Early January Update

Portland Metro Campus
We have a Community Church that puts on a dinner for us once a month and they had us out to their church for a special Christmas Dinner. They gave each of our guys a gift bag and we even got to play some ball.
We were invited to The Bridge Church PDX for a Christmas Eve service. We had Bobby’s family visiting all the way from Montana as well. It was a great evening of seeing Family’s being restored and giving honor to our Savior.
Christmas day we had the awesome opportunity to go sledding at Mt. Hood. The money to purchase the tickets was donated by NW Technologies here in Estacada. Awesome Company with Amazing people. The guys had a blast.
We also 2 restoration Students that have completed the program and they have both decided to do internships with Teen Challenge PNW! God is so Good! Daniel will be interning here at Portland Men’s and Kenny will be interning in the Central Oregon Men’s.
Missoula Campus
Hi, I am Holly at Montana Women’s Outreach, Missoula Campus. It has been a busy year. We welcomed a new Executive Director and some new staff members. My position is Direct Care. I help to advise students here at the center as well as accompany them to church, itinerations, and other activities locally and surrounding areas.
December is always a busy month. One of the most fun things I did with the ladies was to take them out around Missoula to look at Christmas lights. We made an evening of it. We also had a Christmas party for the students. Staff got together and brought dinner and dessert. We had a white elephant exchange with the students. Students and staff had a great time. I worked on Christmas day this year. The holidays can be an emotional time for the ladies. I was glad I was able to be with them and share their day. They opened their gifts on Christmas morning. We ate a lot of candy and had a movie day. They had a good day.
I have an amazing opportunity working with the women of Teen Challenge. As they share their testimonies and their love for Jesus with others. It has been my honor to be part of this ministry. I feel privileged to give back to the Teen Challenge Program as a former student. I have been able to share my own experiences with women who are now where I once was. It is amazing to watch them transform into the beautiful women of God they were intended to be. My job is also my ministry; I have been so blessed!
Spokane Campus
The Spokane Men’s Center was beyond blessed this Christmas. Our community showered the students with amazing gifts like hand-crafted quilts and pillowcases, as well as the basics like razors, shaving cream and socks. The tree was overflowing with our community’s love and generosity.
Our men enjoyed a candlelight Christmas Eve service at Spokane First Church. Christmas Day was blessed with volunteers who cooked breakfast and lunch. Dinner was donated by Aloha Grill in Spokane. Our guys enjoyed a Christmas movie off campus and then a full day of games, pool and visiting with our volunteers. New Year’s Eve was a quiet evening in with worship around the fire, followed by a movie and games. Dinner was again provided by one of our volunteers, who also made popcorn and homemade apple cider.
As we begin the New Year our staff and students wish to extend our most heartfelt thanks to every one of our donors, supporters, and volunteers for helping us make 2018 one of the best years ever! We celebrated 14 completions, 4 restorations and finished the year with 36 students on campus.
Central Oregon Campus
Christmas was a fun day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We enjoyed opening gifts lovingly sent by friends, family, and supporters of the program. Every year we also go out to eat at the King Buffet which is a great time to enjoy a meal. For many of our students, Christmas can be a sore time of the year as they have not celebrated in recent years due to lifestyle choices. Christmas was a good reminder that we can have joy in our hearts with Jesus Christ and the fellowship with one another can help support that joy.
Tri-Cities Campus
Our students come from different backgrounds with varying levels of family support. Thanks to the support of our community, every student had gifts to open for Christmas this year. After opening gifts, the students spent time at one of our faithful volunteer’s homes for a wonderful Christmas Day brunch! From there, everyone headed home to rest and relax and make calls to friends & family. The day ended with dinner at Old Country Buffet and a movie at Fairchild Cinemas in Pasco! All the guys had a blast and it was a great ending for this year that has been blessed from beginning to end. Thanks to all who contributed to make the Christmas day festivities possible and continue to support our campus putting hope within reach! Better things are still to come in 2019
Tri-Cities Jail Ministry
We always see a smile when we bring Christmas cookies to the Franklin County Jail each year. This time was no exception. The staff at the entry of the jail smiled as they viewed this scene at the jail scanner. The officers smiled when they enjoyed the delicious cookies and decorated bars in the sealed plastic box. The women in lockup smiled when our cookies and Christmas carol song sheets helped make their Christmas a little brighter. This year we were able to share with the women at the Union Gospel Mission at the request of one of the residents who “didn’t want to go to the jail again to get those good cookies” as she put it. In addition, thanks to gifts from Harvest Heights Assembly, Essential Moves Fitness and our own volunteers. We showered women in recovery outside the jails with socks, mittens, household products, personal care items, and daily devotionals. We shared with Lincoln House in Pasco and with one of the Oxford Houses for moms as well. We had gifts too, for the children represented by these brave women. Hearts were touched and we saw many smiles as we reached out to those who are walking the new walk back in the community. Bibles and Bible studies were requested so we plan to visit each home on a regular basis. It was our best Christmas yet!