Winter Retreat was a huge success....there were about 120 teens that showed up....it was pretty packed! We had a great time of sledding, skeet shooting, basketball (on ice), big ball volley ball, campfire and singing, roasting marshmallows, hay rides, mission impossible, games, worship, preaching, teaching and lots of late night 'fireside chats'.
I love this retreat....I love the "coziness" of it. The snowy landscape gives it that feeling. Everyone is content to just sit around in front of the fire, playing games, chatting and of course, laughing. I get to know the teens in this setting better than in the summer time. During the summer, the schedule is tighter and the exhaustion level is higher. This retreat is more relaxed and low key. Lots of opportunities to just get to know each other....I like it.

And although we had lots of time to chat and laugh, there was also plenty of time to listen to the teaching of the Word, discussion time on difficult issues, and great worship and praise through music. What a privilege to be an active part of such a ministry....to have front row seats to God working in the lives of young people....to have the opportunity to open the Scriptures and show them what God desires to give them, and what He wants from us in return.....to spend time on my knees in prayer with these hurting teens.....to try and answer the tough questions......to hear the testimonies of lives changed as a result of these few days that we've been tucked away in our snowy camp. There is nothing more rewarding and there is no better remedy to the weariness of ministry than to visibly see God intervene in the lives of hurting people and make Himself real to them.

I have spent most of today at home....most of the kids are gone (with the exception of a few kids who couldn't get home because of weather) and the camp is quiet again. I am tired, but content. We are snowed in....a fitting end to the "week". Thank you Lord for the opportunity to serve You.