Programming Week 3

Well Friends...

Week 3 of Programming is over and hopefully it's time to get a little rest and relax this weekend. It seemed as though this week was full of a lot of tension and stress but as always God was there with us every step of the way. It's amazing how great the staff I am a part of it. Literally, we help pick each other up when we are down, it's more than a job. YouthWorks is a family. It's incredible.

Anyway, one of the highlights of the week was a group from Minnesota. They had a "Party Bus," this is code for a really old ghetto bus that has been revived and may even be considered hipster. I really bonded with some of those kids. There were also 2 guys from a group from Nebraska named Trent and Aaron. We quickly bonded over our love for the word Yall and country music. It was a match made in heaven. Even though they aren't brothers they looked a lot alike so it was hard for me to remember their names at first...so I called them Cowboys...and it just stuck. I loved hanging out with those guys!

I closed the week by improving to Taylor Swifts "Love Story." Meaning, I put it on my ipod and instead of telling a bed time story to all the girls I went in and played that and improved words to make it "Mission  Trip Story" instead. It was quite epic.

 I am sorry to keep it so short this week but I am just too tired to go into detail about all the happenings of this YW week. If you would like to see some pictures you can check them out on facebook and if you have any other questions just message me!

Please continue to pray for my team and I as we venture into a new week. We are at the half way point of the summer and it is clear that fatigue and metal exhaustion are starting to set in. Pray that God restores our energy and our hearts!

Thanks for all the support. Yall are the best!

I love you all.

-Kristen

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ."
Colossians 2:2

Humbled by his Grace

Hey Friends,

Normally i don't update my blog mid-week but I have a few things to share tonight...

First of all, I could use your prayers. This week I feel like I am running on empty and everything is a struggle. That being said, when I found myself struggling with this week God humbled me through Jerome.

Jerome is such an incredible community member, and friend. I feel honored to even be associated with someone so devoted to bettering the community. He is purely the most selfless man I have ever met. I was reminded when speaking to him why I am here. It's people like him. People like Jerome who serve the Lord and the community so honestly and whole heartedly. Someone I aspire to be. It was through a joke, laughter, trust, and most importantly a simple hug that Jerome went from a community member from work projects to a close friend and a trusted adviser. I knew in that moment that even when the YouthWorks week wasn't going well or wasn't easy that even though we feed the youth dinner, that's not what it's about. Though we do all the clubs, evening activities, devos, meals, and free times, that is not why I am here. I am here to show Christs love, i am here to learn from a man like Jerome who is always serving the community. 

Anyway, just a little food for thought on my week thus far. I will update with a detailed reflection Saturday!

I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for the never ending support and love.

I love you all. 

-Kristen

Week 2: life is a High Way

Hey Yall,

This week on our team evals we were asked what our theme song for the week should be. I picked Life is a highway. We had two great groups from Chicago, and Illinois! However, we had a few bumps in the road. But, we made it through week two.

The adult leaders this week were great. I quickly bonded with Amy, Erin, Tarra, and Sally. Their ability to relate and connect with me was so refreshing. Later in the week I became really tight with Erin Christner-yes there are 2 Erins! Both are wonderful. Both Erin C and Amy really made me feel vulnerable in a great way. I was encouraged enough and trusted God enough to share my testimony with them. It was awesome.

I also got an interesting offer this week that could very well change my life. I can't go into details because there are a lot of things to work out, but I am ecstatic about the opportunity God is placing before me.

This week was very spiritually rewarding and humbling. At the end of the week Amy washed my feet and prayed for me, and Erin Christner prayed for me as well. It truly left an impact on my heart and I know my life is enriched by meeting them both. Also, this week you could tell the Youth were really engaged and "getting it." They loved the community, they poured out their hearts in worship, engaged in fellowship, and listened attentively through our club messages. It was incredible to see God working in the hearts of so many Youth.

Anyway, it was a great second week. I am so thankful for Gods grace. As always thank you for your love, support, and prayers! They mean the world to me.

I love you all.

-Kristen

 

Week 1-Done

Well Hello yall,

I am saddened and excited to say our first week of programming is officially over. We had 3 great groups come in and serve the Lord and my awesome area team helped us out a ton. God has shown his grace and blessings in so many ways during the week at Wanblee.

First of all, I want to highlight that the youth and adult leaders that came this week were incredible. We had one group from Woodstock Illinois that really melted my heart because they served the Lord so humbly but reached out to me incessantly. Their trip leader Cyndy was amazing. She was like my mom away from my mom for a week. I desperately needed that. She hugged me and encouraged me and just watching God use her to reach the youth and the community was so inspiring. There were also two other leaders Don and Pat who reached out to me from this group. Don had a daughter on the trip who I just instantly bonded with. It makes me feel so good to see a younger generation of youth with passion to serve the Lord. She and her dad just reminded me of Gods fire. It was incredible. Pat, who had a son on the trip who I got to know was like my dad away from my daddy. We were able to connect on a real deep level, sharing testimonies and stories yet could have fun. God definitely used Pat to remind me  of his unfailing never ending love this week. Finally, the youth were amazing.They  stepped up and served with their whole hearts. It was nice because I got close to this group of boys. Sam, Andy, and Mason; they were like my little brothers for the week. They joked around with me, helped me serve the Lord, loved on my area staff that was here, the community, and me. It was great. It left me speechless to look at these guys and see how on fire their hearts are for God, and how God has used them to pursue me. The cream of the crop for our first programming week. I couldn't have got a better group to kick off the summer with.

Now I am gonna share some of the highlights of the week. 

-A little boy Daniel who is the son of a community member in Wanblee saw me walking up to his house and ran out, jumped in my arms, wrapped his hands around my neck, and said "Kristen, you came back!" I was speechless, and reminded of why I am in Wanblee. Why I love this community. It was awesome.

-Another highlight was when our community member J came to speak to the kids and hugged me 4 times. He is such a compassionate man and does so much for the community, but was really hard for me to read him so for him to hug me and accept me meant everything.

-One of the crews this week fell in love with Daniel that they went and bought water balloons just so they could play with him.

-An adult leader named Doug touched my heart by driving 30 minutes away to buy supplies to fix part of a community members house. Doug was passionate about serving and it spoke volumes of his leadership and love for God. 

Ultimately this week was better than I could have imagined. God blessed me in so many ways this week.

Next I wanted to share with you some things about the staff I have come to know and love as my friends from my area. Josiah and I got pretty close this week. He is like a little brother to me. He hugged me when I had a moment this week yet pesters me like only a little brother can. Connor and I also became pretty close. He is such a funny person and always brings a smile to my face but I got to see his love for God this week. There was a kid on the trip who was handicapped in a few ways, and just watching Connor pour out to this kid almost brought tears to my eyes. It was amazing to see. Claire helped me out do much at wp and always with a smile. Kayla's happy heart is contagious and brought me energy numerous times this week. Erin, another site director has a quiet leadership that inspires you to want to do well and we engaged in some great conversation. Chris has the best work ethic I have ever seen and loves everyone. Josh just loves to serve and gives it his whole heart. Katie is incredible at everything but teaches in a humble way that is encouraging. Dave, our utility, who left yesterday is totally cool and flexible. Haha that's a bit of an inside joke, but he loves to help everyone and

Always does it so graciously. Zach, my sites kids club guy just pours out every fiber of his being to the kids in the community and it has left me speechless. Tyler, my sites program staff shows Gods love through words and prayer in ways that one just can't comprehend. Wendy, my site director has a way of leading that is so empowering but efficient and fun. Last but not least, our area director Jordan is the reason out area is so close, why we want to serve the Lord, and why we have such big hearts for our communities. So that was my team this week! It was hard to let them leave because we have all grown so close but I can't wait to hear about all God uses them for this summer.

I also wanted to thank another area director Peter. We did an encouragement circle and Jordan told me how Peter really cares about my summer, about me as a person. That coming from the person who hired me just really has encouraged me and inspired me to serve and glorify Gods kingdom even more. 

Below are some pictures from my week.

Thanks again friends and family for all your continual prayers and support.

I love you all.

-Kristen

  

The Participants are Here!

Hey Yall!

So, the participants are finally here and it didn't take long for everyone to figure out I am from Texas. Haha The groups are so great! They are engaging in the community and it melts my heart.

Today we went to a community members house to do some manual labor and his 4 year old son remembered me! He said, "Kristen! You came back!" And then he hugged me. It was so sweet. He followed me around and when I put on my sun glasses he put on his cars 2 lightning mcqueen glasses! It was precious. My shaddow. (:

Anyways, today was a great day. Please continue to pray and thanks as always for the support. I love you all. 

-Kristen

Below are a few pictures! Enjoy.

One of my newest closest friends! (:

Badlands Fun!

The storm was coming!

The Early Bird gets the Worm

Hey Guys!

I am just wrapping up on a great final week of prep. Crazy thinking I have already been gone three weeks. But this has been an incredible week. Wednesday night our friends from Martin arrived for shopping Thursday and early bird week. Then Thursday we got up early and headed to Rapid City SD where  we all did our massive shopping. We went to Sams and Wal-Mart and completely filled both cars. It was crazy.

After a long day of shopping and 4 hours of driving we called it an early night. Today we got up and worked really hard. With the help of my friends from Martin and Rosebud I got all my paint mixed! 

After a long day of working we went to the Badlands on some new trails. It was fun being with my area. I also saw a baby rattle snake.

The excitement is building for our first group to arrive Sunday, so please be praying for that. Anyway, i am calling it a night!

Enjoy my pictures below!

I love you all.

-Kristen

The baby rattle snake

Martin, Jiggers, and just call me Dallas!

Hey Yall,

I just wanted to thank you for a minute. It's amazing how much love and support I feel from you guys. I can really feel Gods presence with me and I know part of that is because of your prayers! Thank you so much.

Things are very productive here. But they have been a struggle. I know God is stretching me. I am the Work Projects coordinator, which i don't know much about. I am in charge of 3 meals when I am known in my house to be the worst cook! Haha and we haven't had any warm water. At all. So showers have been like 2 minutes long doing the hokie pokie so I wouldn't freeze. Finally, we haven't had access to a kitchen for a while so we have been eating cold meals or sandwiches for practically every meal. God is definitely stretching me. While these things have been true struggles it's amazing how well my team is gelling. It would be easy for us all to be cranky or irritated yet we turn to God, constantly laugh, and bond continually. I definitely couldn't have asked for a better team and it's clear God has/had a reason in putting me at Pine Ridge 2.

This Saturday we got an awesome surprise. We got to drive to Martin and hang out with the staff there and our Area director. It was nice to see everyone and catch up. It's so crazy this huge YouthWorks family I now have. While in Martin we got to shower...WITH WARM WATER. It was magical. Then it got even better as we went to a local pizza joint and had pizza. It was just a great night that rejuvenated me.

On Sunday we headed to Pastor Gary's church in Kadoka. They always welcome us with open arms. That church body is full of some of the most encouraging people I've ever met. Kadoka is definitely an awesome place blessed by a great ministry in Pastor Gary. Every Sunday he travels between 3 churches and 2 different time zones just to teach Gods word. It's unbelievable, and so cool. There is a man from Pastor Garys church who we all met our first Sunday, he asked us where we are from, and when I said Dallas he instantly loved me! Now whenever he sees me he calls me Dallas, and smiles so big. He also know my sooners and is supportive. "That's a fine school." Haha he is so awesome, such a joyful kind spirit. So as always church was uplifting and interesting.

Finally, as a team we decided to eat lunch out before returning to our life of cold meals. We ate at a local cafe called Jiggers. It was so good. This weekend I felt kind of spoiled; hot showers and hot meals! It was just great.

Anyway, things are very productive here. This Sunday our first group arrives. It will be so exciting to step back and watch God work through us and all our hard work. This community is just amazing and I can't wait until we are loving on them all week long. 

As always thank you for all your prayers. I hope you all have a great week! I will probably post again Saturday after we have shopped in Rapid.

I love you all.

-Kristen

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with Gods people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

-Romans 12:9-13