The puzzle pieces finally fit together!

A cabin of guys from Shadle Park that I stopped by each night and shared 'God stories' with.  The last night, two of the guys stood up at 'say so' expressing that they made a first time decision to open their heart and life to God. Earlier in the week, their leaders had been praying for them since they struggled to even believe in God and didn't really want to talk about 'God stuff.'  I had to stop by at lights-out and ask what changed that sparked this big step of faith. Each of two guys said that the messages that Kent gave laid out the puzzle pieces and then the cardboard testimonies and the 15 minute quiet times sealed the deal for them.  A third guy in the cabin, from Central Valley HS, had shared with his friends in cabin time that God kept placing the word 'missionary' and 'bring hope' on his heart but he didn't know why. It was a word that had come to him years ago at a church he attended with he was a kid, and those words came back this week. When I stopped by the cabin that night, I told him that Spokane Valley YL had a plan to start YL at Central Valley HS this year.  Then it clicked for Jake. God put the puzzle pieces together for him that HE would be a missionary to bring hope to his OWN school as YL launched this year. He was MADE for this! Like watching a time lapse of a puzzle being put together from start to finish, it was a joy to see the end result! 

The 'say-so' was amazing as kids from Ellensburg, Gonzaga Prep, Mead, Mt Spokane, Shadle, North Central, Lakeside, LC, Ferris, Coeur D'Alene and more stood up. Our team chose 5 kids specifically to pray for this week and it was a celebration to see those stand!

One girl, from Lakeside HS in Spokane, felt distant from God yet decided to give it a shot to pray and connect with God. As she sat next to the Malibu rapids, she got the words out "I love you God, I want to know you..." Just as she got these words out, foam began to bubble up in heart shapes as the tide sped up and the water rushed past the rocks. Blowing this off as half coincidence, she closed her eyes and started her prayer over.  "Heavenly Father, thank you for me being here, help me feel connected to you, that this relationship I need with you feels real..." Just as her re-started prayer got this far, a seal popped up right in front of the edge of the railing she was seated at.  She described the seal as serenely locking eyes her with an accompanying 'goofy smile' on its face. Out of pure amazement, this seal's close proximity, attentive eyes and comfortable, warm presence felt like a mind-blowing answer to her prayer and sign that God was responding.

Another close North Spokane-leader friend had a one on one with one of his guys on the last day.  It was a guy he'd known for a few years but who held himself back from going to a place of sharing or extending his faith towards depth or action.  It was different today.  This time it was different. After being blown away by the power of the leaders sharing cardboard testimonies, he was rocked. He realized that he needed transformation from the inside out. They talked over an hour and the young man asked if he could pray to start a relationship with God. It was the first time my friend has ever prayed with someone to do this.  Even with 4 years of collegiate sports and success as well as amazing life experiences, THIS was my leader friend's best life moment and honor he had ever experienced. There is a celebration in heaven when even one person who was lost is found!  -Jeff-