Ka BOOM!!

 

This year things have started off with a BANG! We have had a lot of kids at club and Bible studies. Leaders are showing up for kids and kids are asking big questions. We had 40 middle school kids at swim club, and 40 kids at high school weekly Bible study. Between 50 and 60 kids attend high school club weekly and our discipleship group has had a great start! Thank you for your prayers and support. The pictures are from our middle school pool party, our high school bus club, and one week at one of our 3 Bible study breakfast groups.

Getting after it!

 

It is so good to be back with students! We’re seeing kids at school, around town, and on the streets, and so many of them are asking, “When can we get together?”

Adults are coaching, hosting, reaching out, and meeting with kids, and things are getting rolling! We had a planning meeting last week, Bible studies start next week, and club kicks off the following week.

Thanks for continuing to support kids in Sitka and around Alaska! Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity make this ministry possible.

And one fun update since our last post: a local news station reached out to feature our Young Life camp story on the evening news! Click here to watch the story (you may need to wait for the picture to load before the video starts).

YL Camp is ALWAYS an Adventure!

 Our Young Life camp trip this year is hard to capture in just one story. I asked our students to write letters to the people who helped send them to camp, and several themes came up again and again:

• "Camp felt like a dream."
• "I could feel God's love."
• "This was the best week of my life."
• "The speaker explained God's love and the reality of sin in a way I finally understood."
• "I'm so thankful for the leaders, camp staff, and donors who made this possible."

Our adventure took plenty of unexpected turns. We flew to Portland, spent time at the Oregon coast, and then arrived at camp. Two days later, wildfires forced an evacuation in the middle of the night. Instead of ending our trip, we adapted—staying at a middle school, enjoying a drive-in movie, spending a day at Wild Waves, exploring Portland, and making memories together before heading home.

Through every change of plans, God remained faithful. We grew closer as a group, laughed together, and watched students take meaningful steps in their faith. Many shared that they came away with a deeper understanding of God's love for them and for others.

One student's words capture the impact better than I can:

"During this trip, I realized how much my anxiety makes me lose sight of God and how I should give all of it to him and seek him when I'm scared.  All of the activities were amazing at camp, and I loved the excitement of evacuating because it felt like the apocalypse. To whoever donated money for this very pivotal moment in my life and the others, I can't thank you enough. I'd want to tell you everything in person and tell you how much your kindness means to me. Thank you!"  

Thank you for investing in these students. Even though our plans changed, God's plans did not. Your generosity helped create an unforgettable week that will continue to bear fruit for years to come.

Heading to Camp!

WASHINGTON FAMILLY RANCH

Thirteen students and four leaders will be traveling from across the state to attend Young Life camp in Central Oregon from July 21–28. Camp is an incredible opportunity for students to have fun, build lasting friendships, and grow deeper in their faith.

Please pray that God would work powerfully in the hearts of each student in our group. For many young people, camp can be a life-changing experience, and we're excited to see what God has in store.

Thank you for your prayers and for all of your support!

 

Much to Celebrate

This school year we have had so much to celebrate in Sitka Young Life. Here are a few of my highlights: 1- The start of Wyldlife at the middle school. 2- such a great group of Young Life leaders investing in kids. 3- Great club and campaigners with increased involvement. 

Thanks for all the ways you pray and support!

God Shows up

 

It’s so meaningful to experience those moments when you’re reminded that God is in control of even the smallest details and its all his anyway!

This past weekend, we hosted our largest Wyldlife event for middle school students in years, and along the way we saw so many small “miracles” that made the night truly special:

• Our original bonfire location was taken, but the new spot ended up being even better.
• Our egg slingshot needed a new holder, and we just happened to find a paper cup in a random supply bag that fit perfectly.
• We used some eggs for one game and had exactly the right number left so every pair had one for the egg toss.
• The main shelter was reserved, but no one showed up, so we were able to use the space for the perfect capture-the-flag setup.
• We had just the right amount of firewood.
• We planned for 20 kids, and 40 showed up, bringing incredible energy.
• Despite fast-moving games like capture the flag and manhunt in the woods, no one got hurt.
• Thirty-five middle schoolers sat quietly and attentively as we shared about Jesus—our Designer—His love, His intentional creation of each of us, and His plan for us to work together as one body, each part needing the others.
• The timing of every game, explanation, and transition came together seamlessly.
• New students heard that the God who created everything loves each of them deeply.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support—they truly make a difference.

 

Last week we met with 33 students in a local home... so fun!

This week at church, one of our Young Life girls was baptized. Her father and brother attended the service, though they are not believers. I found myself wondering if she would have met Jesus had she not come to MEHS. It is incredibly encouraging to watch students choose Christ.

Earlier this week, on the bus ride home from club, I asked some girls if they felt they were growing in their faith during their time in Sitka. They said their faith has grown deeply because of peers who are actively seeking Jesus.

We are seeing a critical mass of students excited about faith and inviting friends to church, Young Life, and Bible study. Thank you for being part of it all.