07/23/2025
We have gotten back from a few incredible weeks at Young Life camps, both Woodleaf and YL Adventures in Baja MX, and I wish you could’ve seen the transformation in our students’ lives. Camp was more than just fun and games (though there was plenty of that!); it was a space where kids felt seen, heard, and deeply loved by God—many for the first time.
I asked Lexi, who went to Baja, to write about her experience at camp:
"Something I discovered in the most unexpected way was the true meaning of community. When I first signed up to go on this mission trip, I thought I was going to serve others. I imagined I’d be helping people who “needed” something — whether it was food, a house, or just support. And while I did do all of those things, what I didn’t expect was how amazing the people who I was doing these things with would be. Going into the trip, I hardly knew any of the other kids. If I’m being completely honest, on the car ride to the airport, I was asking myself what the heck I had signed up for. But, I quickly realized that Jesus put me in Mexico at the most perfect time. The people I went with showed me what community really looks like. From singing at the tops of our lungs to and from work sites and playing games until they kicked us out of the dining hall, every single bit of it was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and pure joy. This trip reminded me that we don’t build community by staying in our comfort zones. We build it by working with one another to create something amazing.
Coming home, I carry these lessons with me. Community isn’t just at camp, it’s here. And it's how we treat our neighbors, how we serve one another, and how we choose to live with compassion and grace.
My favorite part of Young Life is the amazing people who welcome you in with open arms. I feel like everyone should experience a Young Life trip and I cannot express enough to everyone who asks how amazing this trip was.
I can’t wait to go on my next Young Life adventure!"
Stories like this are why we do what we do. And none of it happens without partners like you.
As we look toward the school year ahead—continuing to show up in kids’ lives, walk with them through the highs and lows, and share the hope of Jesus—we’re inviting you to consider financially partnering with us. Your support helps make everything from club nights to camp scholarships possible.
Whether it’s a one-time gift or joining our monthly giving team, every dollar goes directly to impacting students right here in our community.
giving.younglife.org/santacruz
