Portland

My Husband and I entered YWAM in 2011, and with in a short time of us being here in Salem as staff we found our passion! Before this we had always had a heart to help young people reach their full potential and being there for them when life’s blows hit. We had worked with youth ministries, but the doors remained closed for us to do youth pastoring. In fact we too have felt the hurt and rejection that so many people feel from churches. But instead of letting that turn us bitter, God redirected us to this passion, which amazingly enough is working with young people!! It all started when another YWAM staff did a special Valentine’s Day outreach to the homeless and prostitutes in Portland. We went there to hand out Valentine’s Day Cards, but after that night our hearts were forever changed. We decided we wanted to do something like this on a regular bases and we wanted to go in the middle of the night, on a Friday night, when the clubs are booming, sex trafficking is occuring, and drugs are running rampent. We wanted to be there to add a flare of light in a dark evening. We wanted to love on those who feel used, abandoned, desperate, and lost. So we put together our first set of 20 gift bags and began this amazing journey! And the deeper we get into it the MORE we LOVE each person we meet and the more we want to keep going! Just as God purses us, we are out pursing others showing them our love, but more importantly God’s amazing, never ending, no strings attached love!!!