upcoming

We have a couple of big youth events coming up this summer, and I'm getting really excited about it! The first one is coming up really soon in early July, and it will be a missions trip. The second big event will be summer camp in late August.

Because Eric and I work at the same place, we can't take off time together, so I'm going on the missions trip and he's heading up the camp. We've asked one of the young adults to help chaperone with him. She'll be great!

For the missions trip, we're going to be traveling all over! We'll be at a conference in Sacramento, then we'll join up with Bridgetown Ministries in Portland for an event, then we'll wrap up the trip in Yakima. It's going to be exhausting, but I'm excited too. I just hope we can get more kids signed up! :)

Summer camp is always a fun event, and the timing for this one makes it right before school starts back up, which we're hoping will get our teens pumped up and ready to start spiritual wildfires at their schools. Also, we hope that we will be able to have non-Christian students attend and hear about God. So many hopes for this summer!

Together, these events will cost about $500. If you are reading this blog and would like to bless the youth of Rainier Valley, consider helping financially. We can always add to the scholarship fund!

If you do want to contribute, please send a check (w/ youth scholarship fun in the memo line) to:

Trinity Life Center
4402 S. Graham Street
Seattle, WA 98118

Thank you!

intro to Rainier Valley

Last night, Eric and I went out to dinner with a friends of mine from high school. His sister, who lives in the area, is going to China soon, so he came back from Michigan to spend time with her before she takes off this summer.

This could only mean two things: 1) hanging out, 2) Ethiopian food. My friend and his sister are friends with some Ethiopians who run a restaurant, so we decided to meet there. Lo and behold, said restaurant is only a mile or so south of us on Rainier Avenue.

So we met up and got to meet the owners of the restaurant and some other friends of my friend's who met us for dinner, and it was all well and good. Delicious food!!

At the end of dinner, cop cars and aid cars began screaming down Rainier Avenue. None of us knew what was going on, but later, we found out that there had been a shooting down the street--the second time in a week at that location--and that the SPD gang unit was called in. Welcome to the neighborhood?

In all honesty, this news broke my heart. We live in such a mission field with needs all around us, and there is so much brokenness just down the street. Trying to figure out where to start or what to do to meet these needs is overwhelming. Please pray with us to know how best to approach our community.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

So a lot--a LOT--has happened since last I posted here. I'll just post a sort of list to make this shorter.

1. We spent the first week of January in California with my dad's family down there. Since my grandmother's surgery back in September, her entire life has been flipped upside down, and we all wanted to see her and the rest of the family down there. Highlights of our vacation:

• Jet skis on Mission Bay

• In-N-Out Burger

• Coronado Beach

• Shaw's Cove

• Knott's Berry Farm

2. I got a new job! I am no longer working at the hotel but have transitioned to a job as a day porter at a local tech company. This was considered by my former coworkers as a step down (since I am no longer in management), but there are other benefits to account for, including:

• free breakfast
• free lunch
• free coffee
• free snacks
• free access to a fitness facility
• a built in commuting buddy (Eric also works there)
• peace of mind

3. Last, but most exciting, Eric and I will be moving to Rainier Valley in Seattle to work with Trinity Life Center! We had originally applied for the youth pastor position, but things changed, and now we will be assisting with youth and Eric will be doing web/tech/media for the church.

We were formally introduced to the board and congregation on Sunday, went to our first youth service last night, and man, I love love LOVE that group of kids! They are amazing--every single one of them! They are talented and fun, and I am so excited to see God move in their lives!

This month, Eric and I will be focusing on moving into our new apartment--about half the size of our current digs--and getting to know the lead youth pastor couple and the youth group better. We will also be attending winter camp the weekend of President's Day, so we definitely have a lot on our plates.

Overall, a lot is going on, but it is all happening in incredible timing. God sure knows what he's doing!