Day 2

Wow.

Day 2- We ate 3 amazing meals.  Enjoyed all the free time at camp and activities.  Dressed in our crazy cabin outfits and competed in cabin challenge games, rode horses, and did a ropes course.  Had an epic club where we heard more about how Jesus comes to us and how He calls us son and daughter.  We are having a great time!  Check out our pictures and stay tuned.

Horse ride

Cabin challege

Junior girls cabin praying before their early horse ride on the mountain. 

Day 1- Lost Canyon

The place where we have club each night. 

They destroyed the big cookie. 

Maybe 1 min to eat the big cookie. 

Our amazing LS YL leader team!

We arrived 21 hours later!  We were greeted by the work crew. 

 

 

Lost Canyon Ranch

We made it!  21 hours of pure energy, exhaustion, and anticipation.  We arrived at Lost Canyon Ranch where we will call home for the next 7 days.  The reaction on kids faces was priceless.  To have them see the beauty of this camp, the places to experience adventure, and find truth.  Yesterday after getting off the bus students ziplined, ate snow cones, shopped the YL store,  went on the blob, played soccer, swam, went down the waterslide, made new friends.  We had our first meal and let me tell you it was delicious.  The epic big cookie made an appearance.  Then the best- our first club.  I had tears watching our LS crew stand outside the doors to club chanting, cheering, and screaming.  It did not disappoint.  We laughed hard and listened in to our speaker Bo share more about what Jesus invites us into.  The night kept on.... we had an obstacle course in the rain storm, late night pizza, and ended with a cabin time where we got to share more about our own lives and journey.  We are in for a treat.  These students are not here by accident.  They are here for a reason... they are here to be free, to be kids, to find purpose, to connect to Jesus and one another.  It's the best week. 

4 Days to the bus

We depart in 4 days to experience the best week of our lives.  Stay tuned to more info on the blog and how our group of 73 from LS YL are doing. 

Come celebrate with us... it's tradition.  The 2 bus send off will be this Saturday 7/26 at 8pm from LSN parking lot by the tennis courts. 

Also a big thank you to those who sponsored and played in our LS YL golf tourney!  It was a successful and fun day supporting LS YL. 

Special thanks to those who volunteered above and beyond:

Kim and John Carlson
Laura Fitzsimmons
Kevin Enyeart
Kathy Johnson
Carol Mela
Pam Wilson

And thank you to our sponsors:

Farmers Insurance - Greg Olinger
Complete Strength Sports Performance Training
Anderson Dental
Auto Color and Equipment
Talley's Auto Body
Janet Sanders
Batteries Plus
State Farm - Jim Hallman
Spencer & Spencer Pediatric Dental

The Best Kept Secret is Out

 Wow, pretty grateful to the LS Tribune for featuring YL.  Click the link below to read the article.

Check out the article on LS YL in the LS Tribune


News:

1.  We still need Golfers for our LS YL Golf Tourney.  It is not too late to sign up as a sponsor or golfer.

Click the link below for more info.

http://lsylgolf.weebly.com/

2.  Our YL Camp trip is coming up!  Be praying for our group of 74 heading to Lost Canyon Ranch to experience the best week of their life.  Finding adventure, developing deeper relationships with their peers and YL leader, and pursuing truth. 

3.  Do you want to help behind the scenes of LS YL?  We need LIFE team members who can serve.  Specifically we are looking for volunteers to be on the prayer team, volunteers to help with the golf tourney on July 21st, volunteers to help coordinate leader dinners during the school year, volunteers to provide a leader dinner for our leaders.  See the link below and sign up if you are interested.

http://supportlsyl.weebly.com/

Class of 2014

YL Seniors- Class of 2014

Last night we wrapped up another semester of YL Club.  We honored and celebrated the soon to be graduating seniors.  We handed the reins of club over to them.  The best part was for our talk we had open mic and invited seniors to share what God has been doing in their life.  I was overwhelmed.  If I'm honest I've been in "go" mode since having our son.  But, this night got me.  God got me.  It took my breath away.  It brought tears to my eyes, a quiver in my voice, and I celebrated the Lord his goodness and his presence.  Over and over again seniors came to the mic and shared that before YL they knew of God and know they know Him.  So many of our students met Jesus in YL and it has given them life.  John 10:10 life.  They took time to encourage the underclassmen to leave a legacy, to be a part of the YL family, to start or grow that relationship with God.  Some shared of their struggles through high school and how YL was there for them, ultimately pointing them to Jesus.  Others shared of the depth of friendship YL gave them.  I presented the seniors with a link.  Just a metal chain link and challenge them to stay connected to Jesus and that they would always connected and a part of the YL family.  I had the honor of praying slash crying over them as they go out to the big crazy world.  I love this ministry and that God is at work.  I'm so grateful for a semester that God has exceeded our expectations with the number of students (and parents) involved in YL and exceeded our expectations in what He can do in hearts of his children.

Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Psalm 115:1

YL doesn't stop this summer.  Leaders will continue to do life with kids and point them to Jesus.   
We will be posting events to the website.  http://lsyl.weebly.com/

FInd out more of how to support LS YL

3 weeks

Let me update you on the last 3 weeks of LS YL. 

3 weeks ago we let LSCC know that we were growing and couldn't fit in the coffee shop and the hooked us up in the small auditorium in the basement.  And it may look as if we have outgrown that as well.  :)  170 students showed up to club and I had the honor of sharing the greatest love story ever told.  John Harris a local artist painted as I spoke and the art had an incredible impact on students.  The night was epic. 

2 weeks ago we had a fun event:  Instagram Scavenger Hunt.  It was hilarious and a blast. Students went out in teams to complete different challenges and documented them on Instagram.  Like kissing the Starbucks barista, sitting in a dumpster, making the YL sign with their bodies.  Great night of fun, new friendships, feeling included, and being kids. 

1 week ago we were back for YL Club and we had Wacky Tacky Prom.  One of our volunteer leaders, Allison Hunt, spoke about what it looks like to say YES to more, to truth, and to a relationship with God.  

And tonight.  We just had our 1st ever and probably now annual Old Life meets Young Life Club.  I'm going to be honest... this was not my idea.  Part of my job in YL is to raise funds to sustain and support our local YL and raise community support.  It's often hard to get parents in the door and people to show up to hear about what God is doing in YL.  So I was a bit reluctant when a student asked me to have Old Life Club.  I thought sure, but I doubt it will work.  Well I was wrong.  Kids invited and WANTED their parents there.  They wanted to share with them what YL is about, how it has been a huge impact in their lives, they wanted them to be there and to experience it.  They wanted them taking pictures, and see why every Tuesday the MUST go to club.  The wanted their family to experience the YL family.  Students wanted their parent to hear truth, to feel loved, to be a part of a bigger story.  It was incredible.   98 parents came.   So I love that God continues to exceed my ideas and expectations and uses this ministry to change lives of many young and old.  

 "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."  Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)

Calendar of events:

http://lsyl.weebly.com/

Upcoming Golf Tourney
http://lsylgolf.weebly.com/

Give to LS YL:
https://giving.younglife.org/Views/dp/donate/controller.cfm?ministry=area&fundcodearea=MO55&isrecurring=0&appealcode=&fundcodeareadesc=Young%20Life%20Lees%20Summit

A Parent who Rocks

Roxie Lanier and her family

 Tuesday we had another great night at YL CLUB.  Over 120 students are showing up.  Some hours early to meet with their leader for coffee, real talk, and Bible study (campaigners).   Audrey Lanier, a volunteer leader, was gone on spring break so her mom stepped up and came to club to see some YL girls she has gotten close to over the years.  I am so impressed with her support of this ministry, her relationship to the girls her daughter is leading, and her fearlessness to jump right in.  Also on Tuesday, Roxie and her husband volunteered to provide a meal to our leaders- and we ate some delicious BBQ!  As the girls say, "Roxie rocks!"

I asked Roxie to share what Lee's Summit Young Life means to her:

"My big kids have been instrumental in my involvement with Young Life. When Audrey was in middle school I began driving her to WyldLife and eventually driving her and Lance to Young Life events.  As the parent I attend meetings, dinners, fund raisers, pray for young people, build relationships and support my children in their life events.  It’s like Young Life philosophy -to meet you where you’re at and help you grow in your faith.  Our home is always open and I love, love, love having the house filled with people, sounds, food, fun and faith."

"The best part of YL and something I always quote to others is what I heard Tracee say years ago, “every young person needs 5 adults in their lives” and that is what YL has offered to Audrey and Lance not only adults that provide experiences that have been life changing, and nurturing their love for Christ but even better now Audrey and Lance share their faith with others."

"Lance is a senior at LSN and will graduate in 8 weeks and has built relationships through YL and at camp that have been amazing. Audrey is a junior in college at UCM studying social work and for years has driven up to LS every Tuesday night to volunteer and love and encourage her girls.  Life presents many challenges and YL has been there to encourage my kids and other youth to stay connected to Christ during challenging and fun times in life."  - Roxie Lanier

A few YL girls who think Roxie rocks!

Roxie visiting some of her favorite girls at club.

If you are interested in giving LIFE to LS YL check out how here:

http://supportlsyl.weebly.com/