It has been a difficult two days.  Unexpected losses.  We were finishing a most lovely and godly Quincienera, it was late and I was tired from a long day.  "Hurry!" was the phone message, another dear sister had been in a car accident and just lost her baby (a 22 week old pregnancy)... this young mom is in our programs and we have known she and her family all her life.  Their life has been hard, really difficult.  It is one of our families that has many heartaches and troubles ... but is often the most courageous, facing these things head on.    

It came up ... the question ... "why does God allow ALL these things"... a routine question, this time from this young mom's sister, and my dear friend.  She loves the Lord, her emotional exhaustion is great right now!   I stop, put my head down, and remember the too many times this question has been uttered this year, alone.  I don't want to unpack the "smart" response ... I want to stand in love with those who find faith fragile when life is unrelenting.  

While we are sending teams off and kids are preparing to be loved and programs are hitting a high gear -- there is grief, death and loss.  There is a battle, isn't there?   A spiritual battle for the lives we know God loves and wants to redeem.  Tragedy shakes us up and keeps us alert.  We won't coast delightfully into the victories of this summer.  They will be hard fought, and the enemy will try to destroy our faith, when tragedy strikes.  "Where is God?" can be a tempting cry.  Will you pray with us that our cry will be, "Help me Lord", "Rescue me in this pain".         

      We need your intercession for these days.  Pray with us for faith, for courage, for hope and for miracles, for us and for those we love. 

Right Now
      an I Can Do It junior high boys group is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, experiencing ... 
                                     ...an Alabama ropes course
                      ...a catfish farm and fish fry
                                                                           ...the Tuscaloosa lake
                                                   ...Dixieland paint ball

Imagine, our urban Phoenix boys in the culture and beauty of the South ...
what a world enlarging trip - June 13-17

• Pray that they reflect on the successes of this school year that are bringing great rewards
• and that this success can have spiritual side affects, with leadership, character and godliness growing in these junior high boys
• Pray for the endurance of their leaders

(I Can Do It is our comprehensive stay-in-school program for 45 5th -12th graders. After a year of help in school, academic tracking, positive peer group support, and multiple incentives - the final end year trips have been earned.)

FINAL PREPARATIONS for KIDS CLUB which is coming up ... 
     June 24-July 5

        About 450 kids will show up at The Neighborhood Center for the best two weeks of their summer. They will be greeted by a trained and empowered work crew -- 70 urban and suburban young adults and teens who give their lives away serving the Lord and kids, living together as one team.

        Every summer, Kids Club brings us together for great fun. We go on adventure-filled filed trips, have great experiences in local pools and parks, travel to an Arizona lake and celebrate with carnivals, t-shirts and food.

        Every summer, Kids Club brings us together for great breakthrough. Many children will meet the Lord for the first time, pray for their parents or relatives and gain hope for their futures. Many workers will be reminded about sacrifice, redemption and hope in a way that changes their desires to invest in the Kingdom.

        Every summer, Kids Club brings us together for great joy. Each small group has leaders who love kids, confident that their love can "cover a multitude of sins". Community happens as we love each other and do the hard work of hoping against hope for the way through for many kids who face multiple hardships in life.

     Pray for interns and staff as they complete their job lists ...

• supplies
• crafts
• prep for teachers
• morning program
• worship team
• field trips and afternoon activities
• Lake Day
• Final Day with t-shirts and carnival

    Pray for teachers in their preparations

    Pray for 450 kids and their heart readiness and for all the registrations to be in          

    Pray for 70+ workcrew and their leadership team -- team time and preparing to working with kids

    Pray for this year's t-shirt artist -- theme: Ephesians 2:10

 I ntercession is  your  crying out to God for help.  will you pray especially for this dear family who has lost their child.  will you pray for us every time we hear "where is God?" when the pain of life hits.  We love you,  Kit