Dear Friends,
You may have been wondering what ever happened with my
3-month internship. In response to my first letter I received an overwhelming
amount of prayer and financial support. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Little
did I know that it was all a part of God’s awesome plan for this new chapter in
my life.
Because
of what you gave and prayed for, I was offered the opportunity to stay through
the fall, build relationships with the students, and participate in the big end
of the year out-reach event called Winter Blitz. I had no plans for the fall,
so it seemed like a wise choice. And that was only the start of it all.
This
past summer was wonderful. I learned so much! I am no stranger to the military
brat life but I sure was a stranger to all of the paperwork. The first two
weeks were spent in-processing.
But, I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. All the
interns were able to spend that time together, get to know each other, and encourage one
another. We became a family. They were such a blessing in my life. Once all the
paperwork was complete, we all headed to our prospective communities in Germany,
Belgium and Italy. I was originally assigned to Grafenwhoer, Germany but
because of the possibility to stay longer, I remained in Heidelberg. Within
a few days, we all met up again in Romania with high schoolers
from 10 different military communities for Service Project 2012. We spent a week building a playground at a school, conducting Vacation Bible School
and playing sports
and other games with the Romanian kids. During that week I also had the
pleasure of leading a small group of 6 girls, one of whom rededicated her life to
Christ. I am still in touch with her and doing my best to encourage her in this
new commitment.
Back
in Heidelberg we had a summer event for our students called Epicicity
(Epi-kiss-ity). We divided the participants into 4 teams which competed against
each other in different crazy games
each week for points. Cherry Bobbing in Syrup, Pancake
Batter Crawl, Egg Smacktastic, Greased Pig, and Domination Donut were only a few of the
games we played. It was such a success that week 1 started off with about 30
participants and by week 4 we had around 80! The winning team was to win a trip to Europa Park
(an amusement park). Before the very last game there was a 2 point difference and
after the last game, THERE WAS A TIE! We didn’t plan for that, so naturally we resorted
to Rock, Paper, Scissors! Thankfully, the Chapel offered to pay for every participant
to go. Praise the Lord! No one likes to lose because of a game of Rock, Paper,
Scissors!
Soon
after the summer, things in Club Beyond Heidelberg began to shift, and
drastically. Four full time staff started the summer: Tim, Austin, Olivia and
Bruce. Olivia departed after service project to pursue another calling in her
life. We gained Kayla, a 6-month intern, in August. Two weeks before he was due
to move, Austin found out that he was being transferred to another community in
Germany so Club Beyond could continue. The announcement was made the very first
week of Club (the weekly youth outreach), September 10th and it was
his last Club event. Sept. 14th, Tim was notified that he would be
moving to Japan to begin Club Beyond. That very next week Bruce was told he was
moving to England to begin Club Beyond. He announced on Sept. 24th
that he was leaving – AND he was to move the very next day. After all of this,
it was just Kayla and me (two interns) left to conduct Club events. Thankfully, another staff member,
Suzann, graciously stepped in to lead us for the next several months as U.S.
Army Heidelberg comes to a close.
For the first three Club meetings
this school year, it was announced that someone was leaving. After these
announcements I heard some teens say,
“I’m afraid to come back next week.”
“Why is everyone leaving us?”
“I don’t know if I can
take this anymore.”
It
broke my heart to hear those things. I do not want to be just another person
who invests in these teens and then all of a sudden has to leave them. Was that
just my emotions or was that the Lord leading my steps? Both! These students
have so much potential; they need Club Beyond and Club Beyond needs to stay
until the gates on U.S. Army Heidelberg closes. There is no consistency in
these teens’ lives right now. It is not a question of if they will move, it is
now a question of when.
I feel that I am being called to
stay here until the final gates close, until every child is gone – until July
2013. This is why I ask for your prayer and financial support. My monthly
budget is $2,054. Because they have asked me to stay longer, Young Life has blessed me with
$1,000 a month. That leaves me with $1,054 a month to cover remaining costs.
For me to stay until January, I need to raise $6,000. If I were to stay until
July I would need to raise another $6,000. (And that doesn’t include rent.
Although I have been blessed with a host family, they may be moving in
December… more adventure!)
I
am not sure if I will be able to stay until July, but this is where I need to
trust God to provide. Would you be willing to pray for me and Heidelberg Club
Beyond? Would you consider contributing to this important effort to support
these great military teens in transition? If you can pledge a small monthly
amount, or contribute once, we will all greatly appreciate it! And please know
that your prayers and resources are going to a very specific cause that is
making a huge difference for youth in need of some small measure of stability
in their lives this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to have a financial part in my work with MCYM/Club Beyond please log on to
www.younglife.org/giving and click ONLINE GIVING. My account
number is X976
Make checks
payable to ‘Young Life.’ Memo line:
Caitlyn Riley X976.
Send checks to Young
Life PO Box
520 • Colo Springs, CO
80909
Pumpkin
Palooza was a great night
of carnival games, popcorn,
candy, and pie throwing
for our Middle School students! For every 10 tickets that the teens won, they got to choose a leader
to pie in the face. My name sure did seem to get called a lot… that night about 50 pies of whipped cream were thrown! We ended the night with a Hillbilly dance and
surprise hot chocolate and S’mores for the teens. What a night!
On
December 30th Suzann, Kayla, and myself, along
with 5 volunteer leaders loaded the bus with
38 high school students and headed to the Austrian
Alps for a week FULL of snow sports, basketball
camp, and just hanging out. While all of
that was a blast, the students loved the nightly Club
gatherings where 365+ teens from all across
Europe gathered to hear a presentation of
the Gospel. They learned just how much we
are all in need of a Savior. Many made the
decision to begin or renew their relationship with Jesus Christ. The teens
left with strengthened friendships but the majority left with a desire to live out their
faith. Amen! (We celebrated New Years with a dance. Our Heidelberg
group dressed up as Hillbilly’s
and we all had a blast! We ended the night with Fireworks right out in front of the
hotel.)
· 88% of teens at Winter Blitz stated they are interested in
being a part of small groups back in their own communities 
But, I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. All the
interns were able to spend that time together, get to know each other, and encourage one
another. We became a family. They were such a blessing in my life. Once all the
paperwork was complete, we all headed to our prospective communities in Germany,
Belgium and Italy. I was originally assigned to Grafenwhoer, Germany but
because of the possibility to stay longer, I remained in Heidelberg. Within
a few days, we all met up again in Romania with high schoolers
from 10 different military communities for Service Project 2012. We spent a week building a playground at a school, conducting Vacation Bible School
and playing sports
and other games with the Romanian kids. During that week I also had the
pleasure of leading a small group of 6 girls, one of whom rededicated her life to
Christ. I am still in touch with her and doing my best to encourage her in this
new commitment.
