July: Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going – A Summer Update

This summer has been filled with so much newness!!! I cannot believe it’s already the middle of July. Time feels like it never slows down… If you’re wondering what I’ve been upto lately, here is the update!

May 31st-June 9th, Chinle, Arizona

Ministry in Chinle was all about the revival of VBS programming for Canyon Family Church. This church used to hold VBS weeks with 200+ kiddos but after some leadership changes, ministry for kids fell to the wayside and the programs were abandoned. Now, nearly 20 years since the programs last took place, we found ourselves there starting from the ground up! We took to the dirt roads of housing communities and ventured onto pavement to walk the streets of the government housing apartments to invite all kinds of Navajo kids to our VBS programs. We scheduled to hold 3 days of VBS leading up to a Sunday service. We saw 35 kids come out on the first day, 60-70 kids on the second day, and 45 kids on the third day. Our group headed home on Sunday before church but the report came back that 40+ have since been attending this small Navajo dirt road church. 

This trip brought all sorts of newness in ministry even for me. The group I was leading had never been on mission before I was able to share with them the heart of Christ to serve the widows, orphans and children, the greater population of who this church was hoping to reach out to. I was serving in a new ministry location and field with Native Americans. Many of the strongholds they face are similar to that of most poverty stricken U.S. communities, facing high levels of alcoholism, suicide, depression, single family homes, physical abuse, grandparents raising kiddos and more. I also got to lead with my new friend Charlee who willingly said “yes” to her own first mission trip after one of our mutual friends invited her to join me in leading! She was an amazing co-leader and a new found friend! 

We were able to learn about the culture of the Navajo by directly connecting to the youth living there as well as through some cultural/nature tours, a testimonial story from one of our church hosts, and through being submerged in the culture of it all. 

I’m looking forward to continuing to see what happens with future ministry at Canyon Family Church as we continue to send back teams, pray for the locals to be intrigued, to “go & see” all that God has for them there. 

Please check out some of our mission photos here: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOP2C7fevgHGMNhoJm6m6-iP7NRU3C1OMoR6g4zxmoWtO-ku54FoquCbzxCkpY8GQ

June 22nd-24th, Grandparent Visit

After returning from Chinle, my grandparents and great uncle visited Maine for a week. I was able to introduce them to Mykola (aka Nick) and spend some great family time together. We had a lobster bake, played some Euchre and told so many stories. It was a special visit and a relaxing weekend spent with family!

July 4th-10th, My New Ukrainian Family

I was also most recently able to travel with Nick and his Mom to the West Coast over the 4th of July for family introductions on his side, meeting his large extended family and attending his cousin’s wedding. It was a beautiful opportunity to explore parts of Washington/Oregon as well as share so many yummy Ukrainian meals, learn more about the history of their family and their culture and share special moments with his family. They are truly the most hospitable people! I’m looking forward to more opportunities to visit them in the future. 

July 20th-July 29th, Next Stop A MAINE Mission

If you’re wondering what’s next for me, it’s a MAINE MISSION!!!! Yahoo! You read that right!!! By the hand of God, I will be partnering with local Madison churches to host a youth group of 34 from Connecticut. We will be spending the week intentionally reaching out to those in my home communities. We have many outreach events planned for the week. We’re praying that through this group, lives would be changed, excitement and encouragement in the church would happen, and that missions ministry could continue in the future through AIM and the local churches in Madison. This is another one of those “unasked prayers” fulfilled in my life as I get to bring all of my favorite things into unison in one place; ministry outreach, churches I grew up in, adventure, the great Maine outdoors, all being hosted right in Madison! I even think some of my previous students will be involved in the week, HOW COOL IS THAT?!

 

Aug 11th-15th, Staff Reflect & Retreat

In about a month from now, I will end my summer with a Staff Reflect & Retreat in Gainesville, GA. Here, we will take time to share testimonies from the summer, talk and pray about what God has for AIM going forward and begin to make improvements and preparations for the 2025 year. I am looking forward to sitting down to hear about all God has done, all over the world, this year. It’s such a great time to share in Kingdom Building. 

 

Fall 2024, Looking Ahead

After that, I will be taking the remaining months of 2024 to spend some much needed quality time in the Northeast. With goals of preparing for 2025, through praying over the next theme, planning our 2025 leadership training, making updates to the webpage and hopefully adding new locations to our ministry opportunities, and helping group leaders find their best fit opportunities for the new year. We’ll continue to reflect on 2024 and all of God’s faithfulness throughout the year as we send our final trips to places like Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and West Virginia. 

Personally, I’m looking forward to a slow down season with a more internal focus. Who knows, maybe I’ll even use this season to write my next book. I’ve been plagued by multiple illnesses & infections this year and my body is ready for some steadiness. As always, I feel so so so blessed to be a blessing, to follow the call God has led me to and to share the testimonies of his goodness from all over the globe. Thank you for your unwavering support, prayers and encouragement to me as I remain on this journey. 

 

Lots of Love! 

Savanna