that the kid i made throw away his weed was the one who radically met his savior!"

A Malibu work crew girl from Spokane shared their 'cardboard testimony' during the work crew presentation.  On one side it shared 'On the verge of suicide' and on the other was 'Found life and hope in Christ.'  For the first two weeks, it was a vulnerably powerful message to campers and declaration. When a family member from Spokane arrived week 3, she decided not to share her cardboard testimony. Meanwhile, the family member-camper shared with her leader about her battle with suicidal thoughts. She learned third hand her family member who is on work crew overcame her battle through Christ. In fact, two others in her group also heard and realized how Jesus brought the WC girl through, all three struggling girls gave their hearts to Jesus and chose the hope HE gives and surrendered the hopelessness they each carried with them in their hurting lives. Incredible how even when the WC girl DIDN'T share her story, her changed life was enough to speak to lead 3 girls to trust themselves to the savior!

Cam was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and his last wish was to serve on a work crew.  Week one in the pit-crew was exhausting, yet when in week 2, a week full of Capernaum (YL kids with special needs) kids, he was re-invigorated. Cam referred to this as his BEST week ever in life. His cardboard testimony read: "Broken on Earth. Whole in Heaven."  A few weeks after his life changing work crew experience, he went to be with the Lord..WHOLE! 

*I changed Stoney and Cam's name to protect their story.

And That's Another Cougars...FIRST DOWN!

It was BIG news that ESPN was coming to Pullman for the big Friday night USC vs. WSU game. The downside was that it was the same weekend as the Fall Getaway camp for Young Life College at WFR-Canyon. WSU College Director, Gary Hopkins, sent out 100 last minute invites to WSU kids to come to camp after the game. Two car-fulls of kids responded, but it was one kid who responded back to Gary that stole the storyline.

This young man said 'thanks but no thanks to camp.' His 'no' was related to a traumatic experience with Young Life back in HS. Gary met up with him two days later, discussing reengaging with YL and God while in college. This freshman, from Chalice Idaho, shared about being at Malibu two summers ago. He went as a second timer with the motivation for bringing his little brother to come and similarly have the best week of his life too. While playing sand volleyball, his little brother served a ball over the net and into the ocean, and a classmate/exchange student ran to retrieve the ball from the water and tragically vanished under the swift tidal currents. The shock, pain of loss and trauma of this classmate and friend was beyond measure. In fact, this young man had not prayed, picked up a bible, or been to YL or church since that terrible incident.

Upon hearing his story, Gary invited him to join one of the YL college small groups that upcoming Wednesday. He went, picked up a bible for the 1st time in two years. He has connected with this small group, reconnecting with God. Simply the invitation to come to camp opened the door for this new beginning. Jesus came extending an invitation. Who are you inviting to 'come and see' Jesus?

Highlights, Stories and Miracles

We are going to use this blog to share together.  Highlights from devotions you and we have been reading (Advent, etc.)  Also, to share incredible stories of God at work, the every day graces and the wild miraculous movements of God.  That is the joy of having front row seats of Jesus' work through Young Life, in the lives of kids, amongst our communities in Central & Eastern WA and Northern Idaho.