I'été en France
I stuck one to the fridge.
I stared a bit longer.
Rummaging through the pile of words
I found another and started over.
Slowly the verse began to take shape.
Welcome to the blog about...
what-the-heck-is-Gabriel-doing-in-France-this-summer??
So you are reading this because
Ok so...
What is YWAM, Gabe?
Why are you going?
To answer those questions, we need to go back to my first year of college.
*cartoon rewind sound
Summer of 2019, I walked the high school stage and threw up my hat. That fall found me in a local community college, but with an urge to do something different.
Three weeks after the semester ended, I was sitting on a plane bound for a 6 months stint with YWAM.
Youth With A Mission was founded in the late 60s by Loren Cunningham, who had a vision of young Christian men and women sweeping over the globe like a wave with the Gospel.
In the last 60 years, the mission has grown with a worldwide reach. Now over 1000 training bases dot the nations.
A little growing base outside of Paris, France was about to get an 18-year-old from Virginia USA.
The first part of the trip is a LECTURE phase.
For 11 weeks, I lived in a refurbished hospital with young adults from all over the globe, learning about what it looks like to live an on-fire-life-for-God.
1. Every week, we had a new speaker talking about subjects from hearing the voice of God, to Relationships, to Understanding the Father's Heart.
2. We had open street evangelism and worship around Paris
3. We were assigned to a work team. Each day there were tasks that we did around the base. I was part of the maintenance crew.
Crazy mate!
....uh COVID boutta be birthed
The same day I was supposed to fly to Russia for the OUTREACH phase part of the trip, covid sent me home. Specifically to a house with fridge magnets where I was quarantined for two weeks...
It was a sad season, but the Lord redeemed.
I was able to apply in time for a local college. For the last two years, I have been getting my undergrad in Business and helping to lead an OUTREACH ministry called Heart and Hands.
Cool how things come around.
And now we are going back to France!! Summer 2022
From – May-August – this summer, I will be volunteering at the same base that poured so much into me.
What will you be doing, Gabe?
- In the month of July, the base will be hosting an event called Paris Je t'aime (Paris, I love you). This will be a two week intensive training and evangelism for students from all over the globe. I will be helping those planning and organizing the event. I will also put my Starbucks knowlege to use at the base cafe :)
- There will be some students, just like I was, at the base. I will be engaging with them.
- I will be joining in on local evangelism and worship
Want to check out the Paris Connect website? Click here
Ok, so how can I be part of this journey with you, Gabe?
1. Pray: There is a lot to be done over the next month before I leave. Visa, tickets, and all the random checklist stuff lol.
2. Support: The trip will cost $2,500. There are links below to give. ALSOOOO...there's my fundraiser on Sunday, April 24. Scroll up, hit the link, and book yourself an escape room. All proceeds go to the trip!
3. Come along: I hope to give y'all some content while I am there on this blog and my social. So follow those. If you want to hear more about my heart for the trip before I leave (May 15th), reach out and I'd love to chat.
Instagram & (757)-362-6737
Now back to the fridge story...
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