Spring Cleaning has begun! Aside from the dust and cobwebs, we've found some interesting things...

Yesterday, Diane brought me a stack of personal stories turned in for a Youth Service Fund project in Kenya from 2003, called "Youth At Risk Baptist Centre." This project paid for 15 students to attend high school, provided skills training for 15 young people, enabled 3 youth to take a computer class, and helped 1 young person join a counseling course. Each of the statements was handwritten with a photo attached. I was struck by the gratitude and care put into each of these letters, and I wanted to share a few excerpts.

From Patricia at age 17: "The Youth Service Fund has helped me to have a positive attitude towards my life, such that I know that God is there for me, and that's why he has opened a way even where there seemed to be no way. God bless you abundantly, exceedingly, and above all we can think of."

From Joab at age 17: "It's my prayer that your participation in service will help many youths to fulfill their dreams in life and never wish to quit in everything they do."

From Grace at age 16: "I thank God for giving me loving, caring and wonderful parents. I am very pleased and happy about this project, and I am praying and asking God to help it grow because it has really helped my parents so much in paying my school fees, and this will enable me to go through my education without problems."

Ten years ago, 34 young people in Kenya received a wonderful gift from countless young people around the world. That is pretty amazing!! Whether you gave to Youth Service Fund in 2013, 2003, or 1983, that gift made a difference.