Welcoming Summer

Welcoming Summer  

      The last few weeks of the school year are filled with anxiousness, excitement, and endless waiting. Walk into any San Juan Hills classroom in June and you will find plenty of kids stealing glances at the clock, the smell of sunscreen filling the room. With finals approaching and freedom close at hand, plans are made for camping, surfing, traveling, and even for sleeping.

       When we considered how to finish off our year of club, the Dana Hills and San Juan Hills leaders decided to do the ultimate Summer Welcome Party - the beach barbeque night. It was a great way to have kids show up and enjoy the first fruits of the season; hot dogs, watermelon, and ice cold sodas. We had over 35 kids come and enjoy games, food, and the sunset over Salt Creek Beach for our celebration of the end of school and the beginning of summer.

       It was a great time to congratulate these kids. They had made it through another year, and there was a sense of victory for all of us. Several of the students thanked their leaders for the encouragement and the investment that we made in their lives this school year. I was amazed at just how much my own life has been impacted by sharing time with these kids. Their struggles, successes and their questions of faith have enabled me to see how God is working in their lives and my own. As the sun went down on our beach barbeque, and I realized that this summer was going to be where I would be continuing to share my life with these kids. I have never been more excited to work over the summer months.

Dana's Last Club of 2013

About 2 weeks ago we had our last club of the year! I can't put into words how amazing this year has been. Despite normal life challenges and difficult circumstances, Jesus continually provided for our club and led us. He brought so many new faces to Young Life. We have 23 kids coming to camp this year, most have never been before! I am so excited to watch them fall in love with Jesus. I am praying they truly come to know him at camp in 2 weeks. We are so blessed, the kids showed up and now we have a fun adventure right around the corner! 

To our donors, Thank you for all your support this year, we could not have done it with out the support of our amazing partners so THANK YOU for making this year possible! You have no idea what an impact you make, from $1 a month to $100. We are grateful for any prayer. It all matters. It all makes this possible. These kids have an opportunity to meet Jesus because of people like you! Thank you for showing them grace by believing in them. We could not do this without you. 

Thank you,  thank you, THANK YOU!






-Megan

Dodgeball With All of OC Young Life

This past month we went to a region wide club where all the kids played Dodge ball. The kids got really into and had a really good time. It was a great bonding experience for all of us. The boys made it to the semi-finals, but the girls did not do as well (ok, so we lost every game). It was a really fun night that gave us new memories!

-Megan

High Rollers- James' Intro

Club has been a blast these past few weeks.  I’ve especially been stoked on having some new kids coming.  It’s awesome when our students invite their friends because they love coming to club so much.  This week we had James come.  I met James at Tesoro a few weeks ago and invited him to club.  I was really hoping he would come that next Wednesday, but he didn’t.  About a month passed and still no James.  So when I saw him walk in to club last week I was pumped, to say the least!  We made sure to introduce him to everyone and get him on stage for the upfront game.  He totally killed it in the pie-eating contest, and you could tell he was feeling like a million bucks with everyone cheering him on.  When the night was over he gave me a huge hug and told me he’d be back next week.  Can’t wait to see him on Wednesday! 

Wyatt- singing his heart out on stage!

Bailey and Jason attempting the pie eating challenge

 

-Tayren

Wyldlife Life Club

Club this week was one of those Clubs where us as leaders just have to sit back and thank God for getting to do what we do. Of course it was filled with funny games and raffle prizes and lots of laughter and excited conversations about our up coming trip to camp in June. 

The real reason this week was so amazing was i got to speak on what it means to have Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and that he just wants to walk with us in all that we do and be there for us no matter what. I had the pleasure of leading them in a prayer where they had the chance to except Jesus into their hearts and make a decision to follow him and love people the way he calls us to love one another! 

We had 8 kids make this life changing decision! I'm in awe of God's faithfulness, please pray for these young people and us as their leaders that we can live life along side of them and continue to follow him. 

-Dmar