April Guys Camping Trip

Our group aboard the F/V Kathleen

This past weekend 14 of us went on a camping discipleship retreat (3 Leaders and 11 Mt. Edgecumbe guys). We read the Bible, we worshiped, we shared stories from our lives,we ate great food, we relaxed away from the dorms in a great house on an island, and 9 of us climbed a volcano. This was the first time I have ever had guys willing to be vulnerable and share in front of a group of their peers about what really happens at home.  Many of these kids face very difficult things daily at home.  It was great to be able to share about how God can change us and our circumstances.  God is really working in this group of guys and several in the group have expressed a desire to share what they have learned about God with their friends and families back home. Here are a couple of quotes from the weekend.

• "Young Life has helped me see that my life is valuable, and I without Young Life I would be in a very bad place."
• " When I first started coming to Young Life things in my life were very hard and going to Young Life has really helped things in my life get better."
• " I constantly feel like I am not good enough and looking in the Bible reminds me of the truth."
• "I had fun at camp and learned a lot of things.  It is pretty amazing what God does."
• This was the best weekend ever in all m my time at Sitka".
• 5 of the 7 guys who climbed Mt. Edgecumbe said it was their favorite thing they have done at Mt. Edgecumbe.

Us on the top of Mt. Edgecumbe

We are so honored to get to glorify God and it is a privilege to see how he changes people.

Prayer Requests

• prayer for these guys and the rest of the Mt. Edgcumbe students as they return home in 2 weeks.
• BETHEL:Young Life:  Bethel is the largest hub city in rural Alaska and there are a group of people who would like to start Young Life to reach out to all the kids who wouldn't come to church.  Prayer as we build partnerships with existing ministries and look for volunteers.  Strategically... Bethel is the best place to reach a huge portion of rural Alaska.
• Committee: Sitka Young Life is looking for more adults who feel called to do behind the scenes work to help make Young Life more effective.

Thanks for partnering with us.

Areal view of Bethel

Seward and Beyond

This weekend 75 people from around the state meet in Seward. It was a great time together with 4 new communities represented: Craig, Tok, Tanana, and Bethel.  With these new YL areas we discussed principles of good ministry and made connections with one another. Some personal highlights were:

• An elder from Tanana saying that she felt God calling her to once again work with the village youth.  She was so excited she called her sisters and friends.
• Galena Young Life will fly to Tanana this weekend to meet with interested adults and help facilitate a youth event.
• Craig saying they have 8 leaders and are starting club for middle school students
• 4 people from Bethel (the biggest rural hub community in rural Alaska) said they were ready to do what it takes to bring Young Life to Bethel.
• There were over 10 Alaska Natives represented at the event and 3 MEHS graduates!
• Another exciting thing happened today at lunch.  One of my morning Bible study guys interviewed me on a research paper he was writing. His assignment was to research something he wanted to do for his community.  And he was researching how to start Young Life in his village.

Pray requests:

Tanana- Galena Young Life's visit and recruiting further adult volunteers in Tanana

MEHS guys camping trip next weekend- 15 guys going to a cabin for a discipleship trip

Liz in Tanana requests prayer that God gives her clear direction for her future.

Ezra will need to go to the hospital to have another procedure done in the next two months. We do not yet know how intrusive the procedure will be... we will keep you posted.

The picture is of our rural Alaska group in Seward.  There are 8 rural villages represented!