Snow. Mountains. Moose. Friends. Encouragement. Tears. Love. Laughter. Affirmation. Learning. Growth. God-sightings.
That was the last 3 weeks in a nutshell! I'm nearing the end of it now...I'm somewhat relieved to get much-needed rest and process the time spent here but I'm also sad to leave this place of great community and learning.
The first week was spent at the Young Life Service Center in Colorado Springs with the rest of the about 20 new International Young Life staff. We heard from many different people on things like:
cultural transition, what Young Life looks like in an international setting, spiritual and physical heath maintenance, technical stuff like info in insurance, etc., and we also had 10 minutes of affirmation every day- encouragement that we are heading in the direction that God has called us. We heard from Denny Ryberg, the president of Young Life. We ended with a commissioning service where we had communion, worshiped the Lord, and fervently prayed over each other. It was so powerful and affirming, and there may have been tears. Tears for what we are being asked to leave behind, tears of gratefulness, and tears of amazement at the grace and hand of God that has lead us all up to this point. "God uses the weak to shame the strong." - How true that is! How He could use this weak, frail, sinful human being to share the gospel of LIFE with those who desperately need it is BEYOND ME. But He will, and it's only through His strength.
Next we headed to Young Life's Crooked Creek Ranch camp in Fraser, Colorado for 2 weeks of New Staff Training. The view is BEAUTIFUL here! It's like a mountain snow oasis!
There are about 200 amazing new staff (new friends) from all over the country here, including us International folks. We've been taking 2 intensive classes as part of training (one taught by Chap Clark), participating in discussion groups, small groups, hearing from incredibly inspiring people like Bob Mitchell, an 80-something year old ex-president of YL
and one of the first ever YL kids who was saved through YL. His testimony blew us all away, as well as many chapel talks and panels where longtime staffers shared their vision and wisdom with us.
When Bob Mitchell spoke of being at Jim Rayburn's (the founder of Young Life) death bed, he said Jim's final words were (and this still rings in my ears):
"Don't ever stop telling them about Jesus."
Wow. Thank you to all my supporters in prayer and donations that are helping this vision of Jim Rayburn come true...there is no greater passion on my heart than to show military teenagers the love of Christ over in Europe.
Funds are coming in and God is SO good!!! Please be praying for:
-Travel mercies as I head back to Chattanooga on Friday
-Much-needed rest and recuperation from a long stretch of intense training!
-God's continued faithfulness in providing the finances needed
-My friend (and prayer partner) Denae who deploys to Singapore February 8th!
Love you all!
Laura
Here is a slide show my friends Beatriz and Gustavo, who are heading to Mozambique, created for our week at CCO- enjoy!
