Mu Naw - A Leader In The Making

Mu Naw hiking around our campsite in Southern Wyoming

“This is so much fun!”

The rain was coming down hard. I mean, hard. And it was dark. Everyone was running around making dinner while trying to find the elusive sweet spot around the fire that could keep you both warm and dry amid the downpour. Everyone had rain gear, but the relentless deluge seemed to render the waterproof layer useless after so long.

Most of the day had been pretty sunny and warm. We had spent the morning at our campsite—a hidden gem by a beautiful mountainside lake on the edge of Medicine Bow National Forest near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It had taken us two days driving out here, with a couple of fun pit stops at the Gateway Arch and Kansas City along the way. That first afternoon, we explored some of the trails near our campsite, leading to a hidden waterfall in the slot canyons of Curt Gowdy State Park. We wrapped up the afternoon with grocery shopping and showers. It was quite a beautiful first day. But no one expected the rain that night.

When we stepped outside after showers, we were blasted by 20-mile-an-hour wind gusts and rain that cut sideways and soaked the fresh pair of dry clothes everyone had donned.

I was worried this was going to dampen the spirits of our group as much as it was dampening the tent canvases everyone was getting ready to sleep under. For most, this was their first time recreation camping, and I wanted it to be a good experience for them. As I walked around checking tent flies and camp supplies to make sure everything was properly weatherproofed and that people were getting fed, I looked over and saw Mu Naw dancing around the fire as she finished off her hot dog.

“This is so much fun!” she exclaimed. I guess her spirits weren’t dampened!

We plan these trips with a lot in mind to teach our StreetLeaders. In this case, however, I think Mu Naw has a lot to teach us. We often say we trust God in all circumstances—through the ups and the downs, the storms and the calm—but how many of us actually choose joy when we are soaked to the bone on a cold, dark night?

Is this not the kind of leader we want standing as an example to the kids we serve in the AfterSchool Program? What better picture of resilience and peace in the storm to place before children who have walked through more than their fair share of life turbulence already?

Mu Naw’s response begs the question of what kind of leader she will be 5, 10, 20 years from now. If she can face the storms of life with that attitude now, what will it look like if she continues to have opportunities to deepen and build on her resilience through the rest of her high school years?

Thank you for partnering with us in making it possible for young leaders like Mu Naw to shine during the storm. This really is so much fun seeing them thrive.

Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, Summer Trek 2025