It wasn’t exactly the weekend retreat that I had hoped it would be. We took 14 teenagers and 5 young adults to the family farm. Friday night was great. We built a big campfire, cooked hotdogs, sang praise and worship around the campfire accompanied by guitar, and even took the gullible kids snipe hunting. Koie certainly enjoyed herself around the fire with 14 kids to throw a stick to her! It was so peaceful having the stars hang above us and the coyotes singing from afar. We didn’t get much sleep, but that was to be expected. We all got up around 6:00 because the sun was bright and the boys were freezing from having slept in the tents while the girls took over the tiny bunkhouse. My pregnancy won us that luxury—otherwise we would have had to duke it out, I’m sure.
The morning started out well with Krispy Kreme and a morning hike/devotion which we did in small groups. But after that, things took a turn for the worse. Perhaps it was lack of sleep, but some of the teenagers’ demeanor changed and we had on our hands a few disgruntled, sour attitudes which put a damper on the morning. Then, one of our rambunctious youth decided he’d climb a tree, despite our instructions otherwise. Not seconds after my final demand to “GET DOWN FROM THAT TREE,” he instead fell from the tree—about 10 feet, head first. By the grace of God alone, he was not injured, though took an awful jarring. After an extended period at the ER, we were given a good report from the doctors. The retreat ended a littler short than we planned and we all caravanned home.
I learned a lot from the weekend, though I must admit I’m tired of these lessons and ready for some success with these teenagers! Any advice is welcomed! It’s all in God’s timing, I know, and I must stop putting trust in myself and put it solely in God’s hands.
Proverbs 3:4-6
If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
The morning started out well with Krispy Kreme and a morning hike/devotion which we did in small groups. But after that, things took a turn for the worse. Perhaps it was lack of sleep, but some of the teenagers’ demeanor changed and we had on our hands a few disgruntled, sour attitudes which put a damper on the morning. Then, one of our rambunctious youth decided he’d climb a tree, despite our instructions otherwise. Not seconds after my final demand to “GET DOWN FROM THAT TREE,” he instead fell from the tree—about 10 feet, head first. By the grace of God alone, he was not injured, though took an awful jarring. After an extended period at the ER, we were given a good report from the doctors. The retreat ended a littler short than we planned and we all caravanned home.
I learned a lot from the weekend, though I must admit I’m tired of these lessons and ready for some success with these teenagers! Any advice is welcomed! It’s all in God’s timing, I know, and I must stop putting trust in myself and put it solely in God’s hands.
Proverbs 3:4-6
If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
1 comment:
Oh, goodness! I am SURE the attitude change had everything in the world to do with them being tired. Maybe the next retreat should start in the morning, so that the nighttime fun is the last thing to do and everyone goes home the next morning.
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