Going into high school is different for everyone. Most are worried about their grades, but a few are mostly thinking about alcohol and drugs. And I was part of that few.

You never heard about grades or teachers when I spoke about high school, all you heard about was the parties and who got the most wasted.

Most people think it’s cool to drink and smoke, but they only think that because they don’t know how else to have fun. Well, my fun for the fall semester was Student Venture with my friends and people who actually cared about my future. Going into high school I didn’t think that Student Venture could make that big of a difference, but it truly did. I have made a lot of new friends and grown even closer to my old friends.

But Student Venture has changed my relationship drastically with one person — God. I didn’t really have a connection with him before Student Venture, but now I have gotten closer and closer to him and I have fallen more and more in love with him. Student Venture has taught me many things, but if I had to pick the most important thing that it has changed, it is that when I can’t depend on anyone else, God is always there and he always will be. There is truly only one person I can be myself around and that is God.

Before Student Venture I had never opened a Bible, but now I have found my favorite verse, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

— Makenzie

Makenzie’s story was passed on to us from the SV Atlanta team. Your prayer and financial support is helping to reach teens like Makenzie all across the country and around the world! Thank you!

Family Stuff

• We are still praying for wisdom and timing for a 2 ½ day EEG (brain wave scan) for Ethan to check for absence seizure activity. The test requires him to stay at the hospital for the duration.
• We are still in the appeal process with our health insurance for coverage of local OT for Ethan. (therapy to develop fine motor skills). We’re only covered for a therapist who is “in-network” but too far away to be practical. He has been out of OT for five weeks.
• We are thankful to see slow but steady progress with Ethan’s vision therapy.
• Greg and Hannah are preparing for a short-term mission to Barahona, Dominican Republic in June with our local church. This is an exciting opportunity for Greg and Hannah to love and serve orphaned and destitute children together. Please pray that Hannah will grow in her heart for the lost, that God will provide the funds to cover the trip, and that the fruit of the Spirit would radiate from them as they prepare and go.