2008: The Year That Was Great!

As I took some time away to regroup this Christmas season, I was reminded of ALL the good Lord allowed us to do.  Reflect and be blessed...

January '08

• Service Team New Years Party- Fellowship and fun as we brought in the New Year together.
• Service Team Planners Retreat-Bonding and planning as we prepared service opportunities for our church.
• Cuba Vision Trip- Took a pre-trip to Cuba to visit, pray, and plan with the local churches.  I met with the local pastor and planned a future trip with students to assist in Vacation Bible School.

February '08

• High School Winter Camp- took 6 kids from Cypress St. for a weekend in the mountains for Spiritual Awakening and renewal.  Lives were changed for all eternity.
• Letty's mom came to visit and cooked an AMAZING and delicious Cuban meal for 50 high school students.

March '08

• Fashion Show Fundraiser- Raised over $5000 to support our Cypress St. ministry and help the community host events and provide funds for students to attend church functions.
• Hosted the University of Louisiana Softball team while in California playing at a Cal State Fullerton.  Praise the Lord! 7 softball players joined us for church while in Cali.
• Spring Break Junior High Mystery Missions Trip- The students from Yorba Linda Friends Church ran a Vacation Bible School at Calicento Ranch.  This ranch provides a safe place for kids whose parents are incarcerated, and are growing up in an unsafe environment.

April '08

• Yorba Linda Friends Church high school ministry worked at another ranch for kids whose parents were incarcerated.  
• Prepared for our annual Memorial day Soccer Tournament on Cypress St. 

May '08

• Held our 4th annual Service Team Family Picnic.  Had a chance to meet and connect with the parents of the students that serve.  Created great memories!!!!
• Held our 2nd annual Memorial Day Soccer Tournament on Cypress St.  Over 150 participants and 300 spectators joined us.  We were able to use this tournament as a tool to build relationships and to challenge people with their walk with Christ.

June '08

• Letty visited supporters in Missouri.
• YLFC High School Waterski Trip- took 300 kids (10 from Cypress st.) for a weekend on Lake Don Pedro.  It was a weekend filled with new beginnings.
• Annual Service Team Beach Camping- Great time for rest and renewal in Santa Barbara.  After serving hard, we had a chance to play hard and relax!!!
• Movie nights on Cypress St.-Uniting the community with a free outdoor movie, popcorn and drinks.

July '08

• Summer fun on Cypress St.- movie nights, barbecues, slip n' slides, water balloon fights, and beach days.
• Missions trip to Cuba- took a DREAM TEAM to Cuba and assisted with Vacation Bible School.  200 kids were impacted with the love of Christ and a community was changed forever.  The church, pastor and youth leaders were encouraged with all that the Lord accomplished.  

August '08

• Missions Trip to Mexico-partnered with an orphanage in Mexico and built a home in 3 days for a family in need.  We also held a festival for the community and ended our time with a community BBQ.
• Headed to Lake Havasu for our student planning retreat.  We used this time to bond, grow spiritually, and plan community service projects for the school year with our church and high school ministry.  
• Visited supporters in Texas.  We used this time for rest and renewal after such a busy summer.
• Helped YLFC with their annual Car Show.  This was a community outreach event.
• Held our final movie night on Cypress St.

September '08

• Took 60 kids from Cypress St. Back to School shopping for clothing and uniforms for school.  The partnership with a local church made this possible.
• Held a neighborhood Labor Day BBQ on Cypress St.  We also handed out 80 backpacks filled with school supplies to the students from the community.
• YLFC High School group went to a ranch to help with maintenance.  We helped paint the main building in the ranch.
• Started adult Bible studies on Cypress St.  This is led by our Hispanic church, "Amigos de Christo," bringing the community together through the love of Jesus Christ and His promises from the Bible.  

October '08

• Took over 80 people from the Placentia community to our church's fall Halloween festival.  Lots of games, rides, food,  and candy.  After, we took the students Cosmic bowling.  What a fun night!
• Served at Long Beach Friends Church and fed 200 homeless people.  Afterwards, we held a worship service filled with songs of praise and a message from the Bible. 

November '08

• Visited supporters in Tennessee and Louisiana.
• Hosted a community Thanksgiving feast on Cypress St.  Over 700 meals and 100 boxes of love were distributed.
• Held our annual Flag Football tournament with the High School small groups.  Great time of fellowship and so much fun.
• Averaging 20-25 adults attending our weekly Bible study on Cypress St.  Also began a kids Bible study so the parents can focus on the lesson and the kids can learn about Jesus as well.  

December '08

• All 114 members of the Cypress community got sponsored for Christmas gifts this Holiday season.
• Our HS ministry helped prepare the floats for the Pasadena Rose Parade.
• Letty's time back East was time well spent.  Had a chance to visit family and friends.  The trip to Pennsylvania was very encouraging as she visited a supporting church.  And finally the bonus of a snow-filled white Christmas.

Be blessed and encouraged that God is moving all around us and is pleased when we join Him in His work.  Thank you for an incredible 2008!!!!!