What a year it was! I don’t know about your year, but 2011 for Young People’s Ministries was jammed packed with traveling, events, resources, and transitions.  Taking time to reflect is something I definitely encourage.  It requires focus & sitting still which often seems to take a backseat in today’s busy culture.  I’ve done some personal reflection already but as for work, that’s sort of what this post is for.  Dating back a year ago, to January, we were closing the paperwork and busyness of the Global Convocation and Legislative Assembly in Berlin and shifting our minds toward Youth 2011.  This was in addition to the normal day-to-day business.  It was the first year for the International Scholarship and a crucial year to promote giving to YSF.  Truong & I  traveled to Relevance X in Las Vegas to visit the project which had been awarded grant money through Grants for Ministries with Young People.  Our arms were twisted to go to Vegas!   He also visited a YSF project with me here in Nashville through Harvest Hands which is an after-school mentoring program in addition to helping young people learn about sustainable business.  We featured them in a webinar which if you didn’t see the first time, you should definitely check it out now.  We had a meeting with all of our staff here in Nashville and naturally, it snowed…or shall i say iced.  My normal 8 minute drive home took me almost 2 hours.  The next day I managed to get halfway to work via bus, the other half via foot.  cold.  Applications began trickling in for our 2012 grants & scholarships in April (thank you for continuing to support our ministry and apply for funding);  Reports were coming in for our 2011 grant/scholarship recipients and installment checks were being sent out or wired to different parts of the world.  Mike & I had meetings about how to promote YSF in a way that would educate people on how much of a difference donating $2 would make & get people excited about it.  Bishop Wandabula in Uganda donated money toward YSF which made that the first donation we’d received from the continent!  Emmanuel UMC in Memphis partnered with us to make the coolest gigantic map I’ve ever seen for Youth 2011.  Do you remember the thumb prints?  That map traveled with YPM to Purdue and Sacramento and was filled with thumb prints & stories of how young people have served all over the world.  I nervously spoke in front of thousands of people about YSF and made my first video with photographs from grant sites.  Purdue was awesome and I think Thursday night was when I really felt God’s presence in the midst of watching thousands of teenagers worshiping together.  I became a fan of Kristian Stanfill’s and heard some passionate and gifted speakers.  One of our jurisdictional staff members took a different job and I had to say goodbye to a friend.  Then it was off to California for the same…yet very different event.  I made new friends at the Sacramento site.  Acquaintances that were formed at Purdue and grew into friendships in Cali.  The same event felt very different; a good different.  Blake and Hank did a great job and had a lot of wrap up meetings following the 2nd site.  I came back early and helped Lee Ann prep for our annual division meeting.  I also finalized details regarding project review which took place before the meeting.

Thought: oh my GOSH…my hands hurt from typing.  too much for one year. 

So project review happened (August) with our division member friends who have served as members for 4 years.  this was the last of the 4 and I had to say goodbye to some pretty cool friends.  A few left me notes before they left. I still have them tacked to the bulletin board in my office.  Division meeting ended – - as did the summer YouthWorks camps .  There was more paperwork to be done and things to be approved by our GBOD board for the grants & scholarships.  Come October, it was time for our Young Adult Summit in Austin, TX.  We had a good turnout and were able to connect with other young adults in the U.S.  I also drove a 15 passenger van through Texas during rush-hour traffic.  Might I add that Hank was getting mad at the Cardinals for losing one of the World Series games.  Tension in the van.  We made it back in one piece and well to be honest, the rest of the year moved in a blur.  I don’t have a lot of memory from Nov-Dec.  but to mention a few other things:  Leadership Lab was published, Chris Wilterdink became a dad, and Hank took a job as a youth pastor here in Franklin, TN. We’ve seen a lot this year but our ministry is stronger than ever. Thank you. Memory overload.  We survived though!  And now here we are, JANUARY 2012.  Guess what happens this year…General Conference.  2011 was busy, stressful, fun, exhausting, and exciting but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Thank you for recapping with me & let’s be thankful together for another year filled with relief that God is in control.

Happy New Year,

Sarah