YAYAM Bay Area Ski Trip 2020

Photo credit FFWPU-USA

 

Every year, the Bay Area Family Church Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) looks forward to enjoying time together in the snow at Boreal Mountain Ski Resort.

 

This year, a total of 47 participants attended the ski trip from January 25 to 26, including six parents as chaperones, and were excited to ski, snowboard, and just enjoy the snow and good company. The group was also happy to celebrate True Heavenly Parent’s Day out in beautiful creation. “It brings God a lot of joy seeing his children having fun and appreciating nature,” said Gabriela von Euw of CARP Bay Area.

 

On Saturday morning, January 25, everyone was ready bright and early to get to the mountain and start riding. The morning started out foggy, but soon cleared up and the sun shined through. Along with the comradery of the YAYAM group, the cooperating weather encouraged many to try a more difficult trail or attempt more advanced tricks. At the top of the mountain, some of the young men worked together to build a seven-foot snowman!

 

After having dinner at the Truckee Donner Lodge, everyone played a game of dodgeball, a tradition for every ski trip. Even after a long day out on the mountain, the youth still had a lot of energy.

 

The next morning, the group woke up to a magical snowfall, initiating a day filled with taking pictures, building snowmen, and having snowball fights. By the conclusion of the trip, participant Stephanie Moon gave a moving message about opening your eyes to the world around you. She recalled a day when she was sitting in a park by her job staring at her phone, and decided to look away from the screen for once. To her surprise, she saw a beautiful park with many different kinds of flowers, plants, and trees which she hadn’t noticed before. She found a new sense of gratitude, not only for nature but also for the gardeners who worked hard to create such a beautiful park. “By finding this new sense of gratitude, I also found a new sense of value in my own life,” said Stephanie. “And when we recognize and appreciate the creation and people around us, we can give value and joy back to God.”