Dear youth and parents,
 
I'm back in the office for one day today after a week away for the Army Reserve.  I attended an excellent conference for Reserve Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants from across the western U.S. in Salt Lake City, then spent the rest of the week working at my unit's office at the Army Reserve Center in Seagoville.  Any time I am serving in my role as a chaplain for several days, the need for quality chaplains becomes more and more evident.  Much of my training in SLC focused on the issues that soldiers are having when they return home from being deployed, and the role that we as chaplains have to play as the Army seeks to help soldiers and families readjust to life together.  Though it's a challenge to balance this commitment with my ministry at UCC, I really am thankful for this additional calling to provide support to soldiers and their families.

I'll be leaving this Sunday morning for the CYF Mission Trip, and I'm excited about what's in store for our group in the Pacific Northwest.  Please keep us in your prayers in the week to come, and read on for more info on the trip and other upcoming events!

Grace and Peace,
Russ

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