My Summer Home, Pt. III

GOD IS SO GOOD.

As you all know, this past week, I went to MLCC (Mission Lake Christian Camp) to serve as the missionary for Deeper Life week. It was an insane week. I didn’t sleep much, but got to serve these kids alongside long time friends. Jesus showed up in so many ways, and it was incredible to see kids lay their burdens down at his feet throughout the week.

Leaving Manhattan on Saturday, as I was praying about it, I thought…God, if you provide $500, I’ll feel pretty good about it.

God blew that out of the water. Between a weekend girl’s retreat and the regular week of camp, about $1,600 came through. In addition to that, while I didn’t look at fundraising for three weeks, my fundraising went from $3K to nearly $4K. Approximately $2,000 total came in during just THREE WEEKS.

HOW WILD IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!

In this preparation for the Race, I am continually blown away at least once a week at how God is providing. For me, for my squadmates, for alumni racers, for everyone around me. My heart is so full being sent off by my MLCC family.

One of the best things about the week of camp that we got to kick off the week with a baptism, as well as end the week with one! I have too little broskis in Christ and that is so exciting!!! I’m so excited to see them in a few years and how much they have grown in their relationships with Jesus. It was such an exciting week!

Students laid down alcohol, eating disorders, and so many other hard things. They know that moving forward, they don’t have to carry those burdens. And that Jesus will give them joy and fill those voids they’ve been trying to fill. I am so dang excited for them!!!

I’m so thankful for MLCC. For being a student there for so many years, and for having the opportunity to go back and serve these kids. They’re incredible, and I hope God calls me back after the race so that I can go tell them all the wild stories of the O-Squad’s journey with Jesus.

This photo will forever be one of my all-time favorite memories at MLCC. Being sent off for this journey in this building is no small thing. I accepted Christ into my heart in this very building, almost in this same place in the room 21 years ago this summer. Wild how God brings the most intimate times and memories back again to play a different part.

MISSION LAKE FAM BAM:

I leave for this journey on your shoulders, but I will carry you all in my heart forever and always. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of someone from MLCC or talk to them. This place introduced me to Jesus, but has kept me growing for over 20 years. I thank God for this sacred place every day. Thank you all for praying over me, the O-Squad, and our journey as we begin to wrap up our seasons in separate locations and join together to spread the Gospel around the world.

Prayer Requests:

1.) FUNDRAISING DEADLINE #1 (07.20)–THIS FRIDAY is our first fundraising deadline. Although most of the squad has reached or exceeded it, we do still have a few pushing through. Please pray for funds to come in and enable our squad to move forward together. O is our squad letter, but we have named ourselves Ohana. Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. We know God has called us to this and that he will provide!!

2.) FUNDRAISING UPDATE FOR MYSELF AND A FEW OTHERS: I HAVE HIT THE FIRST DEADLINE!!! Though the bar at the top might not reflect it yet, I have reached my first goal of $5K. Please be praying for my next deadline, which is September 20th (ish), and that deadline is $10K.

2B.) TWO SQUADMATES ARE NOW FULLY FUNDED. Malysa has been fully funded since March, but Savannah joined her this week in announcing that she is now fully funded!!! Praise God for providing in big and wild ways for these two sisters I get to live with the next year!!!

2C.) SHAWN WAS PROVIDED FOR IN BIG WAYS TODAY. Shawn has been fighting through what seemed like a drought for a long time in fundraising. It would have been easy for him to throw in the towel and be done, but he didn’t, and this morning, some friends wrote him a big check toward the race, exceeding his first deadline goal, in addition to more funds to purchase gear for the race!!! We got to pray for Shawn specifically at camp, and it’s amazing to see God work through all of this. I’m so proud of this broski for never giving up!

2D.) Miguel is super close to hitting the first deadline!!! We cannot leave for this journey without him! If you would like to help support him, click here.

3.) Continued growth and spending daily time with the Lord! This is a busy season for Ohana, and it is easy to let that slip by some days.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!!!!!!

All the love,

Vicks.