This last year Rod & I became a part of the Skagit Vally Youth Dynamics Steering Committee. What a neat blessing that that has been. It's unlike other ministry opportunities that we've had leadership experiences with. Here, we are the support staff for the YD staff. We have a few to do's... like we helped put on the YD Fundraising Dinner just this last Thursday night. (Which was AWESOME, BTW!) Thanks to everyone who came for all of your support!!! But what I feel like we really do is provide support and encouragement to the staff. We have a great Steering Committee that I see sticking together - we share the same heart and vision for the teens of the valley.
A bit of my story... I have such a heart for YD because I was a student there for two & a half or three years of my high school days. Two of those years I was one of the student leaders. I found so much love and support there. I also learned to walk in and walk out my faith during those days. Gosh, I feel like SO, SO, much of my life was shaped out of those couple of years... between my experience, my relationships with the youth leaders, the challenges that they gave us... My experiences there changed my life & I was never the same again.
(Mission Trip 1992 with YD Student Leaders. There's me circled.)
We took trips, did mission trips, challenge courses, rock climbing (can you see me out there!?), white water rafting, wilderness hiking trips, Rendezvous in Leavenworth and Chill Out! at Mt.Baker... I've thought so many times since then - that I wish that I could give my experiences to other kids. (I've was even one of the students in their promotional video... I have a copy on VHS somewhere - I should see if I could find it!!!)
We haven't been involved at YD since about the time we were married. The last few years though - Rod & I have been going on the white water rafting trips with YD Adventures. So we've been in touch and have stayed pretty up to date on what was going on locally.
There hasn't been student ministry going on at the log cabin in Burlington for the last couple of years... and my has heart ached. Then, last year, when we found out that they were hiring an area director, my heart soared. Months later, we got a call from Bronco asking us to consider being on the Steering Committee. After seeing how excited I was that there was going to be this youth ministry in the valley again - I just really felt like it is time for me to take part in what was given to me all those years ago. Rod was on board - so here we are! (I'd like him to post his own part of the story!)
So, here we are... part of the Youth Ministry that's going on in the Valley!!! It's so funny, I never knew what went on behind the scenes when I was a teen... Looking back, I would have loved to been a fly on the wall in the Steering Committee meetings back then. I had no idea that even though we aren't hands on in the ministry, that I would feel such a part of it. It feels so good to be where God's hand is moving. And you can just feel it! It's so exciting!
Because we are on the steering committee - it's given Josiah an opportunity to get involved where he might not have normally been.. at least for a little while longer. It's such a neat yet odd experience seeing someone else build a relationship with my son - in the way that they built relationships with me back in the day.
Josiah's been going to Drop in on Monday afternoons and Rock Club on Thursday. Drop in is where Jonas and the volunteer staff do youth ministry with about 20 kids that show up after school. Rock Club is a Rock Climbing club - yes, I did say Rock Climbing. Josiah and about 5 other boys (varies week to week) go with Jonas, Eric and Jared out to Mt. Erie to go Rock Climbing. Yes, I just said that I've been letting my son climb rocks and repel week after week for the last few months. CRAZY! But since I know how particular and that they take every precaution - Rock Club isn't really a worry of mine. I'm excited to see the kids build relationships and get challenged in their faith.
Josiah's going on a Friction Rock Climbing trip this coming week with Jonas and a couple other boys. I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of my son on the Rock! Looking forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do in his life while his is gone (April 3rd - April 7th).
If it's on your heart, please lift SV YD up in prayer... God's going something great here with teens in the Valley. Also, if you could pray for good decisions on the part of the Steering Committee. And for Josiah & his trip as well. For a safe trip & that God would show him something - do something in him on this trip!
If you have teens who'd you like to see get involved somewhere - or if you have questions about Youth Dynamics in general, feel free to zip me an email - or leave a comment!
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