July 2, 2009
I have uploaded more photos from the second part of my trip this week. The first set of pics (two posts ago) were from Plains and Superior, MT and also from Cambridge and Council, ID. These next pics incorporate Council, Riggins, Cascade and Crouch, ID.
The stories I am reading and praying about posted on these blogs here are far better and tell a better story than these pictures, but to give you a little glimpse of what was taking place, enjoy these pictures below!
Grace,
Brian
July 2, 2009
Okay, normally I would just link you to this post, but it is too good to trust anyone to click here (see, I did give you the option, ha).
This, from Stephanie, one of the leaders at Lake Sawyer Christian Church, their team is in Cascade, ID right now. Check this out:
Hi all!
We had a very exciting night last night! There are a lot of hurting kids here in Cascade, and we were able to reach some of them last night, so it really encouraged our team.
After lunch, we had nap time and many of us did our laundry. We left early to prepare for the barbecue at the park. Everyone had hotdogs and chips, followed by a few games of kickball. Matt and Kaylee did an awesome job of sharing their stories!
When we returned to the church, we joined together in worship and in hearing Andy’s testimony. (He is the youth/associate pastor here at CCC.) He told his story in such a way that many of the Cascade teens were touched and cried during his message. Immediately after he finished, Merissa had the opportunity to talk with a girl she has been connected with who had identified herself as an atheist. She was so touched by his message that she was sobbing by the end. Merissa was able to lead her into a relationship with Christ! After they prayed, Andy and Derek prayed with them and talked more with her about the next steps. It was incredible! Her name is Patty, so she could definitely use your prayers as she begins this new life.
In the meantime, one of the other girls had been talking with Jordan, who came and told me that she wanted to accept Christ. So, since Amanda had also been talking with her, I joined her and asked her (Tori) if she understood what Jesus did for her. She said she kinda got it, so Amanda jumped in and said that she would love to share the bridge of faith with her. She led her through that with a white board and when she was done, I asked her if she was ready to take the step of committing her life to Jesus. She said yes and we prayed together, followed by a prayer that she repeated after me. Then, we joined with Andy and Derek and all prayed together. She is a girl that Andy has been working with and praying for for quite some time, so this was very exciting for him. Please keep Tori in your prayers as well!
We got to bed fairly late again and half of our team got up this morning at 5:00am to participate in a “Clean Up Cascade” community project with others from the community. They returned and got back in bed just as the rest of us got up to have breakfast and get started on other projects. The students that have been working on the house are almost done and it looks great. The siding project is now done as well. We are going to hold a free car wash this afternoon after lunch, so we’re hoping for a lot of people to come through and be invited to outreach tonight.
One of the really cool things that has happened is the way the boys from California have connected with our team. Jordan and Braydan are here early in the morning until after our family time at night. Braydan is a baptized believer already and has been hopeful about his brother, so when Jordan decided yesterday that he wants to be baptized before we leave, it was very exciting for him! Derek met their father today and talked about the specifics, so he will be baptized this afternoon right after our car wash. Very exciting stuff!!
We miss everyone, but realize that we only have 1-1/2 days with the people of Cascade. We want to make the most of it and can’t wait to see what else God has planned for the rest of our time here. Thank you for your prayers and support! More to come after outreach tonight!
Stephanie
Read this and all the other incredible stories (many other salvation stories) on the youthmark.com blog pages.
Grace,
Brian
July 1, 2009
I am so excited about this second week of YMV’s, I am getting home today from a tour around to each of the seven towns Youthmark served this week and the debrief (landing) of the Chehalis team which served in Simms, MT last week…
I greatly missed my family and am so appreciative of their support of the ministry. I was able to get pics and video this week for promotional stuff for next years YMV’s.
Here are a bunch of pics from the tour, more to come later (haven’t uploaded all of them yet)!
I know I sound like a broken record (though I don’t know what a broken record sounds like), but we NEED your prayers and we are seeing God answer these prayers, so please go here and read through/pray through the blogs. I have been posting on my youthmark blog as well.
Grace,
Brian
June 30, 2009
Thanks for your prayers for my friend Byron…
He is doing better, the recovery from such a major surgery will be a long road (he’s got a nice scar to show off!). I am looking forward to spending some time with him soon, Elisabeth was able to go to the hospital today to visit with him, his wife Shannon and his mom, Michele.
His spirits are high and is encouraged to have the surgery behind him. Please do pray for his recovery!
I was able to perform their wedding almost a year ago now, and Elisabeth told me that Shannon joked today, “I wish Brian would have left the whole ’sickness and in health’ part out of our vows.” Touche, Shannon!
Keep up the prayers for my friends Byron and Shannon!
Grace,
Brian
June 30, 2009
Blogging like crazy…
I noticed I haven’t been on here that much this week…I have spent a lot more time lately on my Youthmark blog, posting and reading. I have a couple things brewing for this one, but for today, head over to that blog and read-up on the teams this week and check out my blog there for some specifics and pics too!
Grace,
Brian
June 28, 2009
The speaker released the students to a 15-minute solo time to think about and perhaps even pray about what each camper had heard over the last five days of this amazing seven-day experience. Silently they all left the building, the song “silent night’ doesn’t begin to describe how quiet these students were after the powerful demonstration of God’s love being poured out for these high school sinners.
One young man had fallen in love with the scenery surrounding him and knew exactly where he wanted to go and think. He made his way to a dock overlooking the perfectly still waters. The reflection of the mountains was almost as clear as the day above the water.
Several other students chose a similar setting, but none was within 50 feet of this soon-to-be-senior.
Kevin, his cabin leader approached him. Several minutes of conversation ensued, but was quickly coming to an end when Kevin asked, “so, are you ready?”
The young man’s response, “ready for what?”
“Ready to begin a relationship with Jesus?”
“No” he replied.
Kevin, looking like someone just told him water is actually orange, said with hesitation, “really?”
The young man, “you see Kevin, I can’t have a relationship with God, I have too much junk in my life back home; I am not a religious guy, never have been… I cuss, I have done lots of other bad stuff and am dating a girl who really doesn’t believe there is a God.”
Kevin simply sat with the young man for a minute and then quoted and explained Romans 5:8 to him. ”While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The boy didn’t remember the exact words, but remembered the point–you don’t need to clean-up and make-up for your sins before you can have a relationship with God… God initiated and God wants a relationship with you.
On June 28, 1990 (19 years ago today), I asked Jesus to take control of my life. He became my Lord, my Savior and the ONE whom I desire to please with my life–because He pursued me!
Grace,
Brian
June 28, 2009
Curiosity caught me the other day when I sat down to post to this blog. I was trying to remember when I started my blog, so I went back to the archives and discovered that it was exactly one year ago today!
I decided to start the blog so I would have a way to update friends, family and those who asked how they could support as we began Youthmark. Of course this is still one of the primary purposes of this blog. I have enjoyed being creative with it from time to time and have very much appreciated those of you who have prayed for us and even commented from time to time.
If you click here you can read the original blog post.
Since that post I have posted another 286 times (including this one), I have received 381 comments and had nearly 20,000 (19,977) hits on this site (the busiest day had 195 views).
In this next year I think I will keep posting prayer requests for the Aaby family and Youthmark but will slowly transition more of the Youthmark related things to my Youthmark blog here.
Maybe some time this next week I’ll look through some of the archives and give you a “top 5” of my favorite blog posts thus far… any stand out to you?
Grace,
Brian
June 27, 2009
114: The total number of participants at the YMV Launch #2.
25: The approximate number of vehicles in the Opportunity Pres. parking lot right now.
19: The number of missionaries who will be “Landing” tonight, coming home from Simms, MT after a great week.
15: The number of people who barely stayed awake to 11:00 PM last night– because they are from Spring TX and had been up since 3:00 AM (Pacific) to catch their flight from Houston.
7: The number of towns these missionaries will be serving this week (June 27-July 4).
6: The number of churches serving on this second YMV (LSCC has is going to two towns)
5: The approximate number of hours I was able to rest last night.
4: The approximate number of hours I slept last night.
3: The number of times I have been to this Starbucks in less than 15 hours (addiction? No, wifi? Yes).
2: The number of YMV participants at this Starbucks by 6:20 AM–way to go Miki (she just walked in!)
1: The ONE reason we all came, the ONE name we hope to exalt, praise and proclaim, the ONE way to salvation… JESUS!
Appreciate your prayers, my guess is that most of the Youth Pastors will be able to post today, so check out the youthmark.com blogs page.
Grace,
Brian
June 26, 2009
We are just three hours away from YMV launch #2 and about 23 hours away from the first landing!
I would appreciate your prayers, this weekend is a busy one, but one in which I trust God will be glorified!
Please do go over to our Youthmark.com blogs and catch up with the 6 churches/7 teams going out this week!
I’ll try to get an update here or at my youthmark blog tonight after the launch begins!
Grace,
Brian
June 25, 2009
We have run into a glitch with the Youthmark.com blogs right now, so if you went there to check, go back, I’ll update here when I know it is back up and running, hopefully a MINOR glitch. The latest text from Chehalis is that all is going very well, day 4 of VBS was great and the team will get to do some sight-seeing in Great Falls this afternoon.
Grace,
Brian
UPDATE (Noon, Thursday): Fixed, so go check them out again: Youthmark Mission Venture Blogs.
