Teen Retreat 2009

Teens, and Parents:

I am excited to be able to inform you about the Teen Retreat for 2009. This year we are having a Mission trip/Teen Retreat. We are going to be helping a church planter with their ministry as well as having fun and growing as a group. The dates for this years retreat are July 26th through 31st. The retreat will begin on Sunday afternoon, and we will be back on Friday afternoon. The cost is yet to be determined, but I wanted to let you know the dates so you could clear the calendar for this wonderful event.

The reason I am not announcing the location of the retreat is simple. The teens didn't want me to. We will be playing a similar game as we did last year for them to be able to ascertain the location of our Mission trip/Retreat. And once again the one who gets the answer right will get to go for half price as last year!

This will be your home for any information regarding the Mission trip/Retreat. I will post all new information here, and I will post all forms that need to be filled out here as well. Also, while we are gone we will be posting pictures from the trip on this site. I would suggest visiting this blog at least once a week to make sure that you stay up to date on all new information that comes out regarding the trip. Let me know if you have any questions regarding the trip, and I look forward to giving more information in the coming weeks!!!

WE ARE OFF!!!!!

It is ten till 9 and we are loading the bus, about to hit the road for Drummond Island. All the students are eager, and excited (though a little bummed by the whole no MP3 player thing). We should arrive at Drummond Island before 5pm tonight. Thanks for everything!

Teen Retreat!!!

It is nearly time for our Teen Retreat! That means I am incredibly busy. I have been involved in camps all of my life, I have done a lot with missions trips as well: but this is my first retreat to plan. It may sound like I have all the experience necessary, but the difference between being a Youth pastor taking your group to camp and a Youth pastor taking a group on a retreat is the amount of work that is involved. If you go to camp, all you have to do is get your kids there, then have a couple of devotions, or something like that. If you are going to do a retreat, it is all on you!!! I either have to do it all or find someone else to do it. We have a great group of Volunteers going that are helping out a lot, but even with great volunteers you have to have a great leader to get things done. I am still looking for that great leader. I know I am supposed to be that great leader, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

So nevertheless, here we are 60 hours from when we leave and I have about 70 hours left of work to do!!! I love teen retreats! The first time is always the best right, or at least the most interesting. I haven't pulled an all nighter since my Junior year of college, but Saturday night may have that in store for me. We will see how it goes. I look forward to giving an update. I am sure it will go well, and I know for sure there will be lots of great stories!!!