Raychel Swallow
My Journey with YD Adventures
I became a Christian in October of 2004. Jesus brought hope and joy to my life at a time when I was devoid of both. Praise the Lord for the change He brought to my life! I am not the same person as I was when I met Him for the first time. Now I live my life in service to Him; what else could anyone who has been rescued by His enduring love and everlasting grace do? I am not capable of understanding any other response to Jesus. I had been a Christian for a year and a half when I first learned about YD Adventures. "You go backpacking? I would do anything just to go hiking!" was my initial response. However, it was quickly made clear to me that being on staff with YD Adventures was not about my playing outside all summer but about serving the Lord by sharing the gospel with students. I had been told numerous times that I should consider youth ministry, and laughed in all those people's faces. "Teenagers scare me," I told them. But now I was faced with an opportunity that I found very appealing. I didn't take this lightly and began to pray about what Jesus might want from me. What Jesus showed me is that He loves His people and desires for them to know Him. He showed me how much of my own life was wasted pursuing useless, selfish things. I was raised in a Christian home yet didn't know Him because I had no tangible way in which to grasp what it meant to know God. But here I was, being given an opportunity to change that for others and use God's creation to give them a hands-on approach to who God is and how we can know Him. And so, May of 2006 began my journey with YD Adventures. It was my first time in ministry, my first time doing many of the activities I was going to lead through the summer, and my first time working with students. After an overwhelming and extensive month of training, I found myself guiding boats down the Deschutes River and sharing my heart with scary teenagers. But they weren't scary at all! And my desire to serve God in this manner grew and grew. But the summer ended and I found myself back behind a desk, making a steady paycheck, yet grieving the lack of summer. I had made a commitment to work as summer staff for two summers but now I realized two summers was not going to be enough. I began to ask what sort of full-time opportunities might be available at YDAO and was teased, "Well, we need a food coordinator." (not within the realm of my spiritual gifts). It wasn't until the winter of 2007 that the group services coordinator came to me to say, "Our director wants you to know that we'd like to pursue you as full-time staff." (!!!!) "Are there any positions besides food coordinator available?" I tentatively asked. "Um, yes," she replied. "Sweet! When can I talk to Curt?" After many discussions and more prayer, it was decided that I would be hired as the Business Coordinator and would begin my fund raising in September of 2007, after I'd fulfilled my commitment as summer staff. I was thoroughly excited as I would be able to join YDAO for many more summers to come and, during the rest of the year, continue as part of the YDAO team by working with groups on their contracts, as well as managing the ministry's budget and paying the bills - all things I feel I excel at! My second summer with YDAO was far better than my first and I came out of it knowing that this is where the Lord wants me. I began building my support team at that point and continued to do so up until the summer of 2008 when I took a break to join my comrades in the field. The fall of 2008 found me once again working on support until March of 2009 when I finally reached my goal - JOY!!! - and began working in the office. I now look forward to my fifth summer with YD Adventures, Oregon and the following fall when I get to be back behind a desk, making a steady paycheck (every penny of which is provided by God through my wonderful support team), and looking forward to still another summer.