DATELINE: SALT LAKE CITY! Reports and photos from our youth and their leaders	Click the icon to get EFCA's details.
July 2-- from Jared Moxness:       We definitely have a forgiving God.  Today we started our session talking about how we are always looking for something of this world to bring us happiness.  We can’t make each other truly happy because the only true happiness comes from the Lord.  We can share happiness that comes from the Lord but the things of this world in time will only disappoint us in the end.       Then we ate and broke off to use the recreational gifts God has blessed us with.  Our soccer team put up a good fight but lost 1-0 and was eliminated.  Our volleyball pretty much ran over all the teams to bring home the championship.  Tomorrow we boys are gonna go for the basketball title but we’ve got some pretty steady competition.       This evening we had a little taste of what the world eats with just a small helping of rice and beans.  It really opened my eyes to see how blessed we are to be in a country where we pretty much eat whatever in almost endless portions.  Our rally tonight hit me the hardest of all.  Becky Tirabassi talked about we are loved just the way we are and we need to hold on to our morals and live for and to please God not each other.  We tend to look for sexual satisfaction to fill the empty hole in our hearts but the truth is the only way to feel really filled with joy is to be buried with the Lord Jesus Christ and nothing else.  We also need to see that we have dim hearts that are not fully praising and worshiping God so we have taken the challenge to read the Word and pray for ten minutes a day and also to remain pure until we go to be with Him.  I know it sounds crazy but nothing is impossible with God and no one can oppose us.       Afterwards we all were broken down and seeking forgiveness from our impure ways.  We just came over each other and decided that we will not be moved that we will stand our ground for the Lord and we will seek out all of our problems in him and with each other to help along the way.	We've heard some inspirational messages
	Recreational Gifts!
	Hi, Elgin!
July 1-- from Amy Dominguez:       God is definitely an omniscient God.   Today we had been assigned service projects and our particular group was assigned the glorious task of bathroom cleaning.  We split off into subgroups and ventured out around Salt Lake City in hopes of sharing God’s love by offering to clean the washrooms of various businesses.  We were excited for the opportunity to serve and prayed for God’s leading.  Although we did get some weird looks, we had the opportunity of cleaning multiple bathrooms.  My particular subgroup was ready to head back for dinner when we felt we should stop at one last cafe.  We later found that it was, without a doubt, God’s will.       We headed into the organic cafe and they quickly jumped on the opportunity.  We ended up cleaning bathrooms, sweeping, and harvesting in the organic garden.  We found out that the manager, Bo, was involved in new age religious beliefs and worshipped nature.  He started the cafe as a donation organization, where you chose your portion size and donated as much as you felt led to, or donated your time.  We got to know him, help him, and taste his delicious organic food.  We decided that we would like to visit him again and share our beliefs.  Please keep Bo as well as all of us in your prayers, that we may be used to share God’s wonderful plan for his life and that he may be receptive.       As for the conference, the speakers were once again amazing.   We were taught on how to truly give from the heart and to serve God, not ourselves.  We also learned the true meaning of compassion.  It moved many of us to devote our time, money, and desires to God and help others with a passion and fervor to help these people in need of food, and most importantly, God.  It has truly been a blessing and an experience I will never forget.  I have learned so much and am grateful that God brought me here.  Thank you all for your prayers and support, may God bless you.	Monday night!
	in the lobby
	The Streets of Salt Lake City!
We volunteered for this job?	We're not in Illinois anymore!
All smiles, all the time...	Anyone see Adam or Eve?
June 30-- from Becka Hegel:       We got here safely, the flights went well, and the city's pretty nice.  We had some down time after we checked into the hotel, and after a short meeting, a few of us headed to the prayer army conference.  There we had a time of worship, and had a great time of prayer.  We lifted up to God the conference and all the kids in general, we prayed specifically for people God was laying on our hearts, and we prayed that God would work on all of our hearts and would reveal himself to our group and revive us.  We were all touched.       From there we went to the main hall where everyone came together and met.  We had a time of worship, led by Starfield and then a message on worry and seeing God where you are and how he sees you.  Next the main speaker came on, Francis Chan, and he spoke on who God is, and how the normal expectation is Jesus with a gentle smile holding a little lamb.  He read to us from different parts of Scripture some of the descriptions of God.  It really put into perspective how mighty and holy a God we serve.       Personally, I have never seen God like that before.  To me I've always looked at him as a God who wanted to be my friend.  This change in view helped me realize what the fear of the Lord is, He is someone that is so Holy and Powerful that I really don't deserve to be in His presence.       We entered into a time of worship and it started to hit all of us how much we don't deserve it.  I was in total awe of the fact that he still wanted a relationship with me, even after who I was.  At one point during a song, I felt or saw God just opening up His arms to me, calling me to Himself, telling me that He loves me, I started crying.  Our whole group was affected, many were crying, and it was cool how we came together encouraging each other and giving hugs.  It was only the first night, we are all really looking forward to the rest of this week.	On the plane
	Beautiful smiles!
	in the auditorium
Our rooms are here somewhere...	The Salt Palace
ELGIN EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH - 1900 BIG TIMBER ROAD - ELGIN, IL 60123 Copyright 2008