Hi everyone, today was our 4th day of kids camp. Even though it was later in the week the number of kids attending is so strong. The kids are really having an awesome time having fun and learning about the Word. While the kids are coming into the church to be dropped off, the parents keep saying how excited their child are to come today. After kids camp finished we had street evangelism training with Rich and Bradley, who have had a lot of experience with it. On Thursday night in Temple Square a number of christian street evangelist come out and hand out flyers about the Gospel. After that training we went out to temple square at about 6 in the evening to join these groups of evangelist. When we got there, we prayed together  and  the team split up in about 6 different groups, and each group had some spot around the temple. Each group handed out flyers about the Christian Gospel hoping for someone to even take the flyer, and when they did everyone was hoping for a conversation. Some were blessed with interesting conversations from people of the LDS church, and also from all faith backgrounds. As the night went on people on the streets were more eager to talk. It was hard to leave because of that, but we stayed out there for almost 3 hours hoping God would bless the lives of these strangers.

Nico and the Team

Hey everyone welcome back! The entire team just wants to say thank you all so much for your continual prayer and support. We have truly seen God at work and doing amazing things in the hearts of the people of Utah. Today was the third day of kids camp and it was another awesome day seeing God at work in the lives of the kids and in seeing that it has been changing our hearts. This week it has been crazy seeing how God is connecting us with these kids. Many of us have never worked with young kids at a vbs so it is a new experience for us and God has completely blessed our time with them so incredibly much. Many of us have worked with young kids and have done vbs and it has been amazing seeing God working in these kids lives. God has truly been using us as His servants and He has undoubtedly showed up in a huge way we could not have even imagined.
Today we also had the oppurtunity to do a few other amazing things. After vbs we got the team and went on a hike and were able to see Gods amazing creation and His beauty in all of it. At the top of the mountain we got to we were able to see the mountains, lakes, and the valley where millions of people live. After taking in all of Gods beauty we just prayed for a while on our own and as a group. We prayed over the people of these cities and over all of the lost souls that God would open their eyes to see Him the one true eternal God of everything. It was another beyond amazing time praying for the lost people. After the hike we came back to the church and we were so blessed to hear the testimonies of two former mormons who had left the faith and who have come to faith and are now Christians. Their testimonies were something most of us have never heard. It was sad to hear the unfullfilment that they had as mormons and that many people in the church still have but it is amazing where God has guided them, how He has used their testimonies to change other peoples lives, and it gave an awesome insight into the faith of mormonism. We ask that you be praying for them and their seven children who are not followers of Christ and that they would come to the foot of the cross. Tomorrow we are going to be blessed with another opportunity to serve Christ at kids camp and in temple square. Please be praying for our team and that God would continue to love on us, grow us, and strengthen us so that we would be able to love on others and pour into others here in salt lake city who desperately need to know the one true God of everything. Thank you all, we love you so much church family!
Austin and the team

Hello everyone! Good blessed our team with another beautiful day in Utah. We have all been feeling so blessed to have this opportunity to serve God and the children attending kids camp, so we want to thank you all for your continual support and prayers. Kids camp today was incredible and it is evident that God has been touching the hearts of the children, today we had an amazing 149 kids in attendance. These kids are just learning so much about God and the Gospel throughout the camp and all of them have been so eager to learn new verses. All of the kids and leaders at the camp are truly awesome, and God’s been working throughout this experience bringing our team and the kids closer.

This afternoon our team had the opportunity to go to a neighborhood and pass out Christian tracks. The whole team was all in and we were able to pray over the families in that neighborhood who needed saving, and for the Christians who needed strength and encouragement in the community. We are all hoping and praying that the tracks that we distributed would be more than just words on a piece of paper to those families, but that they would be life changing and lead families to salvation. Overall, it is really amazing to see a team that started out as mere acquaintances become a family and come together to serve and further God’s kingdom.

Kailee and the team

Greetings from Salt Lake City and The Mission Church! The team would like to make sure to thank all of those who have supported this mission trip whether it was financial support, or through prayer. Today, we had our first day of Kid’s Camp, which was hectic yet a joyful experience. The team is incredibly excited and humbled to have the chance to show this group of around 137 kids the love of Jesus Christ. The day of camp went very smoothly, and each of us are immensely grateful for the patience and strength that God has provided us with.

This afternoon, we were given the chance to take a tour of Temple Square, which is where we learned much about the LDS Church. Thanks to the wonderful guidance and hospitality of Ritch and Bradley, we each learned about what the Church of LDS fundementally believe, so we can understand the people that we are showing God’s love to. In addition, our group is growing into a very close family in a very short amount of time, which is something that I feel can only happen with the hand of God. We are all excited for what is to come, and would greatly appreciate your prayers.

Thanks again!

Caleb and the team

Hello!
I have been notified that this is the first official post of the Salt Lake trip of 2019… so welcome! Yesterday we got on the plane and landed safely here at the airport. From there Pastor Ritch and Dave drove all of us to get some food, and from there to The Mission Church, where we will be living for the next week. From there we became acquainted to the Church space, set up our rooms and spent time team bonding and ended with a night of prayer. This morning we all woke up early to help set up for service here at The Mission Church and we all found so much joy in the tasks we found ourselves doing. Whether it be talking to the ever so wise Jim – a man who arrived for service early – or opening doors and greeting the guests, every team member was smiling from ear to ear. Only our God could be so great to have 20 semi-strangers come together and form a family within such a short time. Service was beautiful, we were able to watch two young kids get baptized and there is nothing more powerful than watching the younger generation growing in their faith and staying hungry for Jesus. After service we all banded together to decorate the Church for Kids-Camp which starts tomorrow. We completely transformed the building and I am so proud of all that we have accomplished here already.

God is moving mountains, and it is already so apparent. The amount of love that has been given and received by everyone is overwhelming. Our team is truly loving like Jesus loved, and everyone is working for God. We were reminded tonight that we are here to serve, serve God and others with everything we have to give. Moving forward I am praying that the whole team connects with a kid in their group and is able to truly reach them, and share the Gospel with them. I pray for planted seeds and eternal results here in Utah. We may not see the works we are doing but God has us in His hands, and we all have faith that He will do what He does best, listen and answer. As we round out the night I ask that you all continue to pray for the team down here as kids-camp will start tomorrow and continue throughout the week. Thank you for the positive prayers, they are most definitely being received down here.
With Love,
Alex Kurm and the Team

Please be praying as our student ministry prepares to serve the people of Salt Lake City through the local church. The dates of the trip are July 20-27! Looking forward for God to do great things in and through us.

Dave
Associate Pastor at Wheaton Campus

Hello! This is Micah Hill; to my mom and dad, don’t worry I didn’t die! Last night we went to temple square and it was an amazing time for the team and I. While I did not have any great conversations, God was totally at work in the team from the start of the night to the finish. There were countless stories and conversations held, and God seriously found a way to use all of us, not just in Temple Square, but in the last two days of the kids camp, many prayers were answered, and so many kids who once were silent and shy were dancing and praying and singing to God. It is an understatement to say that we were overjoyed and blessed.

We have had a mostly safe (besides my toe) and incredibly blessed trip. God has shown each of us something new and amazing about ourselves, Himself, and the world we are called to preach the gospel to. As a third, and final trip, this was a perfect conclusion to my participation in the wonderful things God is doing through the Sandford’s. Thank you all for your prayers and support, we owe much of our success to your faithful prayer and financial support. God be with you, Micah.