Hey everybody. As
most of you know, I will be spending the summer traveling around to the four
sites that I’m supervising to check up on my staff and make sure that
everything is going well. Each time I
hit a new site, I thought I would write a blog to introduce you to our staff
team and tell you how you can be praying for them.
New Orleans (along with Jamaica) is our very first program
to get up and running. This city has
known so much heartache, with a history of violent crime, elevated poverty
rates, and of course, the widespread destruction of Hurricane Katrina and its
aftermath. It is a city with a desperate
need for the love of Christ. Our New Orleans
ministry team will be mobilizing over 250 teenagers and youth workers this
summer to meet that need head on. Our
team is competent, capable, fun, and absolutely in love with Jesus. I couldn’t have picked a better group myself.
Brooks Elliott (Project Leader)
Brooks is a man after God’s own heart. Several times this week, I’ve walked back to
the house to find him on his knees before the Lord interceding on behalf of his
team, this city, and the youth that we’re leading. He has a powerful heart of worship that is
contagious and he is a natural born leader.
I am absolutely confident that under Brooks’ godly leadership, our New
Orleans site is going to flourish.
Ramonda Henderson (Adventure Camp Coordinator)
When you meet Ramonda, one the first things you notice about
her is her passion. It exudes from who
she is and affects those around her. She
is incredible with kids and has a natural influence with them that is inspiring
to see. She has a wonderful gift for
leading and when she steps forward with passion and excitement, kids, teens,
and adults alike follow. She is also an
aspiring inventor (ask her about some of her ideas!)
Catherine Rosselli
Catherine is an incredibly rare example of an Italian
Canadian. Really, this just means that
her last name sounds very Italian and she lives in the northern part of New
York, thereby giving her a Canadian accent.
Catherine is such a joyful person.
Her laugh can light up a room and she seems to always be smiling. Her attention to detail and organizational
skills are also invaluable to the team.
Catherine has already stepped up so much into leadership just in the
week or so that I’ve been here and I can tell it’s just the beginning. What an incredible woman of God.
Michael Leutwyler
If I had a dollar for every time Michael talked about Panda
Express this week, I’d be a rich man.
What can I say? The guy loves his
Panda. But in all seriousness, Michael
is such an amazing example of a man that is willing to be flexible. Whatever needs to happen to make the team
succeed, Michael jumps in and finds a way to get it done, even when it’s very
unorthodox. Michael’s passion and sense
of humor make everyone around him feel more comfortable and free. He sacrificed a lot to be here this summer,
and I for one am so grateful that he did.
So this is my New Orleans team. It’s ok to be jealous, I would be too. The 250-plus youth coming to the Big Easy
this summer couldn’t be in better hands.
Please pray for them as they embark on the summer of a lifetime!
Specific Prayer requests:
1. There are a ton of
needy kids in New Orleans, but we are having a little bit of trouble getting
them to our programs. Pray that kids
would hear about what we’re doing, and show up in big numbers. We want to be able to minister to as many as
possible!
2. Energy and perseverance. New Orleans is our second busiest site this
summer, so pray for energy and endurance for our staff as they host teens and
youth workers. Thanks guys!
