"It is for you"

So tonight I had a new and wonderful experience.......A kid we have known for a long time, but haven't seen in a while came into the building with a friend. After looking around for awhile he looked at me puzzled and asked:
"Why are you building this?"
I was taken aback, and it took me a second to answer "It is for you and the other kids in town".
To see the shocked look and to hear his amazement such a great reminder. To him it was odd that we were building this for other people. To me it is what we do, what God has asked of us, and what He has put in front of us, but to see the fresh look from one of the people we are building for was so encouraging. To be able to say to this and many other kids that "this is for you" is amazing!! To be able to tell God-this is for you-unbelievable. It is very easy right now to get lost in the plans, and people, and building, and code, and financials and forget why we are doing this and who we are doing it for, but God is so faithful that He brought that reminder right to me today-as if to say "don't forget". Today was a monster 12 hour day for me, and 15 hours for Buck and worth every moment, but they all fade away and that one conversation sticks out. I want every moment of this project to be filled with fresh wonder that there is a love so great that He provides something so tangible and real for this special group of people. Something that speaks their language and their interests. He is a God that loves them so much that He would do this for them. I want all the youth to know that they are so special and they deserve a place made just for them!!

To God be the Glory!!!

I Think the other amazement came from this kid when he took in the MASSIVE piles of lumber that has been graciously donated and the painted walls, ceiling, half finished skate park and tons of little blessings like tv, games, food you name it!! We have the guys from Team Pain up here donating their time and tools to build a professional sk8 park!! We have so many amazing contractors that are blessing us with their incredible building talents! Everyday God keeps bringing more and more then we could ever imagine. Very rarely do we get to experience God on this level and it is a challenge to even take it all in!!

We have 2 youth groups coming to work this week and we will be ripping out and installing new carpet, installing the chain link divider and finishing the drywall and electrical in the offices. We have been so blessed and since almost everything so far has been donated we are ahead of budget!! We will be looking to do some easy fund generators in the weeks to come. If you have an idea to help please let us know! We have do have some practical needs this week:

A new industrial metal sink
Snacks and bottled beverages for the workers
Soups/chili for our crock pot so we all have lunch when working
Pray we all stay healthy
I need 2 square black simple book cases-6-8 feet tall. Either new or in really good shape (please nothing broken)
We need an extra MAC laptop cord
We also could use another Mac laptop or desktop. We all share one little laptop and it is very challenging. We can use a used one in good shape

Thank you for walking with us on this journey!!!
Tara

God is on it!!

So we are 2 weeks into building and things are happening so fast. We have the ceiling and walls painted, one ramp built, offices framed, electrical fixed and lots of other projects in various stages of completion. An example of how this past couple of weeks has gone.....On Monday I was praying and asking God for some snacks. Very specifically, some sweet and salty treats and drinks for everyone working so hard. I was kind of complaining to God really, that I did not have time to go to the store and definitely did not have time to assemble anything!! I ended my prayer time and went down to the building. About 20 minutes later this wonderful woman knocked on the door and asked if there was some building going on. I answered yes and she said
"We had a funeral yesterday and I have some brownies, chips and lemonade. Could you use those?"
I almost fell over!! It is not everyday that we get to experience God on that kind of level. From the snack day on He has been that quick and specific. We had all the paint, drywall, and labor donated (thank you Spegiel & Sons & Brush)-HUGE!! All the steel (thanks Axis steel) for the ramps was donated, more snacks by the Ballard family, framing and material for offices donated by Timco, more general construction donated by Shawn Walsh-I know I am missing some, but the bottom line is we have been unbelievably BLESSED!!

We have waited so long and know that it is here it is mind blowing!! Really my favorite part is 10 skaters working side by side with us every night. I love giving the kids something to do and be proud of. We have some incredible men here that are teaching the young ones to build!! I think this is just a start.....God is amazing and His specific provision is blowing me away!!! If you have not been down here yet or you missed us when you came please keep coming. We want to show you what God is doing. To see how He is not bound by tough economies or two people who try hard but make so many mistakes!!

We made a sweet little video that shows what we are up to. We would love to show it to your small group, church, friends, whoever!! Let me know if you would like to see that. I will post it when we have the final back.

OK……this is the most exciting blog I think I have ever written………yes it is awesome and I can barely contain my excitement!!! I am overwhelmed by the provision of God today, and I hope my letter conveys the last couple of weeks at Sk8 Church.

I am writing to you NOT from my cold, lonely basement office like usual, but to the beautiful sound of multiple skate boards, excited shouts, cheers, sk8 church kids sweeping and cleaning trash out, scraping old decals off windows, and building a ramp. I am watching Buck skateboard while he talks with the kids here, my own kids are covered in drywall dust rolling around on a skateboard, Hunter has fallen and smacked his hip, Buck is limping and it is almost a perfect day in our new indoor, Sk8 Church, Sk8 Park/Youth Center building!!

THE VISION

When we started sk8 church 5 years ago God gave us an amazing vision for a place in Steamboat Springs that would give the youth a positive, sober place to belong and be encouraged in their sport of skateboarding. A place that anyone in our community can go to find help, hope, love, teaching, encouragement, and a friend. A place that is for youth, built by youth, where they can find rest for their souls and a break from their burdens. A home base for Sk8 Church. An office out for the basement for me, additional Bible studies, youth recovery meetings….oh the list goes on!!

For a long while we wrestled with the fact that God had not brought this place, and eventually settled in to the fact that we just did not know when it was going to happen. We moved forward, and have had an incredible time, with meeting in our home, local hotels, wherever we could, steadily building our community of friends, and continually praying for that sweet vision God gave us.

Even though we did not know when it would happen Buck was always faithful in searching out EVERY commercial spot in town over the years. He has passed out countless numbers of our vision packet to almost every realtor in town. Many, many times this proved futile and even frustrating over the last 4 years, until recently……….

THE BREAKTHROUGH

3 months ago, on his never ending quest, Buck gave one of our packets to the owners of Steamboat Powersports, explained the mission of SK8 church and went on his way. Two months later, out of nowhere, we received a call from the owners expressing an interest in meeting to discuss sk8 for one of their properties.

After many meetings, much discussion, and generosity that ONLY can be explained by God’s intervention, we have a home for sk8 church!! 4,800 square feet of home! Located at Riverside plaza, this space allows us to have 2000 square feet of skate park. 2400 square feet of lounge/gaming area, lots of food, video games, pool, ping pong, music, offices and enough space to minister to many more kids. The space is on the bus route and located in an easy to get to plaza, but out of the way enough that we won't be bothering too many people!

So what does this mean??

It means that in the coming months all of you have an incredible opportunity to help impact this community with us! It means that you will get a chance to use your gifts and skills to help us help kids. Imagine a young man or woman from a fatherless home (the majority of our group) having the opportunity to work side by side with a father figure. Being able to learn a skill, be praised for a job well done, and have the feeling of accomplishment. I am excited!!

So here is how you can help right now………..COME SEE US!! Let us show you what we are so passionate about!!!! Verticle Arts has blessed us with an incredibly, detailed drawing for us to show you and to work off of. We are in the Riverside Plaza, behind Pisa’s restaurant! We have a small list posted of things we need now, like paint, carpet, plywood, 2x4s, printer/fax machine, trash cans, light fixtures, chain link fence, snacks and drinks for everyone working, homemade cookies (you know who you areJ) and your prayer and encouragement!! If you are going to the lumberyard give us a call and maybe you can pick some things up for us. Do you have some extra lumber at your house or job site that you need to get rid of? Time on your hands and some skills?......we need it all! I promise you an experience that will rock your world and inspire your heart.

COME SEE FOR YOURSELF………..IT IS AWESOME!!!

I am so thankful to be able to share this exciting time with you!! We will share details as they come up!!!!

Praising and loving God,

Tara Chavarria

Christ for Life Sk8 Church