Easter Camp

Wow!! ...What an amazing weekend I've had with the youth of the Central Division!!

I have to confess that I started this weekend a little nervous as to exactly how all of this was going to come together - despite hours of planning with my team!! - but God came through and moved sooooo powerfully that I've just been blown away with how great this weekend was!

We started the weekend on Friday night just with a bit of fun, some games and then just a time of chilling out and getting to know one another (and a movie!).

On Saturday, Peter Whaanga, our speaker for the weekend turned up and shared the first half of his testimony and I think more than a few were shocked at his life story. We broke into small groups before lunch and then came back with our questions for Peter afterwards. It was a session that went longer than we expected as the youth kept wanting to know why he's so different now... funnily enough, we weren't letting Peter tell them why - we wanted to hold off the change in his life until Sunday night. Ever dangled the salvation carrot before with a captive audience for a weekend? It's powerful!!

Our theme has basically been how our choices affect our lives and how Christ brings FREEDOM so Saturday night was 'The Love Connection'... all about how quick choices/shallow choices can affect our lives but if we bring God into every choice then life takes on a whole new meaning. A bit of fun in the name of 'love'! ...a few interesting outfits but hey - there's always some who go the extra mile!!

Sunday morning was 'The Journey'... we woke them up at 4am (150 evil looks came my way!!), gave them milo then piled them all onto a bus (and a whole heap of Army vans - looked a hard case convoy down the motorway!!) and took them to Owhiro Bay. There, Sammy and Brent had arranged for a cross to be set up with glowsticks on the hill...we had to walk about 12-15mins to get to it. Liam, Nickee and Brent played and sung The Old Rugged Cross, then Brent spoke about the journey to the cross for Christ and Sammy spoke about the resurrection... wow! Powerful moments! We all grabbed a glowstick and then made the walk back. The weather held of perfectly - rained on the way home!

After letting them sleep and recover (a bit!), the morning session was a reminder that we can not only be prisoners because of how we're living and our choices but that we can also be prisoners in our minds by listening to Satan's lies. FREEDOM comes from Christ and He can bring FREEDOM in so many different ways!

Sunday night was incredible. Peter Whaanga came back and our youth were hungry for answers! He told why He is such a different man today - because of Christ - and then after sharing his conversion, the invitation was open and there weren't too many left in their seats. Decisions for Christ were made (Praise God!!) and a huge number of youth came seeking - seeking FREEDOM, seeking a closer relationship with Christ, repenting and getting things right - a move to live His FREEDOM better!

Monday was encouragement to take the FREEDOM they received from God on Sunday night back into their home settings - basically back into life with them. It was a reminder that this week was probably going to bring more challenges than they may have thought last night but not to forget that they will be victorious if they invite Christ into every decision, every choice and not deny Him or the work He did in their lives over the Easter weekend.

We closed the weekend with a testimony time - a time of telling others what God had done in our lives over the weekend. This was really good to see so many different people sharing. Lastly, our youth leaders stood up with their young people and they shared how God has challenged and grown them.

I LOVE being in this division with this bunch of youth. The leaders I had over the weekend were an amazing support to me and I learnt SO much from just watching them. The youth challenge me and make me want to get closer to God...weird huh?! - especially when thats one of the main things a DY probably wants for their youth! I hope that they feel that challenge as well.

...I'm just blown away by how things went this weekend. I had sooo much fun! I'm so tired I think it'll take another day to recover but it was ALL worth it! My team, you were AWESOME! To Eugene (aka Shaun) thankyou for being there over such an important time for me - you were an AMAZING support in ways that no-one else would have known. Thank you Lord, for showing up and having your way with our young people!