We're about a month into this youth ministry thing. It's getting easier; it's getting harder.

It's easier because we're knowing names, building a little trust, a little respect. We're starting to figure out our place in the system (we even got an office yesterday)! Our support raising is well on it's way (58% as of today). And there are so many amazing new things starting up at the Bridge in the next month: a college ministry, a service on Sunday entirely for youth, and a new children's ministry aimed at parents too. It's an exciting place to be.

I say it's harder because every relationship gets harder. There comes a point when it's not just about football games or cute shoes or whatever else you can think of to talk about. There comes a point, when enough trust is built, when it starts to be about drugs, or drinking, or families falling apart. The conversation is about pain. Loneliness. How God could let this happen. And it's harder to hear it. Harder to find the next words or when to say them.

It's intense sometimes, and it probably will get more so as we continue to know people. But this is love, right? Pray for us to love how He loves. Pray for our kids as they are figuring out, some frantically and some joyfully, themselves, the world, and God. We are so humbled and so amazed that we even get to be on this journey. Thank you so much for joining us in it.