So much catching up to do! A week without internet was a wonderful thing- except for the fact I couldn't share it on here! So many amazing things happened at camp last week that I think it would be impossible to share them all. But, I will try to post the highlights.
10 youth and 2 adults joined me on Sunday. And, the first awesome thing was that my 2 adults were former youth. Watching them grow and mature in their faith to the point of sharing it with the next generation is a great thing for me. They were able to play the role of adult with an added bonus of relating well to the youth because it wasn't long ago that they were in their shoes. One of the volunteers brought our original inspiration for daily scriptures that relate to our day. This has helped us to continue to stay focused on the Bible and get much more comfortable with it throughout this past year. Usually, on Sundaynights, when the yyouth looked up their scriptures, they used Google to find them. Not having internet, this past week gave them a chance to work on their Bible skills. And, they seemed more comfortable with it than I expected. Each evening when it was time to share scriptures, they already had found them. I feel like making this practice for the past year and daily during trips has really changed something within our group. Most of the times in the past, even though Bibles were on the list, they didn't have them. This year, they had them, took them to worship, and used them throughout the week!
10 youth of varying personalities can tend to be a recipe for drama. This year we actually had a drama free week! That's huge! Everyone got along and relationships were strengthened throughout the time together. There were some that were obviously trying extremely hard to avoid drama-something I hadn't seen from them in the past. This gave us the opportunity to get deeper and closer as a group. It gave us time to talk about other things instead. One night, a 3 hour conversation which started withthe theme of fears brought us all to a level I didn't know could happen. From that conversation of sharing, tears, and a few laughs, we became a different group. It was evident from that night forward.
When asked if youth wanted to come forward during worship to pray, several did, some for prayer and others to support their friends. But, coming forward to open up to God became a healing some needed to have.
One of the activities was a giant swing. This was something they either loved or hated, depending on how they feel about heights. And, although several were nervous, in the end,with the eencouragement of their group and their faith that they would be ok, all 10 of our youth got on that swing. It took some time and it took some patience, but, the ways that they encouraged and kept positive for each other was a beautiful thing. Never before had we been able to accomplish that.
On the last night, worship is a big deal. Usually, there are tears and even sobbing as they don't want to leave this place. But, on the last night, I predicted something different was about to happen. And, it did. Several in our group weren't able to be up front for the music, health issues and the flashing lights didn't mix well. So, during the last set, all of our group rushed to the back so they could worship and sing together. Arms around each other, swaying and praising God as one, this group wasn't crying because they had to leave in themmorning, they were rejoicing with their friends who would be leaving with them. All of them, even thise who typically don't, were hugging and just worshipping. It was beautiful!
I can't forget the workshop most of them went to that had them so excited they kept talking about it, quoting it, and telling how their perspectives were changed. It was about sex, a topic 2s that they need to hear about from a Godly perspective rather than the media, their friends, and people around tyem. Hearing them talk about thinking differently after that was awesome!
So many more things could be said, so many moments could be shared. But, you get the idea.
So, where was God last week? He was in every moment we were there!!
10 youth and 2 adults joined me on Sunday. And, the first awesome thing was that my 2 adults were former youth. Watching them grow and mature in their faith to the point of sharing it with the next generation is a great thing for me. They were able to play the role of adult with an added bonus of relating well to the youth because it wasn't long ago that they were in their shoes. One of the volunteers brought our original inspiration for daily scriptures that relate to our day. This has helped us to continue to stay focused on the Bible and get much more comfortable with it throughout this past year. Usually, on Sundaynights, when the yyouth looked up their scriptures, they used Google to find them. Not having internet, this past week gave them a chance to work on their Bible skills. And, they seemed more comfortable with it than I expected. Each evening when it was time to share scriptures, they already had found them. I feel like making this practice for the past year and daily during trips has really changed something within our group. Most of the times in the past, even though Bibles were on the list, they didn't have them. This year, they had them, took them to worship, and used them throughout the week!
10 youth of varying personalities can tend to be a recipe for drama. This year we actually had a drama free week! That's huge! Everyone got along and relationships were strengthened throughout the time together. There were some that were obviously trying extremely hard to avoid drama-something I hadn't seen from them in the past. This gave us the opportunity to get deeper and closer as a group. It gave us time to talk about other things instead. One night, a 3 hour conversation which started withthe theme of fears brought us all to a level I didn't know could happen. From that conversation of sharing, tears, and a few laughs, we became a different group. It was evident from that night forward.
When asked if youth wanted to come forward during worship to pray, several did, some for prayer and others to support their friends. But, coming forward to open up to God became a healing some needed to have.
One of the activities was a giant swing. This was something they either loved or hated, depending on how they feel about heights. And, although several were nervous, in the end,with the eencouragement of their group and their faith that they would be ok, all 10 of our youth got on that swing. It took some time and it took some patience, but, the ways that they encouraged and kept positive for each other was a beautiful thing. Never before had we been able to accomplish that.
On the last night, worship is a big deal. Usually, there are tears and even sobbing as they don't want to leave this place. But, on the last night, I predicted something different was about to happen. And, it did. Several in our group weren't able to be up front for the music, health issues and the flashing lights didn't mix well. So, during the last set, all of our group rushed to the back so they could worship and sing together. Arms around each other, swaying and praising God as one, this group wasn't crying because they had to leave in themmorning, they were rejoicing with their friends who would be leaving with them. All of them, even thise who typically don't, were hugging and just worshipping. It was beautiful!
I can't forget the workshop most of them went to that had them so excited they kept talking about it, quoting it, and telling how their perspectives were changed. It was about sex, a topic 2s that they need to hear about from a Godly perspective rather than the media, their friends, and people around tyem. Hearing them talk about thinking differently after that was awesome!
So many more things could be said, so many moments could be shared. But, you get the idea.
So, where was God last week? He was in every moment we were there!!
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