Every WEDNESDAY night I feel like i’m right at home. Why? WELL, simply because that is when youth group takes place. The youth here range from 12 to about 20. Back home, I help out with youth group and TO be completely honest, I really miss them all! There is just something about the youth age that gets me going. It is simply incredible to watch a generation rise up and be empowered for the Lord!
a wall the youth painted in the school/church
Our first youth group here, I sat with 4 boys…I like to claim them as my middle schoolers. Whenever I would see them throughout the week, they’d shower me with love. Fun fact–it does not matter what country a middle school aged boy is from, their attention span is always going to run short! Never the less, I still love them. We started out with 30 minutes of singing praises. From Hillsong song’s to Chris Tomlin, the Spirit was moving! After the teaching from two of our own, something marvelous happened! Ron called us all up to the front so youth could recieve individual prayer if they wanted. The Holy Spirit was flowing! Two of “my boys” came to me: one wanted forgiveness from the way he was living and one wanted to accept Christ. Talk about one poWERful night!
one of my boys in the white
This past Wednesday, myself and teeammate Brian had the opportunity to share part of our testimonies/teaching. It was incredible how Brian’s teaching flowed right into mine. Everything we talked about was EXACTLY what these youth needed to hear: the power of words and how we are made in God’s image causing us to be His MASTERPIECE. I love how God works. HE never ceases to amaze me with Hisstrategic plan! It makes me fall more in love with Papa every single time!
sarah would jump into our pic!
Youth group, it is a time for kids who live in the different dumpsites and graveyards to come together and get away from all the chaos. Similar to youth from the states, some of these kids come from broken homes, from parents who could not give a rip about them, from loved ones who say they are worthless, from abuses of all kinds, from beauty thieves, and from poverty. It is a place where they feel ACCepted, a place where love abounds from the leaders, a place of hope, a place for a beauty to be unvelled. Youth is becoming a safe getaway. Joy overflows from their bones. When the teachings are done, youth group doesn’t end for most of them. The band, full of youth, contiues to play as they all gather around to WORSHIP our GOD for the next thirty minutes to an hour. This is their time.
precious…taylor and some youth
YOUTH—they are the faces of our future. I am BLESSED to get to be a part of their lives and the movement that’s happening around the world!
