5

I read a statistic that stated adolescents need 5 adults in their life to help shape their character and make it through those tough years.  YL leaders want to be one of those 5!  I got a text from a YL kid who has heard me quote that statistic...

"Merry Christmas Tracee!  You have been such an impact on my life and I wouldn't know how close I would be with Jesus without you.  I love you and am so thankful for you.  You have no idea.  I need you to be 1 of my 5.  Always if you would...  I hope the Lord answers all your prayers this year, I love you!"

Young Life is up and running strong at Lee's Summit North High School and Lee's Summit West High School.  YL Club is once a week and a chance for kids to be kids and play games, dance, sing, and hear the gospel in a relatable way.  LSN has grown by 60%, LSN is reaching over 75 kids through club and campaigners, our last club of the semester we maxed out at 90 kids!  LSW is reaching roughly 100 kids through club and campaigners.  God is touching kid's lives and they are coming to club to have fun and LISTEN to the truth of Christ.  Kids are coming to campaigners to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus and share their highs and lows of life.  God is moving in LS! 

We just had our 3rd Wyldlife Club.  WL is our middle school ministry and is off to a great start.  We are currently having club for WL once a month and about 12 high school YL kids lead and run that club.  It's a beautiful sight to see high school students give up their Saturday night to hang out and share Jesus with middle school kids. 

Right now we are running into constraints.  We want to continue to grow and get in every middle school and high school in LS.  YL and WL are both non-profit ministries and operate solely on financial support.  Sadly, we are facing deficit at this time.  If you are able to partner with us financially we would be extremely grateful.
If you are already donating- THANK YOU!  If you would like to meet with me to discuss YL or WL, please contact me at traceecobb@gmail.com.

May Christ bless you and love you beyond what you could imagine.

Reunion

The Gore Cabin from YL Camp 2010 reunites.  Pizza, catching up, Plaza shopping, Starbucks- oh what a day.  This I can say something magical happens at camp.  Friendships form that last.  Bonds and memories are created and it takes 20 minutes before we all feel like we are back in Colorado again.   Favorite memories of mattress surfing, random injuries and dry heaving (that would be me), hot tub talks, YL club, horseback riding... and giving God our story.  Times that will always be remembered!
I love you Gore Cabin girls. 

Did you see God today?

Sometimes I lay in bed and ponder my day in hope for sleep.  A question I tend to ask myself is where did I see God today?  Where did I see Him working, moving, blessing, in the little things?
Today and the day isn't over mind you....
-I saw Him in a cup of coffee and my delight to have one.
-I saw Him in my jump drive being found by a friend on the sidewalk after it had been missing for a week.
-I saw Him in a good nights sleep.
-I saw Him in a meeting with Daniel (LSW team leader) and Charlie ( our committee chair) and the dialogue that happened and honesty and love spoken
-I saw Him in a phone call from a best friend
-I saw Him in love from my husband
-I saw Him in planning campaingers (small group) for tonight
-I saw Him in the faces of students at LSN
-I saw Him in a text from a student thanking me for the verse of the day
-I saw Him in a text from a student asking for prayer for her health
-I saw Him in Brooke's smile and perseverance

and the day isn't over....
"God is continually drawing us to Himself in everything we experience."  Gerad Hughes

Firework

I'm loving this new song that seems to be the buzz song with high schoolers right now.  Firework- by Katy Perry.  One i'm impressed she actually wrote something with meaning and two I often think of it's lyrics and how spot on it is with how many high schoolers and even myself feel.  Check out the words and see if you can relate.

Firework- Katy Perry
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
How many days do you feel like your buried deep and no one can hear your screaming?  And we are called to be that light and find Christ in that time.  I don't know it just resonates with me. 

Good Morning!

Today I woke up to a message on Facebook from a YL kid that made me stop and say:  It's all worth it and I'm forever grateful for kids like Trevor. 

Here is the message:
"It's truly our honor to have someone i can trust and talk to that will listen to whatever i need to say with out judgement. Some i know will accept me for who i am, not matter who i am. I am honored to have some who i know will help me get through the bad times and celebrate with me during the good. Someone in my life who loves jesus and me enough to share his message with me. I am honored to have you and all the young life leaders help me find my way to God. I am honored to have role models like you in my life.  thank you for young life and helping bring my relationship with God, my holy father who loves me no matter what together. It feels good to know there is always some who you can go to."

Thanks Trevor!!!  You are a blessing to us!

Honored

I'm honored to be considered a friend by YL kids.  I'm honored to be an influence in their lives.  I'm honored to hear the details of their day-  their highs and lows.  I'm honored to know them.  I'm honored to be in their story, to be accepted by them, and to love them as they are.  I'm honored to sit beside them at basketball games and see them every day at school.  I'm honored to give rides and have long driveway conversations at the end of the night.  I'm honored to love Jesus along side of them.  I'm honored to be called and texted.  I'm honored to write recommendation letters.  I'm honored to be one that listens.  I'm honored to be known as one they can go to for anything.  I'm honored to hear about their boyfriends.  I'm honored to know their families.  I'm honored to have earned the right to be heard.  I'm honored to read the Bible with them, to pray over them, to cry with them.  I'm honored to be a YL area director. 

Did that Just Happen?

Well I made chilli last night at midnight bc I couldn't get my energy level to go down after LSN Club.  Last night we had our last club of the semester.  We tried out something new:  Bring Your Parent to Club... and threw in the theme of Ugly Sweater Club as well.  It was our best club yet.  We had about 90 kids show up and about 15 parents!! Packed like sardines in a 3 car garage we did Club like we do every week and let the parents see first hand what YL is about, what it teaches, and how we are pretty much crazy alongside our high schoolers.  From skits to songs to youtube clips and crying with laughter to a serious talk on receiving the best gift ever- a relationship with Jesus.  LSN YL Club was blessed and amazing.  I love this job!  My parents and best friend came and got to see first hand one aspect of this ministry- and left encouraged and more motivated to follow Jesus.  Here is a clip from the movie Amistad that we showed and does a great job of recapping what we have spent a semester sharing- the best story ever- the story of Jesus.

Amistad Clip: The Greatest Story

Monday

So what does an area director of YL do on a typical Monday morning...

-woke up
-met with mentor Lindsey for coffee and discussion
-came home wrote a paper on discipleship and question asking to turn into my leadership class
-ate w/ a friend
-went to store and bought a card and balloon for one of our YL kids in the hospital, made her a cd
-visited Brooke in hospital and tried to provide comic relief and listen
-was more encourged by her perservernce than my own, and her desire to make it out of the hospital in time to our last club of the semester this Wed.
-made phone calls w/ leaders, donors, committee chair, and an other AD, texted back in forth w/ kids about campaigners and life's issues.  texted out verse of the day
-came to office spoke with a woman here who is struggling- gave her my devotional
-made copies for campaigners tonight
-grab some food
-head to pick up Taylor
-go facilitate campaigners (small group) at Claire's house
-take Taylor home
-be at rest

Well I guess that's not a typical day, they are all different.  But it's my job to love on kids and leaders, to encourage and uplift and point all to Christ.

Why does YL work?

YL works because...first and foremost God is behind this ministry.  He has grown it, called others to it, and changed hearts using this ministry.  Why does YL work in LS?  Again- numero uno- God.
Secondly- because of the backbone - aka- the YL Committee of LS.
Charlie and Terri Caby
Keith and Lisa Ehrhard
Rob and Robin Todd
Jim and Margie McCoy
This committee supports the vision of reaching teens in LS.  They are my backbone, my constant encourager, and my support.  They carry burdens, carry the load, and bring them to Jesus.  Committee I cherish you and am so extremely grateful for the 100 ways in which you love me and our leaders and help this ministry.

Third- our YL VOLUNTEER leaders.  These are people who are full-time college students or young professionals who volunteer to be a part of this ministry.  They sacrafice their free time to spend it earning the right to be heard w/ teens of LS.  They are making the ministry... and they don't get thanked enough- THANK YOU leaders!!!!

Paul Moore                
Taylor Kaleikau
Grant Guevel
Whitney Curp
Abby Sharp
Katie Welch
Dillon Kinnison
Andrea Larson
Daniel Cummings
Hattie Cummings
Jared Bailey
Hartzell Grey
Nathan Manley
Josh Fuller
Sydnee Mela

Last, YL works bc of you... LS.  Because of your partnership in prayer and bc of your donations!!

Last night we celebrated the first semester of YL and the coming of Christmas.  What a joy to be surronded by life in these amazing people.  From the bottom of my heart- Thank You.  Waiting and watching in hope for all He has for us!

ABC's

So last night was YL Club... LSN meets in 3 car garage at a kid's house.  Somehow we made a freezing 3 car garage a place where you could warm up... and actually people were sweating.  That took some song singing and dancing and a lot of people to fill the space and I'm thankful.  Last night I had the privilege of giving my favorite talk at Club... How to Follow Jesus.  Using the analogy of my marriage vows and that commitment- A- admitting I desire and need my husband. B- believing he is who he says he is, which is loyal, honesty, and humble (love you babe).  C-committing myself to him in relationship.  It is the same with Jesus.  ABC.  A-admit you need Jesus bc of our sin, and brokenness.  B- believing He is who He says He is- God and He died for us and rose again for us to live.  C-committing our entire story to Jesus.

So last night in the midst of craziness kids listened for 20 minutes and heard the invitation to Christ.  What an honor to be involved in what God is doing in this city.

Today I read two posts on facebook:
1.  Give God your story
2.  I'm giving my life to the only one who gives me hope when I have none.

AMEN.