A Weekend and a Youth Retreat

I love youth ministry. This weekend I was able to go with my friend Kyle out to a camp in Auburn where we spent our time as "Burt and D" (an old, old retired couple from the south), playing medallion challenges, worshiping, chatting with kids about Jesus, and taking in moments of stillness and rest (something we both simply don't do often enough).  It was great!   I'll give you a brief overview:

Friday: Burt and D enter the scene and we begin a "journey around the world" with the kids.  We start out in Mexico and South America in search of medallions.  The kids found some while playing glow-in-the-dark ultimate Frisbee.  So good!  The night also included nachos and worship - beautiful.

Saturday: The day was filled with shenanigans such as searching for clues in nacho cheese and mashed potatoes, a tomato fight, chariot races (plastic tubs being pulled my your teammates across a field), Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, Speed, chocolate chip cookies, and stories about transformation.  The day also included a special prayer worship followed by bag skits and random trivia games.  Once again, SO GOOD!

Sunday: The day started off with breakfast burritos and water balloons - does it really get any better?  Burt and D took the kids on a "safari" in Africa where they attempted to hit a hippo and lion with water balloons.  We worshiped and read some of the Gospel, cleaned up camp, exchanged hugs and high fives, and then headed back north.  

Youth ministry is just so awesome.  Think about it, how many other moments in life can you chuck a rotting tomato at a person and then sit down and pray with them?  How many other places can you challenge each other to eat ridiculously gross food combinations and then chat about personal struggles?  How many other places can you play improv games and follow them with worship?  How many other moments in life can be filled with goofy laughter, awkward moments, dorky characters, poop stories, duct tape, running around in the dark, AND the Gospel?  There is something encouraging in all of that - and I like it.