End of Week Two in South Africa

A quick update from South Africa! I toured with one of the 13 Floor touring teams this past week in a small town called Carolina (pronouned quite differently than in the states).  I had a wonderful time getting to know the team and see the ministry firsthand.  Think of 40 work crew/summer staff putting on a show every night. The kids are great...super fun....and work very hard.  There were big crowds at each show because there is really not much to do in Carolina. Our schedule went as such: one show during the school day for the entire high school, 3 evening shows, 1 rock/worship show, taught Life Orientation classes in the school two days, "teachers blessing" in which we brought coffee and cake to the teachers, a promotion in a neighboring town, art project with some of the classes, exercise class one day, and an outreach in the township. Local churches provided housing and meals for the team.  Casseroles became the preferred meal.  Not sure what I was eating!!!

Yesterday was their "sabbath" so we got the day off. I went to a farm where the team leaders are staying and got to ride horses and help the birth of a lamb. There was the most beautiful sunset!!! I had a "Why me?" moment while riding the horse. Why me Lord? Why do I get this amazing experience?  I don't deserve this at all. God has been so good to me!!! Beautiful people inside and out and nature that speaks of God's glory.

Today we are leaving to head to Pretoria North for another tour.  I'm excited to continue to serve the team and experience a tour in a larger urban area. Also, another tour provides me one more week to walk along side of the young adult performers and tech crew as well as team/tour leaders. God has given me favor and I have been able to enter their stories and provide encouragement and support on a significant level.

My time with 13 Floor ends next weekend with a 3-day conference designed for teen girls.  The conference deals with many of the issues pervasive for girls growing up in Africa.  Then I will transition and travel to Zimbabwe to assist and serve the national highschool YL camps.  Can't wait to see old friends from last summer and see how much the ministry has grown.

My Month at Creekside

 

I spent the last month at Young Life's newest property, Washington Family Ranch Creekside in Oregon. 

The month was ground breaking... It was the first month of the first summer of camping at Creekside ever!!! I felt so honored to be on the program team serving and considered the month God's college graduation gift to me. I felt each and every program decision came with a sense of purpose and legacy because I program activities tend to live on for many years.  I hope the program team made God proud.

Young Life camping is hard to explain to people that have never experienced it. Rather than camping, the experience should be called "resorting" for Kingdom purposes. Young Life's properties are more like 5 star resorts built for teenagers in every detail. The camp experience is intended to reflect God's unconditional love and beauty.  They are truly in a league of their own. AND Creekside took everything to a new level! 

There were too many highlights to mention them all but one that I will not soon forget is the week designed specifically for teen moms.  130 teen moms, 140+ infants/toddlers, 115 care-givers, and 59 leaders.  Unbelievable! So much love, healing, redemption, and resolute intent to show purpose and meaning.  I saw before my eyes, shame, guilt, and anger fade away and replaced by God's peace, unconditional love, and forgiveness.

I wish each of you could experience a week at a Young Life camp. To give you just a little glimpse of what a week at camp looks like (and a summary of my month) I created a slide show. ENJOY!