Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Devastating Anger

blood-red, blurry fury
an all consuming shift in mood

clouds role in and voice box peaks
overwhelming rage floods the ears

the crimsom rush of emotion
breaks loose from the dam that held it

cracked, crushed and broken
walls too weak to withstand anymore

cast an eye to the devastation
waged in the path of its destruction

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

RRY Mexico Missions 2013

Friends and Family,

It’s amazing that it has only been a year, but a great year at that. Last year, I was able to fly to San Diego, and then travel 6 hours south into Mexico as a Leader with the Red Rocks Youth group. As a part of a crew of 23 high school students and leaders, I was able to help build a house for a family that had virtual nothing when we first started. In 4 short days we were able to give a family of four, who had been living in a small motor home borrowed from another family member, a house and a place to call their own.

Though my role was small, and I said very little to the family I tried to let my hands and my hard work show my heart to this family. I spent a majority of the build, measuring (twice of course), cutting, organizing of many of the pieces of lumber that went into the frame of the house, while helping to coordinate the construction of the outer walls, the interior walls, and a kitchen counter that we were able to purchase with excess funds.

Apart from building a house for a Family, we were able to visit the family, whom the youth had built a house for the previous year. I got to see firsthand what the construction of this house meant to the family. The father recounted a story, of how he was going to lose the business that red rocks youth had help him start, and the only thing that he wanted from his former partner was a cell phone. The cell phone contained the pictures from that crew of students and leaders. I got to see the impact these students had, and further I got to see the students react to understanding how their service and love had made a difference in this man and his Family’s Life. 

As a group, we were able to attend a church service. A few of the students had been chosen to give testimonies about what God had been doing for them. I was also given the opportunity to deliver the message. All I remember about the message was that it was about trusting God, something that can be very difficult, in a world where we are taught to be cautious of people, and perhaps of God. This opportunity, my second time delivering a message ever, solidified the desire to one day become a youth pastor.  

With all of these moments, I still know that my favorite parts of the trip were the moments where I was able to spend time working with and hanging out with the students on the trip. I believe that this was greatest part of this trip for me; I was able to help these students build a house, serve alongside them, and I was able to see these students have their hearts transformed by God over the course of a week.

Check out this link for a video recapping last year’s trip: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=447469438618841

I have once again been given the opportunity to serve with the students of Red Rocks Youth on this year’s Mexico Missions Trip. I will be a part of a group of 60 students and leaders who will build not one, but two houses for two families, over the course of one week from July 22nd to July 28th. We will be given the opportunity to visit the family we served last year, and to once again participate in a worship service, and minister to the local congregation.

I hope that you would consider supporting me and the youth group this year as we prepare for the missions trip. Please begin praying for the safety of our group, and that our entire group is given the financial support that we require. Please pray for the hearts of the families, and church members that we will serve and minister t, and please pray that God would strengthen us and fill our hearts with compassion and love.



Due to the cost of the trip, $1,200.00 per person, I would also like to ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting the youth group, and I financially, by donating to the mission’s trip. I know that if it weren't for the support of my friends last year, I would not have been able to serve and to learn as much as this trip had allowed.  


Thank you for your valuable time and for your support in this opportunity. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

With love,

Nathan Skinner



If you would like to financially support myself and Red Rocks Youth on this mission trip here are two ways to donate:

1.       You can write a Check
a.        Please make the check out to Red Rocks Youth
b.       And Send the Check to the following Address
Red Rocks Church
ATTN: Youth
18301 W. Colfax Ave.
Golden, CO 80401
c.        P.S. Please make sure write Nathan Skinner in the memo field of your check

2.       You can donate online via Credit Card or PayPal
a.        Check out this website http://megchoun.wix.com/rryleaders-mexico
b.       Click the PayPal Donate link next to Nate S, or Any Leader.


Thank you so much for your support!


 - Nate Skinner