Hello Friends of YoungLives!

I don't know about y'all, but January/February has always been tough for me. Partially because of the weather - it is still very gray and very cold most days. Kids seem to be out of school more than they're in school for potential snow days and teacher work days. The high of the holidays is over, and the excitement of spring still seems far away. And all the winter viruses on top of that. 

This start to 2025 in particular has felt extra hard. We intentionally had most of January off to allow us as mentors to meet and plan the semester, while catching our breath from holiday chaos. We prayed, we planned, we dreamed. And then we experienced complete whiplash. One of our moms experienced a really tough housing crisis that we hadn't walked through yet. Several of our friends started experiencing major fear in regards to immigration policies. It all felt really heavy really fast. 

"Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues sang with joy.' -Psalm 126:2

But this past Monday we laughed. A lot. These mommas giggled and played like the children they actually are. We asked them what was hard right now, and what was great right now. They opened up and were honest and vulnerable - and then they kept giggling and playing. As one mentor said while we were cleaning up after, "The giggles were healing to my soul tonight." 

We were reminded by these sweet girls that being in a safe community with people you trust allows genuine laughter and joy to flow out - even in the midst of the messy and the hard. As mentors, we understand that we cannot fix everything for our friends. However, we can share the hope of the Gospel with them every chance we get, and TRUST the Lord will use it for His glory.

The young moms and babies that we meet are so dear to us, and it is a true privilege to earn their trust and enter their lives. If you're looking for a way to beat the cold and dreary days, come join us at Club sometime or snuggle one of these sweet babies in childcare. I promise it will be a bright spot for you :)

In Him,

Whitney Busse, YoungLives Area Coordinator

FIRST EVENTS OF THE SEMESTER: We've kicked off our spring semester over the last few weeks with a Moms Night Out event and our first Club! This past week we had by far the sweetest Club yet, despite a million different reasons that tried to derail us from that. At Moms Night Out we made "no-sew" blankets to take to camp, and signed all 3 girls there that night up to go to camp!! At Club we had real conversations around the dinner table (with lots of giggles in between), then listened to one of our mentors share the story of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego. We reminded our girls that even when they're facing a fire - they aren't in it alone. Some of them were hearing this story for the first time, and all of them left with flowers, diapers/wipes, a chocolate covered strawberry and a reminder that they are loved by us and even more by Jesus :) 

YOUNGLIVES COMMITTEE LAUNCHING: In November we started praying and dreaming about what it woud look like to form our own YLVS Committee, separate from the greater area YL Committee. In early December we started putting out some asks, and in the past 2 months we've had 2 meetings and 8 people who have said yes to being on this initial "brainstorming" committee launch team. For the next few months we will continue to meet and think through what we want the Committee to look like and the roles we want to fill, with the official Committee launching in August 2025. The Lord's provision in how He has brought this specific group of people together with a heart to serve YLVS out of their own unique giftings is absolutely astounding!! 

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: There are so many incredible organizations in both Durham and Orange County that are doing things to help mothers and babies. As we seek to make connections with various organizations we can point our friends to for help and access to various services, it's also really fun to share the mission of YoungLives in these spaces. In the past couple months it has been a privilege to connect with Her Plan, the Durham Women's Club, Restorative Transitions, and Care Portal. In addition we have been attending meetings for the Family Matters Durham Community Action Team and the Durham County Public Health Adolescent Health Coalition. Our hope is that organizations across both counties will see YoungLives as a partner and a friend, and that we can mutually be working together to serve young moms in these spaces. 

This time next week we will be at Carolina Point - a Young Life Camp in Brevard, NC. We could not be more thrilled to have the privilege of taking five mommas, four babies, and seven mentors on this weekend away. At weekend camp, our moms get a chance to escape the pressures of their every day life in an environment where all their basic needs are met, technology is removed as a distraction, and they can hear the Gospel presented while surrounded by their mentors and friends. It's pretty wild to think that this time last year, we had not started active ministry yet, and Whitney went to Weekend Camp on her own to watch and learn. Fast forward one year and now, Lord willing, we will show up with a group of 16! Let's go God!!!! 

The cost for each camper or mentor to attend this weekend is $260/person (babies are free). We completely cover the cost for our moms and mentors and depend on our Campership donations in order to do this. Would you consider making a Campership donation this week to help us fully raise the $3,120 we need for this trip? Your generosity is truly helping these moms have an unforgettable experience of seeing the Father's love for them on full display. Click the button below to donate today!

There are so many ways you can volunteer with YoungLives this spring! Fill out our Interest Form by clicking on the link above so we can get you more information!!

Some of our more specific needs are outlined below as well!

MEAL DONATIONS: There are still a number of blank spots on our meal donation Sign-Up genius that we would love to have filled! This is a great opportunity for small groups or friend groups to do together on a Monday night that you have free. Check out the Sign-Up Genius below if you can help us out for an upcoming night! 

NEW HORIZON DONATION CLOSET: We are getting closer to having our donation closet organized and ready to open up to our friends! We could still use a few items to help with decorating, organizing, and stocking the space. If you're able to donate any of the items listed below please reach out to Whitney at younglives.dch@gmail.com or 502-551-2827. 

More Mentors 

As we walk with girls and get to know them more, we realize that in order to care for them the way we want to we need about a 1:2 Mentor:Mom ratio. With the number of girls we know now, we have basically reached that limit. We know there are so many more young moms in Durham and Orange county that need to hear the Gospel and find community, and as more mentors join our team we can continue to pursue more moms. 

Our Friends to Feel Safe With Us

Many of our moms, their families, and their friends are experiencing fear in regards to the new administration's executive orders around immigration. We understand that YoungLives cannot be the rescuers and guarantee their safety BUT we can share the hope of the Gospel with them any chance we get. While it has, and continues to feel, extremely heavy thinking about people we care deeply for experiencing this, we are praying that the fear will not keep them from joining us at YoungLives. Being in a safe community, and hearing that Jesus is close to the brokenhearted and cares for the foreigner are things we know we can offer these women right now. Please pray that we can steward any opportunity we get with our friends well, and that we can have wisdom and discernment to walk with them through these difficult days. 

Protection Over Weekend Camp

We ask that you would spend time praying in the days leading up to weekend camp for:

- Health of everyone going 

- Weather to not be an issue 

- Protection from any and every tactic of the enemy to try and derail moms wanting to go and mentors being able to get their friends there 

We ask that from Friday Feb 21st at 2pm until Sunday Feb 23rd around 6pm you would spend time praying for:

- Safe travels to and from camp

- Health for everyone on the trip

- The leadership team at Carolina Point who is putting on the weekend

- Our mentors to feel confident and equipped to handle questions and situations that arise with our friends when they are confronted with the Gospel

- Our moms hearts to be open and willing to receive and feel the Lord pursuing them

- Relationships between the moms and between moms and mentors to deepen and grow