HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGETY JIG

We're back, safe and sound. Well, safe anyway.

What a week. Last year was a great time at PASSways so we decided to go again. We were a little critical about the happenings this year because we had something to compare it to, but all in all, it was a great week. The young people and us adults were made aware of the millions of people in the world that are hungry, deprived of health care and education, and are shut out because of their gender.

I am thankful that the young people we took to camp have been in church since the day they were born, just about, and they knew all the biblical references for the daily thought, but the statistics were a little overwhelming for them. We viewed 5 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals better known as MDGs for the week.

Each night after the day's events, we would meet in our room for devotions. These young people had some great ideas as to how to help eliminate hunger and how to improve health care and educate those in need.

God has done a great work in these young people and I am proud to be their youth minister.

WE'RE AT CAMP

We're here and already having a great time.

Our young people and two of us older young people pulled out today for a week at PassWAYS camp at Wingate University in Wingate, NC.

Tonight was packed with lots of introductions and getting to know our Bible Study group. I will send a few pictures for our moms and dads and will update on our activities as the week progresses.

Camp Time

It's almost time for Youth Camp and I'm so excited. We will leave next Sunday, Father's Day, to head to PASSways in Wingate, NC. Last year was our first year at this camp and we really enjoyed it.

Now, it's not like camps of the past. I remember going to youth camp at Caswell and we had to take our own food, plan our own program, lead our own program, and NO AIR CONDITIONING. Then the camp scene became a little more organized and we would go to camps where the camp itself would provide the staff and the meals and all we had to do was get there. But, still NO AIR CONDITIONING.

Then as I got older and out of the youth program, there came along camps such as Centrifuge where all you had to do was show up. Everything was taken care of and the adults weren't responsible for much at all. I never went, because I had aged out and was not yet old enough to be a chaperon but the ones that did go, had a great time.

Now we have found Passport. What a great camp. We introduced our youth to it several years ago via videotape but they didn't seem too interested at the time. Last year, we were made aware of changes that had been made in the curriculum and in the entire make up of the camp. PASSways is now made up of choices the young people make in sync with their interest levels. Last year there were 5 and this year there are 7. You choose to spend the week doing some kind of mission work or learning about your call to ministry or how to see ministry through the arts. It's great. Here we are ALL part of God's plan to work for him.

Not to mention we stay in apartments on campus with AIR CONDITIONING!!!

While some of you will be at the CBF Convention in Memphis, we will be involved in teaching young people as we countdown God's blessings in their lives and ours.

Peace.