Today is the day! I woke up early in the morning at six to get to the church where I was meeting with Victoria. From there we drove an hour to the campgrounds where the youth was staying. I was sporting an army jacket of my dad's that was three times my size because I stupidly forgot to bring jackets home with me. Once we got there a member of the youth who already knew we were coming met with us. Then she took us into where the youth was having breakfast. We walked in casually like nothing was happening. Our youth leader slyly said, "Well hey. Find a seat anywhere." At first I was a little disappointed. No one was reacting. They were just going on and eating. Then finally a few of them looked up, and then it hit them. Everyone displayed their own face of surprise. They jumped up and greeted us. It was one of the greatest feelings I have ever had. Some of them said that it took them a while to respond because they didn't really realize what was happening. One girl said that she didn't think anything of it. She thought, "Oh hey, they're just coming from their cabins. Wait? Wait what?" And then she realized. Haha. It was great. We sat down and ate breakfast with them, and talked in person for the first time in months. It felt like we had never left. I felt more connected with them now then ever before.
Then after breakfast we went into what was called the lakeside house. It was this little building that was on the lake. It was such a beautiful scene. They had set it up as our hangout spot. When you walked in there was a room full of couches and FOOD! Then it led to another room with a stage set up, and string lights hanging from the ceiling. We went in there where we had a quick worship followed by a message from our youth leader Mark. It was so great to be finally back there. Yes, things have changed. We lost our youth pastor and his wife as they moved to Florida to start their own church, and we were now led by a group of people as opposed to just two. But they are all people that we have known before. It felt like nothing had changed. Then they told us that we were about to embark on our group building project. So they got us to pair up with people and then they blindfolded all of us. Then they revealed our mission. We were to all link as one big long chain of blindfolded people out of the building and around the campground. We were only allowed to say four words without any clarification as to what they meant, "Up, down, left, right." The leaders lead us all out as we were blindfolded. The chain broke often since everyone in front of you was pulling you forward, and everyone behind you was pulling you backwards in fear or separating from you. So then we were given one last noise that we could do to signal that we had broken off it was a bird call of sorts. We learned very quickly that up meant step up, and down meant duck. Our leaders weaved us in between cars and trees, and everywhere. Eventually then led us onto some sort of platform. Then the platform began to rock. Some people screamed in fear that they were on a boat. Our challenge was to balance whatever we were on. It took us a while, and a few of us fell off, but we got it eventually. Then they let us take our blindfolds off, and we saw that we were on a gigantic balancing board. From there they split us into groups.
My group's first task was this:
There were two platforms with a rope in between. We were to get from one platform to the next using the rope. Here's the catch. Only one of us was allowed to talk. The shyest one of all of us. We had to get the rope without stepping off the platform. Lastly, we all had to fit on the platform. Fourteen of us on what appeared to be a 2x2 platform (measured in feet). If we fell off we lost the limb that touched the ground. It was interesting, but we did it.
Next Task:
This one was challenging for me. I am terrified of heights, and I hated people lifting me up. The task was that we all had to get over what appeared to be an eight foot wall. The only person allowed to talk was the person going over the wall. And everyone had to get over. We decided that we would designate two people that we knew could climb the wall on their own to lift us all over the wall. The plan was successful. The most amazing thing about it was my turn. I didn't even think about it. I just grabbed the hands of those lifting me, and climbed over the wall. If you asked me to do that last year I would have laughed at you and walked away. I am beginning to noticed the small changes within me because of this project.
Next Task:
All fourteen of us had to fit on what was called an elephant stand. It was maybe 1x1 (measured in feet). The catch (besides the size) they blindfolded who they thought to be the three strongest leaders, two others and of course me. I thought, okay, and sat back as everyone else discussed how to go through with this. Usually, I would be terrified, but not this time. Someone grabbed me and brought me onto the platform and instead of being terrified as my heart rate sped up I just followed them with trust.
Last Task:
We were to balance all fourteen of us on log connect to a tree by wires that rocked back and forth. Anyone was allowed to talk, except those who fell of the log. So I of course waited to be last on the log so that I could talk the entire time. It took us quite a few tries, but we got it eventually.
I really enjoyed these activities. It kind of felt like my final test for this project. Here I was in an environment that normally terrified me with people I felt comfortably enough with to refuse to do anything, and yet I didn't. I did it all without fear. Once again I felt at peace.
After the activities we went back to the lakeside house and discussed many things. The leaders opened up to the youth and allowed them to share their ideas as to what the youth group should be doing. How they should get out events. What events they should be doing. Everything. It was a great time to see how the youth was struggling, and also how much they weren't struggling. While down here I have gotten lots of letters and facebook messages on how terrible it has been back home in the youth after the leaders changed up a lot of things. But in this meeting I began to realize that nothing change but the leaders. Sure they no longer have service on saturday, and Jacqueline and Brian aren't there. But they all still communicate the same way. They all still hang out and care for each other. They all still fight and get frustrated. It's still a family. Then we went to lunch. After lunch we all broke out into the interlude. Where people from other churches on the campground sat around and wondered what we were doing. After dinner we did the same thing, but with the Cupid Shuffle. This time a lot of people joined in with us. There is something about our youth group that draws people in. Whenever we go to places like Winterfest and Teen Talent we always gain friends and people that just want to be a part of us. While we were blindfolded and being lead through the forest kids from other churches were trying to join us. Some would come along our side and warn us about the trees we were about to run into. It was especially cool because I got to share the african version of the cupid shuffle with the youth that I had learned at Lee. I was just so happy to be with them all again.
Which leads me to the next part, the hardest part of the day. After our dance party we went into lakeside house again and worshipped. It was such and amazing worship service. I felt so in touch with God. The "Yes Man" project has even crept into my spiritual life. Whenever we are worshipping or praying as a whole in church I always feel like I should pray for certain people in the youth, but I never do. This time was different. Someone's named popped up in my head and I went right to them, no question. Eventually we all joined hands in the room in a circle. We began to pray for everyone in the circle. And then we began to sing. Then we all sat down, and the worship leader asked us to all cry out to God, so we did. Eventually I began singing "Your Presence is Heaven to Me" from the Forward conference we had gone to over the summer. Then someone next to me began singing, "Jesus be the Center" from the same Forward conference. Next thing I know we are all singing "Jesus be the Center". Eventually the song died off and Mark came up to pray. After his prayer everyone got ready for the message he was about to speak. Then what I had been dreading the entire time came, Victoria's mom came up to me and told me it was time to go. So I grabbed my stuff, and tried to nonchalantly wave Mark goodbye and leave. He said goodbye back and everyone realized we were leaving. So everyone began to jump up to hug us and say goodbye. The first few people I was fine. Then I looked over and saw Brenda saying goodbye in complete tears. Then I broke down. Tears flooded out of my eyes. I couldn't keep it together anymore. Eventually, however we left, and we all went home.
Just another day that proves this trip was worth the 24 hours of driving. It was hard, but I needed it. Tomorrow is my last day in Maryland. Talk to you soon!
My group's first task was this:
There were two platforms with a rope in between. We were to get from one platform to the next using the rope. Here's the catch. Only one of us was allowed to talk. The shyest one of all of us. We had to get the rope without stepping off the platform. Lastly, we all had to fit on the platform. Fourteen of us on what appeared to be a 2x2 platform (measured in feet). If we fell off we lost the limb that touched the ground. It was interesting, but we did it.
Next Task:
This one was challenging for me. I am terrified of heights, and I hated people lifting me up. The task was that we all had to get over what appeared to be an eight foot wall. The only person allowed to talk was the person going over the wall. And everyone had to get over. We decided that we would designate two people that we knew could climb the wall on their own to lift us all over the wall. The plan was successful. The most amazing thing about it was my turn. I didn't even think about it. I just grabbed the hands of those lifting me, and climbed over the wall. If you asked me to do that last year I would have laughed at you and walked away. I am beginning to noticed the small changes within me because of this project.
Next Task:
All fourteen of us had to fit on what was called an elephant stand. It was maybe 1x1 (measured in feet). The catch (besides the size) they blindfolded who they thought to be the three strongest leaders, two others and of course me. I thought, okay, and sat back as everyone else discussed how to go through with this. Usually, I would be terrified, but not this time. Someone grabbed me and brought me onto the platform and instead of being terrified as my heart rate sped up I just followed them with trust.
Last Task:
We were to balance all fourteen of us on log connect to a tree by wires that rocked back and forth. Anyone was allowed to talk, except those who fell of the log. So I of course waited to be last on the log so that I could talk the entire time. It took us quite a few tries, but we got it eventually.
I really enjoyed these activities. It kind of felt like my final test for this project. Here I was in an environment that normally terrified me with people I felt comfortably enough with to refuse to do anything, and yet I didn't. I did it all without fear. Once again I felt at peace.
After the activities we went back to the lakeside house and discussed many things. The leaders opened up to the youth and allowed them to share their ideas as to what the youth group should be doing. How they should get out events. What events they should be doing. Everything. It was a great time to see how the youth was struggling, and also how much they weren't struggling. While down here I have gotten lots of letters and facebook messages on how terrible it has been back home in the youth after the leaders changed up a lot of things. But in this meeting I began to realize that nothing change but the leaders. Sure they no longer have service on saturday, and Jacqueline and Brian aren't there. But they all still communicate the same way. They all still hang out and care for each other. They all still fight and get frustrated. It's still a family. Then we went to lunch. After lunch we all broke out into the interlude. Where people from other churches on the campground sat around and wondered what we were doing. After dinner we did the same thing, but with the Cupid Shuffle. This time a lot of people joined in with us. There is something about our youth group that draws people in. Whenever we go to places like Winterfest and Teen Talent we always gain friends and people that just want to be a part of us. While we were blindfolded and being lead through the forest kids from other churches were trying to join us. Some would come along our side and warn us about the trees we were about to run into. It was especially cool because I got to share the african version of the cupid shuffle with the youth that I had learned at Lee. I was just so happy to be with them all again.
Which leads me to the next part, the hardest part of the day. After our dance party we went into lakeside house again and worshipped. It was such and amazing worship service. I felt so in touch with God. The "Yes Man" project has even crept into my spiritual life. Whenever we are worshipping or praying as a whole in church I always feel like I should pray for certain people in the youth, but I never do. This time was different. Someone's named popped up in my head and I went right to them, no question. Eventually we all joined hands in the room in a circle. We began to pray for everyone in the circle. And then we began to sing. Then we all sat down, and the worship leader asked us to all cry out to God, so we did. Eventually I began singing "Your Presence is Heaven to Me" from the Forward conference we had gone to over the summer. Then someone next to me began singing, "Jesus be the Center" from the same Forward conference. Next thing I know we are all singing "Jesus be the Center". Eventually the song died off and Mark came up to pray. After his prayer everyone got ready for the message he was about to speak. Then what I had been dreading the entire time came, Victoria's mom came up to me and told me it was time to go. So I grabbed my stuff, and tried to nonchalantly wave Mark goodbye and leave. He said goodbye back and everyone realized we were leaving. So everyone began to jump up to hug us and say goodbye. The first few people I was fine. Then I looked over and saw Brenda saying goodbye in complete tears. Then I broke down. Tears flooded out of my eyes. I couldn't keep it together anymore. Eventually, however we left, and we all went home.
Just another day that proves this trip was worth the 24 hours of driving. It was hard, but I needed it. Tomorrow is my last day in Maryland. Talk to you soon!
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