Week 3 Summary

Week 3 has been the most challenging of the three but also felt like we were most dependent and prayerful for God to come through in kids’ lives.  It was a large camp and there were a high percentage of kids who strongly disbelieved in God and/or felt like they did not need anything in their life to make it better.  Malibu is such an incredible place for kids in this mindset coming in.  We pray for kids like this to come and experience God.  We wrestled in prayer for kids and it felt like after 5 days, it was a boxing match that was headed for a draw, rather than a clear victor.  Day 6, things changed.  During the last two 15 minute quiet times where kids got to be alone with God, he revealed himself in incredible ways to the hardest of hearts. 

One student from Gig Harbor shared with me about his lifelong struggles with depression and being hurt badly by his step-parent when he was younger.  He was at a point of wanting to end his life and just before he did, someone/something grabbed his hand to pull it away from ending his life and said ‘Stop, I love you.’  During his quiet time, he recognized this as Jesus as he heard this voice again, now years later during a 15 min quiet time inviting him to stop (be still) and know that he is loved. 

Another student who graduated from Kamiak HS but came with the Northlake area, shared how God showed up in a powerful way to him.  In his family during a time they sought the Lord to show them He was there during a difficult time, the Lord provided 2 ladybugs as his family prayed.  Fast forward a few years and during this students’ 15 min quiet time on Day 5, he was praying the God would show He’s near and as he was praying, a lady bug landed on his arm.  Incredible!  Ladybugs are actually super rare around Malibu.  It was so perfect that God would use that organism to show his faithfulness and presence to him.  Wow.

Did we mention that a pod of Orca whales swam by the dining hall during lunch yesterday?  Yep.  The entire lunch room darted to the windows to see it, ‘ooh-ing and ahh-ing.’  The kitchen intern Merrick Rutledge was furious, thinking someone was playing the ‘look a whale!’ stunt, but then joined in the marveling of God’s most beautiful creatures on display.  Earlier in the week, a girl prayed she could see a whale.

Former YL students and current leaders/staff Ernie Merino and Tyler Marcus are on our assignment team as head leader and work crew bosses.  We included pics here to show them here too, they are both doing great. 

The new believers walk was once again packed this morning.  Kids gathered to prepare their hearts to start following Jesus.  Then they threw rocks in the ocean signifying that the ‘old has gone and the new has come.’ (2 Cor 5:17.)  Jeff handed this part of the speaking over to program director Marshall Jamieson to lead it.

Jeff received a letter from a leader who came a week ago.  Thought we would share it, such an encouragement to hear how God worked through him and around us. 

Janna misses her chickens, as evidenced by the picture she drew of her 6 babies during outdoor dress up dinner last night.  We are excited to have 118 campers from our home area West Snohomish County arrive today.