The Best.

This semester has been kind of ridiculous. And by kind of, I mean really. There has been so many great things happening in the midst of difficult things, but I suppose that's what was meant in Ecclesiastes 3:4 "a time a weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance". There has been beauty in the midst of pain and the presence of the Lord in darkness.
Club has slowly been growing all semester, and this is something to celebrate because our campaigners have been reaching out to new people and caring for them so well. To the left (in the middle) is Shira. She's a senior at Solanco. Behind her is Julia, a freshman. Julia and Shira eat lunch together and are forming a really healthy friendship. To the left of her is Owen, another senior. Owen is a great guy that finds excitement in his care free, "scary", lifestyle. Both Owen and Julia keep hanging out with Shira because they know there's truth to what she tells them about life. To the right is Shayne. Shayne is a junior that plays drums at club. He loves club and loves to invite new people. Shayne has a really hard, unfair, life though. He loves club because he is cared for there. He's not over looked or even looked down on. In the front is Lydia, my co-leader. She sacrificially gives of herself to make all of those people, her friends, feel loved and valued.
I can give you countless stories of our campaigners taking chances. They bring people to club, some not even their close friends, just because they want them to experience Christ. Mike has been investing in some underclassmen guys that never stop giving him a hard time. Mike isn't the most popular guy in school, but he brings new people to club just about every week. Laura is a senior that is caring for the freshman girls on the soccer team and earning their trust so they will follow her to club. Shira drives 45min to pick up a mini van full of freshman to drive back to her house for club. Caleb cares for the guys that lead music with him (a full band with drums, electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitar, and singers) and is always thinking of the next person that will love club. Frank has finally been able to get his little brother out to club after trying for over a year.
There's story after story of campaigners that want their friends at club to hear the Gospel, and that is a demonstration of their faith that God is who He says He is, and that He changed their lives forever. What makes it even sweeter though? The cherry on top, if you will? My amazing co-leaders. Tom and Lydia (picture to the right) continually show up in the lives of our friends to SHOW them that they are worth it. Tom has gotten countless kids to club because he shows up to lunches week in and week out to talk to kids and meet their friends. Lydia has gone to just about every midnight opening of a movie with girls and has had sleepovers with them to listen to them talk about their lives and point them to Christ. We get the privilege of loving our high school friends unconditionally and living life along side of them. We get to love each other. I have the best co-leaders I could ask for not just because they love me well, not just because they love kids well, but because they love the Lord and are pursuing Him. Which, coincidentally, is why we have the best campaigners too.
We are blessed beyond measure.

Thank you for all your love and support.
SLC YL (Solanco Young Life)