StudentLife Youth Camp 2006

No posts in forever. Sorry about that.

Well, back from youth camp and back to work. Let me just say youth camp was AWESOME!!!!!. The kids were great on the way up. Monday afternoon was a bit crazy because we had several meetings in a row and no time to get our stuff out of the van. Carla was left in the room with no tv and hardly any toys. Although I was a bit worried if that was a clue to the rest of the week, it turned out fine and the rest of the week was even better.

Geez, I can barely remember already. Monday evening we had our first family group. Everyone was mum. Hardly anyone talked although they graciously played the silly ice breaker games. I knew the lesson well enough and think I delivered it well, they just had not much to say on the matter. I think Monday night I stayed in with the girls instead of going to worship and Carla stayed too. Tuesday morning we got them up at 6:45 to make the early breakfast. I didn’t even put their clothes on, I did their hair and put shoes on them. They ate good but when Lexi was done eating, she wanted down and was hard to keep up with. That also got a LITTLE better towards the end of the week. Each day was bible study in the morning, lunch and then rec. Somewhere around Tuesday evening we found the playground there and that was really nice. They went there at least once a day, if not several. When I went to rec in the afternoon, Carla would get them down for their nap. She usually rocked Lexi to sleep on one of the many porches and then carry her up to the hotel-type room. She then would read Emma a story where she would fall asleep too. So I usually came back from rec to find at least one, if not all of them asleep. One afternoon I headed out for frappuccino they had at a coffee shop. Yes, they even served Starbuck’s coffee there. The word “camp” in youth camp was pretty unfitting. It was really nice there.

Tuesday night was an awesome night at worship. I wasn’t even sitting with our youth group and we all had similar experiences. God really moved that night and during our church group time, two of our kids stepped up during the youth pastor’s invitation. I think the entire room was in tears. I think I cried on and off for at least an hour or two. It was really awesome.

Wednesday we went to Wal-Mart during our free time in the afternoon so Carla could go baby shopping since she found out they’re having a BOY.

Thursday seemed to be the most relaxing day. We all had our system down finally. We would skip breakfast, I skipped the leaders meeting. We took the girls to the service at 9. Bible study was at 10 and Carla took the girls to the playground. I came back for lunch. I went to rec and they napped. We had free time and dinner and then worship for the evening. It really felt like a vacation that day and by Friday morning, I really didn’t want to leave.

Tree63 was the worship leader and is an awesome band. Please google them, find them on myspace, find them on iTunes. Whatever. They are awesome. I have to say they were much better live but bottom line is they are great.

David Nasser was the speaker who was very easy to understand, very funny and just plain enthralling. The time always flew by with him and you always wanted more.

I think all the youth group were very hesitant about going but by the end of the week didn’t want to leave. And then even on Sunday, everybody wanted to go back. They were all very well-behaved except for one set of girls who actually got in a fist-fight on Thursday night and then there was the usual cattiness between the girls.

Even the weather was awesome. It sprinkled on Thursday evening and never got above 80 degrees there. It was just SO PRETTY up there. We were up on a mountain and there lots of trees and even hiking trails that had a stream going through it.

I don’t really have anything bad to say about the week. I stayed busy with the girls there and it probably would have been a lot easier without them. Sometimes I got tired of chasing Lexi down or holding her because she missed me so much but I don’t think I could have done it any other way. Carla was my hero for the week for sacrificing so much and the kids really were well-behaved. And I didn’t have to sit home with only Scott going or having to figure out where the girls would go if the two of us went.

And the time at worship where I really got to worship and learn was something I really needed. I feel refreshed.

Some of the kids in our youth group really have a hard time though. I had to sit in some of the sessions with the youth pastor with the girls and I can’t believe some of their homelives. My heart almost hurts for them and I hope they can get through and be able to stay close to God and come through it seeing His faithfulness.

I’m not sure how we’ll handle next year. Carla will have a 7 month old and probably won’t be able to go. I’m not sure if I’ll be willing to leave the girls for a week yet still. Maybe I can convince Mom to let Heather go with us. Anyway, I’m still on the high from this year and am going to ride it as long as I can.