Saying good-bye to Colorado

We started the morning super early to beat the breakfast crowd and then began our second attemp at an ascent to the top of the mountain. Here we are at the bottom...

The halfway point...

And the top!!!

They were so proud of themselves! Once we all got back down the mountain and looked back up at it, it was amazing to think we actually climbed that! We talked about how God helps us climb mountains and also how he helps us in the valleys of life, and by looking back and seeing the mountains we have already climbed we can count on God's faithfulness no matter what lies ahead!!

As we were loading up to leave we ran into Ben, our camp speaker and snapped a quick picture. The kids thoroughly enjoyed his teachings and we all gained so much insight from him.

We truly could not have asked for better leaders on this trip. God knew and supplied us with exactly what we needed. It takes a special kind of person to give up a week of their own life to spend 20+ hours in a van, sleeping in dorms and being immersed in teenage land! We are beyond thankful for Jasmine and Mary Zane! The Lord used you both so powerfully among the group this week.

This week has been amazing. The kids have come out of their shell with us, among themselves and with those friends they made here at camp. We are so proud of them and the soft hearts and good attitudes they brought into this week. God was glorified all week and I pray that as we return to our daily lives that we will continue to glorify Him in all our actions.

Student Life Camp 2014~Durango, CO

Camp - Day 3 & 4

Day 3 and 4 were packed full of fun activities.  We started the morning at Celebration and during one of the Family Group Leader games I was called on stage. I had to answer a few questions about edible and not edible plants, in which I just guessed correctly...but surprisingly I won!! I had to carry around a pink flamingo all day as my prize.

During Rec everything revolved around getting wet. By the end we were soaked and if they saw someone who was not soaked they got the water hose on them!

Rec on Day 4 was a race to different areas of the campus to complete different tasks. We were doing it all; throwing beam bags, carrying people, singing songs...it was great!

During free time we enjoyed eating, playing basketball, hanging out and a hike up a mountain. We only made it half way up the mountain but we are going to try it again in the morning to see if we can reach the top.

Evening worship was so wonderful and 3 of our girls accepted Christ! They were so excited and we were so excited and we enjoyed celebrating with them!!

To end each night we met on the hill and had a time of sharing and praying. It was such a wonderful bonding time for us. God has been so faithful to unite this group together this week.

Camp - Day 2

Our first full day of camp was great! The weather is beautiful and cool and the atmosphere is so peaceful. 

Mary Zane and I made sure we found the coffee first thing in the morning and then it was off to Celebration time and Rec games.

On the rec fields, there were a ton of games we rotated to over an hour and a half time period. All of them were fun and the teams showed great sportsmanship.

After games, they gathered everyone together for a devotional. 

We were hounding the girls to continue drinking water throughout the day so no one got dehydrated and by late in the afternoon these two wanted to show us how much water they had consumed.

Right before dinner a small rain shower blew through and they couldn't get out there fast enough to play in the rain.

Then we were off to evening worship and church group time. The band and speaker are doing a fabulous job of preparing our hearts, making space for God and bringing truth straight from the Bible.

We had two girls who prepared and led us in worship and they did an amazing job. 

We are seeing God stirring in hearts and ask for prayer towards openness and vulnerability as we finish our week.

Student Life Camp 2014 - Day 1

We left New Mexico bright and early and enjoyed the most beautiful scenery.

We crossed into Colorado around lunch and finally made it to camp around 1:00. We got checked in, unloaded and then the activities began.  We met our recreation squad, met our family group, ate dinner and then had a wonderful night of worship.  

The worship band was awesome! And it was a great ending to a very full day!

Colorado Bound

We left this morning for Camp in Durango, Colorado. After we loaded the vans, we prayed and hit the road...

Our travels consisted of two main questions: "are we out of Texas yet," and "can you stop, I've gotta pee."

  

Between stopping for gas and stopping for bathroom breaks I didn't think we would ever make it to Albuquerque...but we did!!

We were thankful for a friend of a friend's pastor who let us crash in their church for the night.  We ate pizza, played basketball and finally went to sleep a little after midnight.  We will hit the road again in the morning for Colorado!

 We do have one traveler experiencing a stomach virus and several who have complained of not feeling well, so please join us in prayer for their health this week. We don't want anything hindering God's plans for the next 5 days!!

Firework Store

So many youth came out to help run the Firework Store on July 3rd and July 4th. Some kids were working to go to camp and others came out just to help. We received so many compliments on their helpfulness and great attitudes while working with the customers.  We are super proud of these kids for the hard work and long hours they put in to help make it successful!

By the end of the night we had sold almost all of it!!!