Talk about a great first week. After a week in Denver for training and then a week locked in our housing site preparing for our groups to come, you could say that we were ready. But I don't think we were ready for such awesome groups. We had 11 staff members, and two groups making up 39 participants. So basically a 3 to 1 ratio. The bigger group, The Baptist Church, was from Kansas, and we were not ready for such a great group with awesome loving youth and adult leaders who were so supportive and encouraging.
Our second group was from South Dakota, Faith Baptist. They were much smaller, but so mature and were the sweetest kids. 
We were worried about it being our first week that a lot of things may go wrong, but we managed to keep our composure and handled everything like pros. We had one day of rain, the day we were supposed to go to Willow Creek Dam, but YouthWorks Olympics worked our perfectly.
Making connections and relationships with the different church groups is such a blessing and the fact that we can connect with them on such a higher level is so awesome. I can't wait to stay in touch with all the kids. Making relationships with the community kids and becoming so much fun as well. They are starting to remember us, remember our names and want to hangout with us when they can. Relationships are one of the most important things, and it's such a blessing to build those. A little girl named Aimee has stolen my heart, and I can't wait to spend the whole entire summer with her. 
One of the best parts of my job is that I get to really know the participants and hop from each ministry site throughout the week and see them working within the community. This last week, it was so cool so see how much the different groups grew as individuals, as site groups and as church groups. I could see how God was working in each of them, and how he was using them in the community. I cannot wait to see how this first week compares to our last week.
I am so incredibly thankful for my team. We click so well, and have already become like a little family. It makes me sad that in just a few shorts months I won't be waking up next to Ella and Valerie and I won't get to hangout with Zach and TJ on a daily basis. 
(Ellie, Zach, Valerie, Ella, TJ)
Your continued prayers are much appreciated as we start our second week and get our new groups this afternoon. God is so good and is working in this community; my heart is so full from all of our experiences so far.
Willow Creek Dam
Little Bighorn Battlefield
Culture night with Wales
