Newsletter June 2012

Dear Saddle Lights Friends & Family,

Many of you will also be receiving this in the mail, but since our world is digital, we thought

 we'd share it here, too!

Our long-overdue update for Saddle Lights is here! Thanks for reading!

Highlights:

·        Our discussions with Taylor dissipated just after Christmas without a definite decision for the future of our relationship

·        We are launching in Northern Arizona this fall!!!

·        We are connecting with local ministries to coordinate our trips with their staff and students

·        In preparation for our launch, your support has purchased $15,000 in equipment including a fleet of 15 bicycles, a cargo trailer, and trail kitchen!  Thank you for your support!

Through the second half of last year our efforts were heavily focused on establishing a relationship with Taylor University.  Although there is still much interest from both Taylor and Saddle Lights to pursue a future partnership, the timing is not perfect right now.  The door has not closed, be we feel God’s leading to start working directly with students and not be stuck in a perpetual planning/dreaming mode.  Your support and generosity has rapidly brought Saddle Lights to a place that we could truly consider gearing up for smaller scale trips.  Through December and January, we prayed continually about buying a house and settling into Flagstaff for the foreseeable future; in April God blessed us with a home and we are now excited about starting the first trips this fall.

It’s no secret that we have been learning and growing at a hundred miles an hour with Saddle Lights. It’s been a great journey, and we believe God is still directing this in the way He wants it to go.  We shifted focus this spring on developing relationships with the leadership and students of Northern Arizona Young Life, as well as church based youth groups and leaders throughout Flagstaff. We have seen a strong desire from both students and leaders for adventure-based/experiential discipleship opportunities to be offered locally. We see this as a great fit and are thankful for such fertile ground to plant and grow the beginning of this ministry. 

We have two trip goals for this calendar year, and it’s all about building. These two trips will be our official “first” tours. We are very excited! The first trip will be for many ministry leaders that have expressed an interest in learning more about Saddle Lights. Our goal is to give them a first-hand understanding of what their students will experience on a Saddle Lights trip. During this 2 day getaway, we will break in our gear, cooking, guiding, first aid, and teaching on these leaders. (Yes, they all know they’re our guinea pigs!)

The second trip will be our first student trip, connecting to students through the youth leaders from our first trip. We strongly desire to sponsor (heavily subsidize the trail fee) the first round of students, thanks to you all.  Thank you, thank you, thank you all again for your generosity. This would not be possible without you!  Any donations you make this year will go directly to sponsoring students to ride.  Please consider giving again (anticipated trip cost is $250 per student)!

We do not know how long God will have us in Flagstaff, but we are confident in His timing and direction to start here and now.  Please continue to pray for His provision and direction for our future personally and for Saddle Lights.

Thank you for your prayer and patience as we try out our new wings. We cannot do this without you, your prayer, and your support. We are so grateful for your interest in Saddle Lights and impacting the lives of students through the love of Jesus Christ!

Blessings on you all!

Jesse & Kelly Hibbs