Flamin' Hot, Holy Spirit Stories from Creekside

Flamin' Hot, Holy Spirit Stories

Such a delightful week. We had Spokane, Billings/Red Lodge, my former YL leader Matt Esterly's son Eli leading, Hoglunds adult-guesting, a kid Beau Brundage, star leaders I used to lead with in Everett/Mukilteo (the Patchins), and the joy of a full team of summer staff and WC we worked so hard to help recruit including Dietrich's girlfriend 'Bella' and Dezlyn one of our all-time fave's from Spokane. 

BIG DOGGGG Miracles!
I met Iree from Billings the late afternoon of day 2. He had not eaten for 2 days. I sparked up a conversation and he was vulnerable quickly, sharing he can only be hungry when he smokes weed. Being at camp was a drag (pun intended.) I realize the reason he was so open with me when I met him, I caught him at just the perfect moment. Someone at camp who had observed that he appeared miserable, had just offered to pray for him, and he accepted. Suddenly, after this random and spontaneous prayer, he felt a peace he was not familiar with and gained an appetite. I offered to buy him something at the Tin Cup, learning that he did not have any money. He chose the cheapest item, Cup-O-Noodles. Not sure if the Holy Spirit inspired me or not, but I insisted to buy him one more thing. He reluctantly accepted and snagged a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Glad to add to the caloric intake for him, but sensed that food choice might carry some spiritual parallels too (started praying for the fire of God to light-up in him!)

Meeting Iree, night 2.

I fought that little voice in my head that said: "that was enough of a highlight, Jeff. Nothing more will happen in Iree's life this week. Just be satisfied. And don't try to make a story out of a minor little interaction with a kid that seems pretty far out there." Do you ever have those passing thoughts of doubt? A little voice that nudges you AWAY from believing, from actually praying, a voice that politely advises you to play it safe and not over-spiritualize small things. Yep, I heard that and decided to give that voice the Heisman pose. Not today, Satan.

I began to pray and invited others to pray with me for Iree. For the fire of God to blaze in his life and his heart (I had no idea where he was at) to open to Jesus. Well, I saw his that evening at the pool event. I asked where in Billings he was from. He said the 'south-side' and that he hoped to find his way out of there. "It's rough living there, big dog." 

PS. He called EVERYONE he liked at camp, 'big dog,' which was really entertaining HOW MANY people on the eve of day two walked past us saying 'big dog' and him retorting 'big dog! (he emphasized the "o": on dog rather than emphasizing the more common "i" of big)'.

I heard that little nudge to ask him if he ever participated in a youth organization called CLDI in South Billings. His eyes blasted open and he perked up, 'yeah dog, i went there all the time.'  I asked "did you ever meet a leader there named "Layne Peters?"  He fired back, "yeah, he's my big dOg! He was my leader."  You see, Layne was a homeless kid from Walla Walla and Tri-Cities who had Young Life leaders take him in, bring him to camp, introduce him to Jesus, and walk with him beyond high school. His leaders helped him from living in a car, to applying for Whitworth University, getting in, getting financial help, and becoming a Young Life leader at our toughest, poorest school, Rogers. Our family met Layne and considered him part of the Hubers. Layne became our house and (big!)dog sitter, we led YL clubs together, we hosted his Rogers YL team dinners for him, and when he graduated and sent us a support letter from CLDI in Billings, a ministry that helps poor, homeless and challenged kids in South Billings just like him, and we said YES and financially gave, and put the ministry update pictures on our fridge and prayed for kids at CLDI and Layne. I shared a dumbed down version of all this to Iree, that his picture has been on my fridge in Spokane, and that I have prayed for him without even knowing who he is. Wild stuff. He was shocked: "man, big dog, that is amazing, seriously. You prayed for ME years ago?" 

God continued to move in his life this week. His appetite returned, he ate well, his leader Shane Lovering led him well, and experienced deep belonging from others which was uncommon to home. I stopped by the Billings and Red Lodge cabin each night and told them "lore" (epic stories) if they agreed to turn the lights out and get in bed (one of my jobs as 'head leader' here at Creekside in July.)  I shared some funny ones, and on this last night, I recounted a "Holy Spirit sighting" story of God answering prayers of some rough kids in Everett who I dared to seek after God and the mighty was He did it. When I was done, kids clapped at how God moves. Then, Iree asked if he could shared a Holy Spirit story too. "Sure, go for it," I welcomed him, "how long ago is this story from?"  Iree sassily fired back, "its from today, big dog."

Iree at new believers walk

He recalled being on his way to play sand volleyball with a group of kids that were calling out to him: "big dog. come, play volleyball with us!" As he sprinted towards the sandy court with a crowd waving him in, he suddenly began to limp and dropped to the grass, clutching an 'out of nowhere' sharp pain in his knee. He said it felt like something was jabbing inside his knee joint. One of the campers came over, listened to what just happened, and asked if he could pray for Iree's knee. For the second time in a week, he accepted a prayer from a random camper to pray for his problem. He couldn't recount exactly what the prayer was, but after the 'in Jesus name, amen!' the pain in his knee completely disappeared. He got up, and to his own amazement, walked in full strength to the volleyball court. Then, RIGHT THERE, at the sand volleyball court, asked the new friend and the group of kids, if they would pray with him to invite Jesus in, and commit his life to God. And they DID right there in the sand!  I cannot make this stuff up. 

That is some Holy Spirit, flamin' hot, action by our amazing God who 'bumps' us up with random people like Layne, campers, and all of us who have prayed for kids from afar, even from a newsletter. And 'sets' up moments to encounter Him and gives us a little spike-a-roo in our hearts with His amazing grace.

So glad I didn't listen the voice of the 'accuser', the inner critic inside of me. Word of God SPEAK, and may your servants LISTEN and obey. Makes you pause and ask yourself, "who's voice am I obeying?"

Disciples Making Disciples
When Shoreline leader David Lin got off the bus, he hugged me and reminded me that I was his camp speaker here at Creekside in 2018 when he was a middle school kid, and that was when he first opened his life to Jesus. I remember seeing him again in 2021 at Canyon when I was camp director, when he brought his transgender friend to camp, which landed on my radar to make sure as camp director, to do our very best to make sure that he/she had the best week of their life, which is exactly what happened. David, as a high school kid, thanked me for our hospitable efforts for his friend. We became Instagram friends and from afar, I've seen how he keep boldly pursuing Christ. And now David was back, as the Shoreline area trip leader. This time, he was disciple-ing a junior leader named Joey, intentionally letting Joey co-lead cabin times to help him grow in his leadership. 

Joey (left) and David (right)

At cabin time number two, Joey decided to answer the first question, about how we fill our life with other things besides God, who we were made to be filled by. He let the guys understand how he tried to make everyone happy. He admitted how exhausting this is and that no matter how happy he tries to make others be, it never fills. The 7th grade boys followed his lead. They shared how they try to fill their life with video games, which NEVER fill. And trying to get accepted by everyone. Trying to gain status at their school with popularity. Lust, greed, consumerism, trying to one up others and be seen as 'better.' The kids followed Joey's lead, who was following David's lead. Reminds me of the way Jesus discipled. And how the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, "Follow me as I follow Jesus."

By the end of the week, most of the kids in the cabin opened their lives up to Jesus and I got to see the glow of their faces amongst the 108 middle school kids that said YES to Jesus' offer of LIFE, to be a part of God's family and begin to grow in their faith. And, on top of that, Joey offered to stay and join work crew to help these last two weeks of July where the LARGEST number of campers in Creekside's 15 year HISTORY are happening, and two work crew got sent home. David agreed to lead camp follow up for two weeks while Joey steps in with us, which is a win for all!

This is my 42nd time here at the Ranch, and another 42 times at Malibu camp too (and 2 at Breakaway camp in Seaside, OR) and getting front row seats to watch 1 kid or a cabin of kids or a camp-full of kids turn their lives to God transforms me, renews my hope in humanity and blazes my faith red hot to not limit what God can do. Y'all, seeing God work doesn't get old. 

Heather and a few girls from Billings MT

Glory Story of Four More!
There were 8 girls from Billings who came to camp with Heather Rieland and Sadie Mendez. Four of them were fairly typical 7th grade girls who love sports, boys, sin
ging country and iced coffees The other four wore dark clothes, dark makeup, Metallica shirts and seemed to avoid being in the middle of the loud social engagements that camp here offer. Heather shared in passing, "I think you will figure out which four girls I'd love you to especially pray for." I was slightly offended, because I LOVE me some Metallica, how dare she assume us Metallica fans need extra prayer, but knew exactly what she meant. And its what we do, we pray. I do not have any specific stories about these four girls. Heather does, and her hug and facial expression at the 'new believer' experience this morning when they all showed up, fully convinced me there that was plenty of glory to the story. I almost fell over as those girls showed up bright and early, gladly receiving their new bible, enthusiastically writing their name on a leaf (that the speaker Irene places on the cross for each kid who said 'yes' to Jesus) and pencilled their name and date on a tile that they would go and place in the sluice box up by the waterslides, where first time believers commemorate their decision to so YES to God and begin following Jesus. 

Here they are. Their 7th grade smiles are worth a thousand words. 

Keep praying with us!

Pray for WFR Canyon high school camp next door which starts tomorrow. Tanita is speaking, and areas from Sunnyside, Chelan, Leavenworth, CDA & Moscow ID, Royal City, Everett & more are there.

Pray for the new group of campers arriving today at Creekside from Gig Harbor, Camas, Bothell/Woodinville, Lewis County WA and more. It will be the highest number of campers in any one week at Creekside. Pray for mercy, powerful transformation, health for Tanya and I (been fightin' somethin') and our work crew summer staff and team, for this large number of kids to experience belonging, and Jesus to be lifted up and draw kids to himself. 

Then NEXT week is our last week here with kids from Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls, Bellingham and Whatcom and Skagit County, Portland, North Tacoma and more.