BEACH BLAST '08

We have just returned from an amazing trip with 33 wonderful young people and adults. While we are SUPER exhausted, we are blessed to work with such wonderful students!

*Missing from this group picture are Jordan Alverson, Daniel Hodges, and Allison Hodges who had to leave before this pic was taken.

Last Sunday we headed down with a full 25 passenger bus, a van and a completeley packed trailer! Our destination was Garden City Chapel in Garden City, South Carolina. We had spent the previous two weeks plus more of course preparing. The facility had a great chapel full kitchen and dining area along with two different rooms with bunkbeds set up for each of us. the facility was only lacking kitchen supplies so part of my responsiblity was to box up everything we needed for 23 meals!!! Crockpots and skillets were our best friends! We also spent a tremendous amount of time working on an incredible book for the kids to take notes from bible study and with set quiet times for the week. We packed beach games, games for rainy days, t-shirts, aloe (or a-lo as Jamie I. would call it), and so much more than we would probably need.So we headed out with barely any space for the luggage that we would be getting when we picked up others along the way.

Our week was packed with 3 hour bible studies in the mornings. Each day was developed with videos, skits and games. David Nassar had put together an awesome video series about the greast I AM and how he becomes more real in our lives and our walks. John lead off on Monday with LOOKING FOR GOD. We talked about how we cry out for him so often and feel that we don't hear him, but even in the silence God is speaking to us. Our kids really opened up and discussion took off! We talked about creating a safe haven within the church for those that are hurting. So often 'people' get so caught up in judging others so that they don't feel they are able to share what they are dealing with in their lives. We also talked about prayer and what ever else the kids lead us into in the discussion. Tuesday was about when Bad Things Happen and how we deal with them. It challenged us to take our mindset and change it about bad things. Seeing what God has prepared for us learn through struggles and how he wants us to grow. Justin taught on WHO ARE YOU in christ, and John finished off the week with Faith and how we put it into practice.

Each day we had free time and then an event most evenings. Luke and Amy lead our devotion time each night and it was an open discussion from the kids about what God had taught them through out the day with our bible studies. They were amazing about talking through things and being willing to share and open up in front of the group. Their maturity was impressive and we were proud to look at how these kids have grown in the last 4 years.

Other events throughout the week included:

Chicken fights in the pool, pooltimit ( a knock off of the game ultimate frisbee), the water park, the aquarium at Broadway, putt putt, the maze mania, tanger outlets.....gosh I know I'm missing something!

The ladies! Never lacking in desire to help in the kitchen. Especially with the nightly dessert!Matthew, one of our visitors and the quietest kid I know, was amazing. He became so vocal with our group. On the last night of sharing he wanted Justin to share his favorite part about the week. He said it was taking time from his free time to come into the chapel where it was dark and quiet and just praying and seeking God! An amazing kid!

Amy, one of our college student volunteers, showing off her mad skills and talents of being able to wrap her arm around her head and tickle the opposite ear!

Christine, pictured on the right, rid her heart of our doubt that she was a Child of God! I had the honor to lead her to Christ on Tuesday after I taught about laying all our baggage at the Cross. That day she laid down all doubt and confusion. She is one of our graduating students, moving on to the college group. On our last night she poured out her heart to the group about how blessed they were and then turned to John and I with eyes full of tears and shared with us what a difference we had made in her life. I love that girl as if she is my own child. It has been the biggest honor to see her grow over the 3 years that she has been with us.

More to come on this!...Over one thousand pictures were taken throughout the week! God really blessed us with a great group of kids, chaperones, and a wonderful trip!