When I Grow Up . . .

One of the questions I find myself asking youth all the time is "So, what do you think you might want to be when you grow up?" I am usually surprised when they actually have an answer for me, for the most part they are just trying to focus on what's going on right now . . . they'll deal with 'future' when it's on their doorstep. I don't blame them I was the same way! And I think it's totally fine, sometimes I think we need to pressure our students less to know now what they want to be in 5 years, it'll come to them.

I never had a good answer for that question, and you know what . .i still don't know "what I want to be when I grow up" to be honest, I don't know that "what" I am matters very much anyway, I think "who" I am is of far greater value.  I believe that who I am will always be changing, maturing and growing. I am already a far different person than I was in jr. high or high school, I am different than I was in college, and I am confident that 10 years form now I will be different than who you know me to be now. As Christians it should be impossible for us not to change, God's word says to us that we are to become more like Jesus (1 John 2:6, Eph. 3:1-10) , in my life this would require change, as I stand now I am far from being "like Jesus". This should be our goal, not that we know "what" we want to be but that we are confident in "who" we want to be, one who has been crucified with Christ, the old has gone the new has come!

There are people in my life that I look up to greatly, I admire where they are in this journey, I admire how much of "them" has been put to death in order that Christ may live through them. I praise God for this work in their lives as it is a great example to those who follow, a great example to me.

One of these whom I admire is my Grandma, she has exemplified faith to me in incredible ways, especially over the past year as her life has been filled with change and difficulties. The one thing I have heard her utter more often than any other is "God will take care of it, lets not worry". My Grandma is an incredibly strong woman, but the strength that she has drawn from over this past difficult year has not been her own, and she would be the first to share that with you. In her strength she points you to a God who is greater than her circumstances, and in that there is great hope.

I want to share a picture of my Grandma with you. the other day my mom was helping me build a flower garden in my yard and some trees had to go. The chainsaw was operated by none other than my grandma, 75 years old and in her sandals. I mean, 'common why wouldn't I want to be like her!?

Feeling a little sleepy

The weekends been really good so far! I've been super encouraged by the response of students to the call of surrender. We've had some good speakers and I find our group asking "what does it look like to really surrender? like surrender everything, to God". There's been a few "a-ha" moments, lots if haha moments as we take the time to just play together, and moments of real heart surrender. I look forward to walking with these students even after the week end is over. And I think the group will be ready for over at the end of the day. Some of us are starting to feel just a little sleepy :)

A few guys who have "surrendered" to sleep :) ( and let me tell you you have to be TIRED to sleep during group 1 Crew.) I'll wake 'em up for the speaker :)

Almost famous

One of the young guys with us this weekend almost became famous!! Ok not really, but he did get a chance to play an improv game with panic squad. It was a lot of fun to watch one of our own on stage. And he actually did a good job!

Here's a shot of Nathan getting his taste if fame :)

7:00 am

7:00 am feels like it has come earlier than any other 7am I have ever met.
Last nights kick off events at YC are now behind us, and I'm already encouraged by how God is moving. We were challenged by speaker David Nasser last night to consider if we have truly surrendered our lives to Jesus or if we are just "playing good Christian". I think this weekend will be challenging for the students, and myself. I hope it is!

Here's a picture of 16000 glow sticks during the kick off event.

YC 2012

In just under 24 hours I'll be packed up and headed out with 11 Awesome youth and 1 awesome volunteer. We will take off to Edmonton for the weekend where we will participate in YC 2012. This is a great opportunity for me, I love that my group is small because it means lots of connection time with the students. The theme for this year is Surrender, and it truly is our hearts desire that through the events of this weekend that students will connect with a God who loves them very much and surrender in a very real life their lives to him. Please consider praying for us as we spend our weekend listing to loud music, motivational and passionate speakers, laughing and hanging out! Please pray that students who don't yet know Christ as their redeemer would come to know him this weekend, and please pray for those that do to be drawn into a deeper relationship with him. I'll keep you posted on the weekends events, It's sure to be a great time!!

Thought I would share my latest prayer alert. Please feel free to read, please please feel free to pray!! 

Have I mentioned latley that God is Crazy Awesome!

Well we are home! We arrived home from our California Breakaway trip Sunday afternoon and it is wonderful to be back!

Our trip was incredible, it's hard to sum up an 11 day trip so to be honest I am not going to try to hard. We played hard, we served meals, we cut up TONS of bread, we washed walls and painted rooms, we played some more, we hung out with homeless children, we heard stories of people on the streets . . .  we did a lot in 11 days! And at the end of it all we returned home, hopefully as changed people.

Now have I mentioned lately How crazy awesome God is?
At the beginning of the trip I shared a blog with you of a story of one young man whose life was forever changed through last years trip. Can I share another?

Part way through the trip I sent off a few emails and phone calls requesting prayer for one of the girls on the trip, she was in such a receptive place and was so engaged and committed to what was going on and what we were doing. I felt like she was in the right place, that God was moving. I was blown away when a few days later I was walking down the hallway and another one of the youth informed me . . . "O Haley, did you hear she* became a Christian" (*out of respect I and for FOIP I wont share names). While this young girl was hanging out with few of the other youth on the trip they asked the right questions and gave her an honest opportunity to accept Jesus. And she did!! (side note - one of the other youth was the young man who got saved last year . . . ya Jesus is Awesome!)

I am more convinced today than ever that the prayers of God's people are making a difference. Two years in a row I have seen the hand of God reach into the life of a student and bring them into his Kingdom. And both years God's people have been directly involved through prayer . . .it kind of makes me . . . speechless actually!

I am so excited for the journey ahead, for the times we will have to connect and the chances we will have to learn together, please pray for me and for her as I seek to walk along side her well, and as she seeks to learn more and more about her Savior!!

Some pictures from the trip!