Leavenworth student D'Andre's loss and gain

Earlier this year, Cascade-Leavenworth HS student D'andre Vasquez was in a car full of relatives heading down to Mexico to visit family. D'andre's mother, father, grandmother, and uncle were on the road in a car that was struck by other vehicles. D'andre and his family were rushed to the hospital in Spokane but only he and and his uncle survived the tragic accident.

 

TJ Ka'Apuni, our compassionate and responsive YL leader there, showed up to the school immediately after this happened and was invited to drive 3 hours with Cascade HS's principal to Spokane to the hospital where D'Andre was at, alone, and in a complete whirlwind of pain and loss.  since this moment, he has been covered in prayer and loved from folks all over. Due to this tragic loss, D'andre spent this year fatherless, and motherless, fighting hard to keep a smile on his face. D'andre was handed custody to his older brother David. 

He signed up last minute to come to WFR-Canyon, thanks to prayer, persistent invitations from caring leaders and friends, and YL scholarship money raised from generous friends like you. We celebrated that he signed up.  Well, he just returned from camp at WFR-Canyon. TJ reported that D'Andre's week was incredible. He noticed something different about faith compared to his understanding of faith before. He did not realize how relational Jesus is, and that its hard to talk some catholic folks about Jesus openly like he can with his YL leaders. The camp speaker, Kent McDonald, made it easier to understand what a relationship with Christ is like. By the end of the week, D'Andre said he is fully on board with Jesus, Young Life, and he wants to help reach the world of hispanics in Leavenworth!  Hopefully, Lord willing, even beyond. Lord Jesus, you are close to and lift the brokenhearted, in 'all things' you work good for those who love you, you make our greatest pains become our greatest purposes.  May you raise this young man up.