A quick update with some links for your perusal from the Whitlers in Modesto, Ca.

In our last update, I mentioned that we were hosting a team from Global Youth Network in Canada. Every year a group comes to spend a week of leadership training with us. This year the team was smaller than usual, only 4, and we had a great time together. We are looking forward to a return team from Global in the summer as we partner together for Camp Awesome. Global will help us take some inner city kids to the coast for a 4 day camp experience. We can't wait! Read more about the recent trip HERE.


Toward the end of February, our family and Aaron were able to spend a day with Amy and Jeremy who are pioneering Youth With A Mission in Sacramento. There are several YWAM locations near to us and we would like to be better connected to the mission. YWAM Sacramento has a similar heart to ours here, seeking to minister alongside the local church, providing opportunity, using creativity and imparting those passions that God has given us to others. They have a special desire to see the Latino community in their city released into missions. Find more about YWAM's work in Sacramento HERE.


While we seek to serve as many church communities as we can, we do have a unique relationship with New Hope Christian Fellowship. I lead the worship team and serve on the youth team. Aaron and I are also deacons in the church. Earlier this month, we had a church leaders retreat in the foothills of the Sierra's. This was a wonderful time of connecting, sharing and praying with one another. We did not have an agenda for this retreat but just let God set the days and it was so good. We came away refreshed and knowing one another so much better.


On the family front, we're doing great. Spring has sprung (as it always does) a tad early here in California. This past weekend, we took the kids to the annual Celtic Faire in Sonora and had a great time together in spite of the rain. We saw real jousting, shot arrows, deployed a real trebuchet, listened to some great Irish music and ate some good ole fair food. You can see some pics from our day HERE.


Please pray for our friends and fellow YWAM workers, the Sustars in Thailand working with Compasio. They will be there for one more month. You can read more of their adventures HERE.


Also, pray for us as we gear up for 3 visiting teams in the next month. One of those teams is John Wason from YWAM Canada's Word To Life Theater Arts (click HERE for more info). We are currently setting up a local tour for him. If your local Modesto area group or event would like to book John, let me know!


Also, please continue to pray for our continued weekly outreach on South 9th Street here in Modesto.


Support - If you would like to support our work financially, all donations are tax deductible when made out to YWAM and sent to: YWAM / P.O. Box 3000 / Garden Valley, TX / 75771-3000. Our name must not appear on the check, but include a separate note stating the gift is for the Whitler's work in Modesto, CA.

Thanks so much!

Here's how to find us online...

Family site/blog - http://thewhitlers.com

Amie on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/amiehw

Chris on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/badyouthspeaker

YWAM site - http://ywammodesto.org

Chris on Twitter - http://twitter.com/badyouthspeaker

Our Podcasts - http://cwhitler.podbean.com