We are back...

Here are a few stories from our time in Aspen!

Saturday night my friend Hannah and I met JR. All 45 or so of us were downtown handing out hot chocolate and striking up conversations with people amid the chaos of an uncomfortable party scene. Being unaccustomed to the culture around me I struggled to reach out. People were drawn to us as we shared the light. There were groups of kids who were looking for parties and instead of going off to drink they stayed and talked all evening. Several times throughout the evening Hannah and I took some time to prayer walk around the blocks. We ended up at the base of the mountain right in town. (not Buttermilk where the X-games actually took place.) There was a huge party going on and so she and i turned down a street, later she told me she had an urge in her spirit that we should walk that way. The street was completely empty so we were walking and praying. We passed a couple of people and then it was silent. To my right I noticed a guy and a couple of girls on a balcony in a hotel room. We reached the end of the street and he yelled the most bizarre statement to the people we had passed "your mom goes to church" we paused.
Then we looked back and he yells "not talking to you" cuz he saw us turn around..but then he said "but your mom goes to church." both Hannah and I at the same moment said "yes she does!" we turned back and stuck up a conversation with this guy, who's name was JR. We asked him why he was yelling it, if his mom went to church, and the conversation went on a while. He was a bit drunk, but we felt like we should talk to him anyway. The night before one of the students had met someone named JR and had the opportunity to share a little with him. We were not sure whether he was the same JR but either way...I asked him what he wanted to be doing with his life in five years. He told me "I want to be an alcoholic." Man, that broke my heart. The hopelessness. We chatted a bit longer and then Hannah and I went back to the center of town. Please pray for JR that he will continue to encounter people who will speak into his life. I have been praying that he remembers the question, where do you want to be in five year- and that he realizes what he really wants- because the truth is, no one really deep down wants to spend their life drowning in misery. "Your mom goes to church" was a blatant cry for help.

On Sunday night we spent time giving out hot chocolate again and this time the town lit the fire pit for us, they didn't turn it on the previous night because in past years it's been the most littered and dirty party scene (and also the homeless tend to camp around it.) But because of our presence the night before the city council actually said yes they wanted to turn it on for us.
We played worship music and sang and some of the same kids came back again. The night was a lot emptier with the games being over that evening.
Around ten o'clock Charlie showed up. One of the guys was playing Brandon Heath's song "give me your eyes" and I struck up a conversation with Charlie. He's from Australia and was in town on holiday to get away from home for a bit. He took a turn on the guitar and then threw $5 in the guitar case for "damages." And then we started talking again. He was so drawn to our group. Myself and one of guys had an opportunity to share what we were doing in Aspen. He shared a bit more of his story and then whipped out his wallet and began to hand me money telling me to take everyone out to lunch or something on our way back. I was in shock. This man, so drawn by the love of God that was being exhibited by our group, felt compelled to give. The vans pulled up then to pick everyone up and we began to walk down the street. I introduced him to John, the school leader and the three of us chatted for a bit longer. He again pulled out his wallet and handed me money. WHAT? Yes. We offered to pray for him, he waved his hand and said "no, pray at home. I'll be okay." I could see in his face that he was so torn. We piled into the suburban and began to pray for Charlie. Thanking God for his generosity that provided for our team (our breakfast food was running a bit low!)
As we prayed suddenly there were lights behind us..uh oh..Foster, being the good driver that he is wasn't going very fast so we were relieved to discover it was just our headlight. The cop came to the window and asked for his info and in the process found out who we were. And then..he thanked us. Get pulled over and then get thanked? Wow. But here's the thing, where we spent two evenings giving and spreading the light and love of Jesus was usually the central party location after the X-games events.
I could go on about the doors that doing simple things like picking up trash opened up, but I guess this is enough for now. I hope you are encouraged and blessed. Thanks for being a part of the ministry that we are doing through YWAM Denver by investing in my life. God is at work even here in America in the most unlikely places. Keep your eyes wide open to the possibilities and your ears tuned in to the cries of the broken.