Fall Retreat

Thanks for praying for our middle school fall retreat to Switzerland, it was a fun weekend! 

We arrived on Friday afternoon, and after unpacking our vans and settling into rooms, we hiked to a nearby waterfall. That evening we kicked off our teaching theme of "community" by doing a few group activities that caused students to have to work together. On Saturday morning, we woke up to snow! It made for a fun day. 

Overall, we had a great weekend. Our talks focused on learning what it means to be part of the body of Christ, and how each person has something to contribute to the group. We often focus on things we can't do or aren't good at, rather than thinking through what gifts and strengths we do have. We challenged students to consider how they can use their abilities to encourage others. 

For one of our meals students couldn't ask for any food nor could they fix their own plate. After a little confusion, they figured out that in order to eat, they needed to make someone else a meal. For another meal, we zip-tied everyones wrists together and they had to figure out how to work together to eat their meal. It was a good visual of literally being "one." 

These group challenges went fairly well. Some responses made for prime teaching opportunities to lean into. We'd appreciate prayers that our group would continue to grow in unity this year and that students would be more willing to lay aside their selfish desires and look out for the interests of others. It's our prayer that students would grow in Christlikeness.

^A picture of our lodge surrounded by mountains. 

 Learning to work together...

 

 ^ In the middle of our group challenge, a farmer passed by our lodge with his cows. This picture doesn't do it justice, but each cow had a huge bell hanging around their neck. They were noisy! 

 Free Time...

 ^ Our lodge had an awesome yard... what a view! 

^ Our snowman!

Sept Review

Our students have a weird (one might call it disturbing) tradition of having a "___ is gone party" after someone leaves. Let me explain ... Living in such a transient community means we say goodbye a lot. In September alone we said goodbye to at least 9 students and 1 volunteer as they moved back to the states (that's not counting the dozen+ who already moved during the summer). One of the hardest parts of saying goodbye, is having to say goodbye multiple times. You say bye to someone at school, chapel, youth group, sports teams, etc. and then you run into that person at the commissary and exchange, so you say "see ya later" again. By the time that person finally leaves, you're almost relieved because so many goodbyes are extremely draining. Last year, during one such drawn out goodbye, Ashley told a leaving student she was tired of saying goodbye and that she was going to throw a "Sam's gone party" after he moved, so that people could return to being happy and celebrate that Sam was moving onto something new. Well, the tradition has stuck. This summer, as students have moved, their friends have come to youth group the following week with a poster and everyone gathers around for a picture that will be uploaded on Facebook so the student who moved can see it, and know that they're being celebrated and remembered.

In the midst of so many goodbyes, we've had the opportunity to welcome in a number of new students throughout the summer and into the fall. We kicked off our fall teaching series recently. For the next couple of weeks, we'll be doing an identity series in which we look at who we are as a youth group and why we exist. Our hope is that it will build unity and that students will understand what it means to live in Biblical community, committed to growing in faith together.
Bible Studies kicked off last week. Our middle school series is "His Girl" and we'll look at what it means to walk with the Lord in our world today. Our high school series is "Encounter" and we'll be looking through the Gospels as Jesus interacted with a variety of people. Please pray as we dive into God's Word each week, that God would draw us to Himself and knit our group together. 



Thanks for praying! 

Leaves are beginning to change in Germany and it's gorgeous! I feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful country, and to constantly be reminded of God's wonderful creativity. I pray that your fall is off to a good start and full of special God moments that draw you to Him.