Okay, I know, it is a long subject, I know. And, of course, it has been a few days since my last entry, because I’ve been up in the mountains having fun.
Friday, I left work at noon, had lunch, and met the youth leaders from my church, Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay, at the church. I was one of five drivers taking our Jr High group up to the Winter Retreat. There were three male counselors (including myself) and four female counselors. There were about 15 Jr High boys that went, and probably about 30 Jr High girls. I was driving a Chevy Explorer that the church rented from Enterprise, and I had seven boys in the car with me. Talk about an interesting drive.
The camp was in a place called Woodleaf, which was about two hours (approximately) north of Sacramento, which meant it was a six hour drive from Monterey (including stopping for dinner). Get seven teenage boys in a car for that long, and they start getting crazy. One boy was driving everyone up the wall. He was just way to hyper.
We got up to camp at 8pm that evening, so we missed the camp dinner, but we arrived just as the chapel time (worship and message) was starting. It was great. We were just one of the churches represented there (I don’t know how many were there total), and we had close to 50 kids. I estimate there were 300-400 kids there.
After that was done, we found our cabin and got situated. Most of the kids, including the two other male counselors (the youth leaders, Andrew and Roger) all got bunks. Two Jr High boys got mattresses on the floor. There was one extra mattress, but no real space to put it, so I just took a corner, and slept on the floor. To make things even more interesting, I forgot to bring a pillow, so I was using my duffel bag with the clothes inside for a pillow.
First night, sleep didn’t come very easily. I wasn’t very comfortable. And I was cold. I was up every 30 minutes to an hour, it seemed. I may have gotten 3 hours of sleep that night. Don’t know for certain. But when I woke up the next morning, I felt energized, like I had a full night’s sleep. It was great.
Saturday was a full day of fun. Breakfast then worship and two messages. I missed the second message because I, along with all the other male counselors and youth leaders were helping to get some events set up for the kids to use after lunch. After lunch began six hours of free time. All sorts of different things were available to the kids. A full game room. Half-court basketball. Air events (Jousting, Big Gloves Boxing, Wall Climbing, Bungie Run, Obstacle Course Race, and a spin machine of some kind). Volleyball. And some of the kids brought their own skateboards and/or scooters to have their own fun. Everyone had a great time. After dinner was another time of worship followed by another message. After the message began a time of Afterglow that was truly awesome.
Afterglow is a time of extended worship. It starts with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to move among us. The worship leaders sing several different worship songs, while the youth leaders and some counselors were available for the kids. As the Holy Spirit moved, some of the kids came forward to dedicate their lives to the Lord, or even rededicate their lives to God. They even came forward to talk to and pray with their youth leader/counselor about their problems (sins, family problems, issues at school, whatever). It was a very moving experience, and one that cannot be adequately put into words. It is something that you just have to experience to understand.
Back at the cabin, I led the guys in a time of devotion. I spoke on Romans 12:1-2, about not being conformed to this world. Encouraging the kids to stay away from worldly things, and to put their primary focus on God. To be holy before God.
Sleep last night was a little better. I I don’t know why it was different, I was still just as cold and just as uncomfortable. Maybe the lack of sleep the night before hit me. So, last night, I probably got six hours of broken sleep. (I was up a couple times, not every hour). This morning was breakfast and a final time of worship and a message as well as a time of communion. It was a great way to end a wonderful weekend. When that was done, we returned to our cabins to clean them up, pack up and get ready to leave.
One thing I forgot to mention, the speaker that was giving the Bible teachings each time (except this morning) was a preacher known as Gayle Erwin. He is an older gentleman that has been speaking for a number of years. He is a powerful speaker that can deliver the message with humor as well. He has a way of presenting, the way he speaks and his body language, that always gets people to laugh. It was great.
Well, we left Woodleaf at noon today and began the long drive back. Most of the guys in my vehicle were the same as that came up with me. A couple guys switched from another vehicle, so I did have a couple different guys this time. But I still did have the one hyper kid, and the same thing happened on the way back. He annoyed everyone. But it was still good.
I spoke with many of the kids at camp before we left, the guys in my vehicle, as well as other kids when we got back to church. I asked everyone the same thing. Did they enjoy the weekend, and what was their favorite part of the whole weekend. All the kids said the same thing. Yes, they had a great time, and the afterglow was the best part. Every one of them said they felt closer to the Lord after the weekend, which is always great to hear.
I finally arrived home at 7pm, after a long weekend. I spent some time talking with my wife, and talked to my mom on the phone, letting everyone know how the weekend went, then I came online, primarily to get caught up on a couple things as well as post this long journal entry. I know that this is a long entry, and I could have written so much more, as so much more happened. It was so awesome, and I am totally excited from the weekend. The only negative thing about the weekend, is that tomorrow, I have to go back to work.
