This week has been so very busy but such a blessing! I have been stretched this week in new ways and gotten to see a bigger glimpse of how kind God is!
On Monday we started our two basketball camps. There was supposed to be a mission team coming in, but because of the worldwide internet problem their flight did not leave on time. The mission team was supposed to run both basketball and kidz camp, but since they weren't here we had to run them! I worked the elementary basketball camp and there were around fifty kids every day. There were many kids who had never been to church before, so they were able to hear about Jesus for the first time while they were learning about basketball. My job was to teach the kids how to pass and shoot the ball. Later that day we practiced the dances for Monday night kidz camp (their version of Vacation Bible School). We had our second night of kidz camp where we danced, learned more about God, made a craft, played games, and went down the water slide! There were a lot more kids tonight than the first night.
On Tuesday we had day two of basketball camp and my groups went a lot smoother so that was awesome! We had a lot of fun scrimmaging at the end, and the elementary kids got to have a freeze dance party at the end! We ended the day with kidz camp where we got to meet some new kids and pour into them! On Wednesday the mission team from Memphis arrived so we had a lot of help! The team was so excited to come and help us even after though the trip wasn't exactly what they planned because of the flight delays. That night we had Family Night which is the last night of kidz camp but parents can come. We had two big waterslides, fun games, a sermon, and the parents were able to see some of what their kids had been learning about that week. There was a great turnout of people who showed up! I was able to talk to several youth girls and hear more of their story. I have loved getting to help with the youth at Living Hope each week. Most of the students do not come to church with their family on Sunday morning, so Wednesday is the only day they have to hear the gospel. The students deal with so much hurt and pain at home, so I am glad that we could put on an event where they know that they are loved, seen, and valued! I was able to also talk to some of the adults at the event. A common theme I have noticed here is the lack of commitment people have. They don't want to commit to people (by choosing to be partners for years rather than being married), to a church, and many other things. There are many people here who are looking to other things besides the Lord to fulfill their lives, and something I've seen more evident is that God is the only one who can fully satisfy and fulfill our lives.
On Thursday we went with the mission team to see the Redwoods and the California coast. God's creation amazes me! Even though I have now seen the same part of the Redwoods three times I am more in awe of how loving and kind God is to us. His creation is so beautiful, intricately designed, and unique. I can't help but think that if trees, the ocean, and rivers remind me of that then how much more beautiful are we to God? We are created in His image! He loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for us! He loves us so much that He gives us free will to choose to have a relationship with Him because He wants us to love Him back. That night we were able to hang out with the college ministry at Living Hope, Engage, for their outreach night. The outreach event was volleyball, so of course we had an awesome time! Playing volleyball has been such an awesome way to connect with many people, be a light in this dark world, and share about Jesus! We've been able to share with so many people our age about why we are here (for some reason they can tell we aren't from here by our accents) and then that will lead to getting to share about Jesus! Some of the people we regularly play volleyball with were able to get connected with Engage, so hopefully more gospel conversations will continue to happen with those people when we are gone!
On Friday we went to the church replant in Yreka with the mission team and worked. We did a lot of painting in multiple rooms, cleaned some toys for the nursery, and organized the kitchen. The renovations in the church have come a long way since our first time in Yreka. Miah and I had the opportunity to talk to one of the girls on the mission team for a long time about the Lord! On Saturday we were able to go to Crater Lake, the United States deepest lake. It is so beautiful, and the water is so blue. I was once again in awe of God's creation. We were able to hike down to the lake and jump into the water! The water was absolutely freezing but it was so worth it!! I am so thankful for opportunities to see more of God's beautiful creation through this trip!
On Sunday we had church and Pastor Shawn continued in the series about Living on Mission and being empowered to reach out. He talked about knowing our purpose, being a faithful disciple, and being obedient to God! That afternoon we hung out with some of our friends, and then went on a really cool hike called Pilot Rock. We went later in the day, so that we were able to catch the sunset. It was absolutely stunning! From the top of the rock we could see California and Oregon. On the way back we were walking down when it was getting dark. It was getting a little hard to see in front of us, but unlike most people would do we didn't cut on our flashlights for some odd reason. Mostly all of us walked in the dark. There were so many times that someone almost fell because the tripped over a rock or because the incline of the trail was a little steeper than they thought. It reminded me of the Psalm 119: 105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." It is hard to walk in the dark because you don't trust where you are putting your feet, but with Jesus we can see the next step because He will guide and lead us! This world is a dark place and is a place where we can walk many different directions, and we need Jesus because He is the light in this dark world.
What you can specifically pray for:
All of the families that we connected with through Christmas in July will become connected with a local church and will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The students that I have connected with at youth each week will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, will be discipled, and will be a light for Jesus in their schools, homes, and everywhere they go. Also as I have mentioned many of the students do not have the best homelives, so pray for their families as well!
There is a particular lady that I got to talk to on Wednesday night who is a mom of three kids and does not personally know the Lord. The ladies of Living Hope have been trying to get her connected and have talked about the gospel for about five years now. Pray that God will open her eyes and heart to realize her need for Him!
The kids and students who were at the basketball and kidz camps this week and soccer and skills camp last week who are not involved/plugged into a local church. Pray that they will have the desire and ability to get plugged into a church and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Engage, the college ministry through Living Hope Church at a nearby college, is having the opportunity and will have a bigger opportunity in the fall to reach a lot of people with the gospel. Pray that the Lord will equip Jordin, the college pastor, and the Engage team with the wisdom and knowledge of how to share the gospel with the people they come in contact with!
Pray for revival in Medford, Yreka, and really our world! Jesus is the only thing we need!!!
Pray for my team (the interns) that we will continue to be present during our last week here! Pray for the relationships that we have formed with people that we will be able to see them in Heaven one day with us!!
As I am in my last week here I am just so thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow here in Oregon! I am excited for my last week here serving at Living Hope Church! Thank yall for encouraging, supporting, and praying for me!
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