Dear Friends,
I am excited to share with you that I have been chosen by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to serve for a one year commitment as a Young Adult Volunteer. I will be serving in Chinook Montana which is a small town of about 1500 people and is located about 30 miles south of Saskatchewan, Canada. Throughout my year, I will mainly be working with the 7th through 12th grade youth to encourage them and help them understand how to live a life that reflects Jesus’ teachings. Though the details are not finalized on exactly what that will entail, I will possibly be helping out with the weekly youth group, teaching bible study, helping with a weekly prayer breakfast, tutoring, and mentoring.
“Brothers and sisters, I beg you, present yourself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to our God” (Romans 12:1). This is one of my favorite passages and as I go out this year to serve, I seek to live out that challenge in living my life so that God will find it pleasing in his sight. After graduating from college in engineering and not having a clue where my life was going with different doors being shut, I ended up spending a lot of time helping out with the middle schoolers at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River. Through my time with them, I have probably learned more from them than I have ever managed to teach them but I will forever be grateful for that time. In part, it has helped to know that God does in fact have a plan, that God can and will use our time and talents in the here and now, even when we question our own abilities. As I continue to discern where life is taking me, I am ecstatic for this opportunity to go out and use the gifts God has given me while continuing to learn and grow.
Through my year as a Young Adult Volunteer, I will be a part of a group of 70 other young adults that will be serving at 16 different sites throughout the United States and globally. As part of my commitment, I am required to raise $3000 with $2000 raised by July 1 which, as I’m sure you know, is swiftly approaching.
How can you support me?
Your Prayers: Pray for me and the people whom I will live and serve this year.
Your interest in my year of service: Follow my experiences through reading my blog online (right here! Good job finding me!) or ask me to speak about my experience when I return.
Your Financial Gifts: Give a tax-deductible contribution as a one-time gift or in installments over the course of my year of service. You can give online or through check. Please include “Katie Brendler E052125” in the comment box online or memo of checks with checks made out to PC(USA).
online: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/give/E052125/
sent to: PC(USA) P.O. Box 643700 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through email, phone, or blog. Or if you want more information on the program check http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav/
In the wise words of the apostle Paul, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your love, time, and toil in making me into the person I am today, enabling me to go out and serve.
In Christ’s Love,
Katie Brendler
