Chronicles of Gnarlia- Rise Up

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

(Photo taken at Nairobi Game Park)

Inuka. Rise Up. That is the theme for Camp BlueSky this summer:

 "Rise Up- The Chronicles of Gnarlia"

Using the writing and illustrations of C.S. Lewis' writings, The Chronicles of Narnia, we have been discussing our story, all of humanity, and how God is writing something beautiful for his children. Even though we live in a fallen world, God's plan is good and he desires to raise us up through his Son, Jesus. God is writing a beautiful story for his people... and is calling us to a gnarly life with him. A life of adventure, joy and abundance through Jesus! 

Throughout the week, the counselors and leadership team teach different Bible stories along with showing clips from the movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We begin with the story of creation and the fall of man in Genesis. Throughout the week we talk about the Israelites and how God has always been faithful and never left them. We have the opportunity to tell radical stories of the life of Jesus, how he is 100% God and 100% man. God came to earth, put on flesh, and moved into our neighborhood (John 1). He performed many miracles... such as raising Lazurus from the dead, he raised Jairus' daughter and healed the woman in the crowd who had enough faith just to simply touch the hem of his cloak. We talk about how Jesus walked on water, lived a perfect life, and how he died on the cross because he loves us so much. But the story doesn't end there... he was resurrected and raised to life again! It is through the miracle of the resurrection that we too are given the same invitation to life! 

We proclaim that out of the tomb, and even out of death, God can bring life! He wants to raise us up. 

Picture taken at "Summit Fires" - the last night of camp where we have a big bon fire, play games, sing songs, and celebrate Christ's love for us.

Picture of Middle School girls on the ropes course. It's been so fun getting to facilitate these activities with the girls and watch them "experience changes"as they learn to trust each other and work together. (:

Campers from 2 summers ago! Sweet reunion.

BlueSky Youth- Reaching the Nations

Pole Sana. (I'm very sorry...) It has been a while since I've last updated my blog! But, here's a quick update: There are lots of exciting things happening in Kenya these days :)

 As the rock climbing gym is still being built, BlueSky Youth continues to reach out to students. This last semester we hosted a high school lock-in at the gym in our youth space called "The Crux" (See pictures below from the Lock-In). We hope to host all of our youth events at gym next semester and that God will continue to open the hearts of his children to experience his love and hear the Gospel. 

 This summer our youth team is spending time building new relationships and going deeper with students by serving at Camp BlueSky. My role this summer is working with "Senior Camp" (the high school and middle school students) who come to camp. I've been given the responsibility of developing curriculum for devotional times for the students, planning out evening programs (games, skits, songs, talks, ect.), taking lots of pictures, and have the privilege of pouring into the university students who have come to serve with our team for the summer as counselors. I also get to take middle school girls rock climbing each week- which is SO fun!! (: It's been an absolute JOY to serve at Camp this summer, and God is moving in BIG and mighty ways. We have seen so many campers, in just the first 2 weeks of camp come into relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time. (I'll post more specific stories later.)

We've seen the Holy Spirit move in the hearts of children in miraculous ways. Please join our team in praying Psalm 67 over our team and the students for the remaining weeks of summer, and for the upcoming Fall semester:  

May God be gracious to us and bless us

  and make his face shine in us—

so that your ways may be known on earth,

 your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

 for you rule the peoples with equity

 and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, God;    

may all the peoples praise you

The land yields its harvest;

God, our God, blesses us.

May God bless us still,

 so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Psalm 67

Anita and Cynthia- Some of the girls in my Covenant Group

Indian food at Diamond Plaza

Climbing at the Rock Gym

Premier Academy

This semester the Lord has opened an amazing door that, through faith, we have stepped into. Tyler and I have been given the incredible privilege of coaching students in sports at Premier Academy. I am coaching girls basketball, and Tyler is coaching guys American Football. It has been so much fun building relationships and meeting so many kids through sports! The girls didn't know ANYTHING, and I mean anything about basketball a couple of months ago. We started from square one: how to dribble, pass and shoot... went over simple things like the difference between offense and defense. Day one was hilarious. But now, they are actually improving and getting better! We have been scrimmaging and playing fun games, and having a ball! I seriously laugh the whole time during Club. It's such a joy to serve in this way!

Through this experience, I'm re-learning that God can overcome in any situation. Against all odds, and when everything seems impossible, it is not for Him.

He has given us so many opportunities to love people in this Hindu community, be Christ to them, and just share life with them. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

This past weekend we were invited to a sweet 16 birthday party- which was SO fun! haha It was unlike any party I had ever been to. Dance floor, strobe lights, DJ, big white tent set up in the backyard with lots of chairs and tables for dinner... it was a big deal! Tyler and I went to the celebration and got to meet tons of students and connect with the ones we know and love already. It was fun seeing them outside of school, and in a more fun/relaxed environment.

Two weekends ago I was asked to help lead a group of students on our ropes course at Lukenya Getaway! It was a blast. There were 19 Premier students who came.

Mountain Kenya- We made it!

This past weekend, Tyler and I took a group of 8 students who are involved in our small group Bible studies to climb Mt. Kenya! It was seriously such an incredible trip! 6 guys & 2 freshmen girls from Rosslyn Academy. We had so many great conversations on the mountain, and many memories and inside jokes were made. The trip was unforgettable as we experience God's beauty in creation, and hiked through Mt. Kenya National Park. God's faithfulness continues to amaze me as each student made it to the summit, without any complaining...

summit: 16,355 ft!

Loading up the big blue van before a send-off prayer at Rosslyn. So excited for the trek!

These guys are AWESOME.

Mt. Kenya gate

Tyler and Wesley

The boys found a random tractor on the path... haha

Mary Shea and Tia are in my small group Bible study- they were troopers this weekend!

Crossing the river

Starling- his orange wings are pretty!

noodles and veggies for lunch (:

summit!!! absolutely breathtaking.

Tia was a STUD this weekend. Even though she had a bloody nose, extreme fatigue, altitude sickness, was carrying a backpack, along with everything else, she made it to the top without any complaining! So proud of her!

The morning of the summit, we all woke up at 2:00a and began hiking at 2:30a! Hiking in the dark is an adventure of itself, as we are hiking on steep ridges and cliffs with only a headlamp and the stars overhead guiding us. We managed to make it to the summit around 7:00a. Without hardly any sleep, the girls still had a smile and a positive attitude the whole time!

It was so cold that even my backpack and water bottle were frozen over!

lunch at the caves

Stephen and our guide, John.

me and Tyler on day 2 of the hike

God's creative and detailed designs in nature amaze me.

Stephen turned 17 the day we started the hike!! Happy Birthday Stephen!!

After a long day of hiking, nothing tastes better than popcorn, biscuits, and some Kenyan chai tea to warm you up at the campsite! (:

The whole gang at the end of the week- exhausted! But smiling because we all made it!

We ate at the Trout Tree restaurant on the way back to Nairobi in celebration of the huge feat we had accomplished together as a group! The restaurant is a big tree house, filled with monkeys in each tree, hyraxes, and a fresh trout farm. So cool. We had a fun time exploring, trying not to get attacked by monkeys (haha), and relaxing after a long weekend. (:

Mount Kenya was an incredible and unforgettable trip. I am so thankful for this "mountain top" experience and opportunity to grow closer to God with these students. As I was climbing the mountain I was reminded of Christ's infinite love for me... that his creation declares his name and praise. And even though he is the creator of the universe, he still loves me and each one of us intimately, and cares about the details of our lives. He is patient with us, like I had to be patient with some of the students as we hiked the long and winding trails. Even when we go slow, don't understand something, we can't see the way, He walks alongside us daily. He is our guide on the mountain of life, showing us the correct route to take. Even through the struggle of it all, with legs burning from fatigue, short on breath because of the altitude, backs straining and weary due to the weight and heaviness of our pack, he promises that he will never leave us. He is our guide. He is our help, our reason for perseverance in the race, our protector and sustainer. He carries our load- his burden is easy and yoke is light. He is patient and abounding in love. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise!

"I lift my eyes up to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121