A Skater's Dream Trip Experience: The Value of Being Known and Loved
- Josiah Kimball
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Summer would not be same without the JSAW California Dream Trip. Each year, riders on this trip get to experience everything from seeing iconic spots, to skating legendary parks. This year was the best one yet. We did things like visit the famed Santa Monica Triple Set (pictured above), Hang out with Pro Skater Cordano Russell, Surfed and Skimmed in Oceanside, and got clips in the streets of L.A. This trip was one for the history books.
Over the course of the trip, we went through a Bible study focused on God’s vast knowledge. This covered everything from how well God knows the universe to his personal interest and knowledge of us. As we went through each of these topics, I asked the riders to let God reveal more about Himself to them. Each of these skaters were battling their own insecurities. As we went through this study, they began to understand just how valuable they were.
One of the skaters in particular has always felt like he was the scapegoat for everyone else's problems and the focus of many jokes. I struggled with similar feelings when I was his age. As a result, I wanted to share my testimony and the reason behind my faith with him. One night as we were driving back from an amazing day in San Diego, the opportunity came. He and a few of the riders asked me to share my testimony. As I opened up about the loneliness I felt and the pain that I went through, he began to consider the impact that God had made in my life and what that could mean for him. He also shared about a “God moment” that had occurred earlier on the trip that added to this new thought process around a loving and caring God. The next day, I saw him skate harder than ever. He ended that day with lots of clips. Once the trip wrapped up, he shared that he had enjoyed the trip and was super thankful and excited for the future.
We are so thankful to all of the donors who have given to make trips like this one happen. Trips like this open unique opportunities to really show the riders what it looks like to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Through one dream trip, you get hands-on experience serving, teaching, and walking like Jesus, leaving lasting effects on all the riders involved. If you would like to support our skate program, you can click the button below to find out more info.
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