Regional Post: Mid States

All of our sites are split up into four different region teams that work year round developing relationships in communities and working out the details for the summer. This month we will be featuring all of the regions! Regional Director Jason Atkinson and Area Directors Mike Thompson and Melissa Bonneti comprise the Mid States Region.

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As we were invited to contribute to the YouthWorks Blog this month we wanted to take a moment to write about a couple of your new sites – Vancouver and Madison.

 

Madison

As I (Mike) pulled off the interstate into Madison I really wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Being a life time Minnesota resident and therefore University of Minnesota Gopher fan (often reluctantly), the only thought I had ever really given Madison was that that’s where those dang Badgers are from.

 

However as I drove down East Washington Ave towards the hill at the center of town where the capitol rests, my preconceived ideas quickly disappeared. This was not at all the dark land of the enemy that I had come to believe. In fact everywhere I looked I saw a bustling, thriving city filled with small unique shops and restaurants that gradually grew larger as I inched my way through the late afternoon rush hour.

 

 Over the next few days I met with numerous people from various walks of life that began to paint a picture of Madison for me. I quickly learned that while the city very much revolves around the presence of the University, there is so much more than that. While taking pride in their local businesses and identity as the capitol of Wisconsin, the people of Madison also are quick to help and lift up one another. Nearly everyone I met repeated the same message of how selfless the city is when it comes to looking out for each other.

 

One of the highlights of the trip for me was getting to walk along State Street with a community friend, a pedestrian only street that leads from the capitol to the University. My contact told me all about each of the local shops and the history of the area. It was an eye opening experience to discover the roots of the city while also hearing more about what makes this place unique and why so many people take pride in living there.

 

While my first trip was fairly short, I’m excited to go back soon to continue learning more and fostering new relationships with people of that incredible city.

 

 

Vancouver

 

 

A couple weeks ago I (Melissa) had the opportunity to visit Vancouver for the first time in my life! I’ve heard a lot of great things about the city itself, but never really knew what it would be like.  Being a part of the MidStates, I added Vancouver to my list of sites to set up this year which is fantastic.  And, as it turns out, Canadian Youth Workers Convention was also in Vancouver this year so I made the trip to do both CYWC and set up and visit the Vancouver site.  Although my time was incredibly tight, it was a huge blessing to see the beautiful city of Vancouver and meet some of the greatest community contacts that I believe Vancouver holds. Let me tell you about one man in particular that I won’t forget, his name is Art and he’s our main housing contact at St. James.  I had heard a lot of great stories about Art before meeting him, so I knew I was in for a great time once I met with him.  My first sight of him was standing outside in front of the church with an umbrella waiting for me because it was raining outside.  He then took me into the church and gave me the grand tour of St. James.  As we went on with meeting other housing contacts, Art remained pretty quiet and didn’t voice any concerns or thoughts while he listened to others talk.  Finally as we headed out, I told Art a few things that I heard about him before I met him that day.  Our staff along with students and adult leaders alike, loved him, learned from him and will forever remember him.  Art has an incredible story through St. James.  He was once terribly lost and was leading a life that was taking him down a bad path very fast.  Now, because of good people and hope he has an incredible story and teaches our staff and participants about the power of forgiveness, hope and faith that can move mountains.  I am incredibly thankful for Art and his testimony but also his unwavering passion for YouthWorks and our partnership with St. James.  I anticipate that this summer, much like last summer, our staff, students, and adult leaders will be moved by hearing Art’s story but also by spending time in the presence of an incredibly humble and patient man of God.