This year's theme was "Subject to Change" and it basically describes my life. No matter how much I plan, everything is truly up to God. This fits my favorite Bible verse- Proverbs 16:9.
We stayed at Camp Mihaska, which is a Salvation Army "sponsored" (if that's the correct word) camp. We left on Friday, and it took around an hour and a half to arrive. We were split up into 14 different teams, with 7 people on each team.
I'm not going to go into extreme detail on every day because you would be reading forever.
Some of my favorite parts of this retreat were that, one, it was the most peaceful/relaxing retreat I've been on in the past 4 years. Last year felt a little chaotic just because it was our first year at Camp Mihaska, the other place we used to go on retreat to was too small for the amount of people we were bringing.
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| This was just a fraction of the students getting ready to worship. Many more were on the sides, coming to the middle |
I loved the small groups we were put in, too. In my group the ages ranged from 7th grade-11th grade (me). It was nice to get a different perspective on life and everyone on our team got along really well.
The senior bonfire is always a highlight of my trip as well. It's so weird because my first retreat was in 8th grade and I looked up to all of the seniors. Next year I will be in that spot, to be a role model to all of the younger kids. It's crazy because you never really think you'll be the "top" of the youth group and then just like that you are.
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| Before the senior bonfire and lesson #4 |
Finally, another really powerful is the hour of prayer. It has rained during the hour of prayer for three or four years straight now, but honestly I think it adds to it. The hour of prayer is also an hour of silence, to reflect on yourself and with God. I always spend the time writing a letter to myself, or more so God. I feel like it is easier to write everything I'm feeling out. I think it is interesting to see which areas I need to work on in life, and writing it all out makes it clearer.
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| A part of the Camp Mihaska grounds |
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| Before Game #1 |
So far this was my favorite retreat. Even though it was Troy's last time leading a retreat as our youth pastor, I know he will continue to do incredible things out at the new church. His daughter, Megan, is one of my best friends, and I know Troy will always be there to support me.
If you had any role in the retreat this year, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was a truly incredible weekend, and I can't wait for next year's, my senior year, retreat.
Taylor xx
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that retreat was so impactful for you!! A message I kept reiterating to the youth was that retreat is like a mission trip for your soul. All the time and energy you would put towards others in a mission trip you instead pour into your spiritual growth, and it looked like that is exactly what you did :)
Next year will be so much fun as a Senior (yay), and I promise not to mess it up, ha ha!!
In Christ,
-BJ (Your new youth guy)
I know you won't mess it up! I have 100% trust in you, and I want to thank you for all of your time and commitment thus far in our youth group!
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