Fuel

This weekend I went to a youth convention in Indiannapolis. I left at 4am and arrived at about 5:30pm. It was exhausting, but awesome. I probably knew about 30 our of about 150 youth pastors. I didn't realize that there would be anyone there that I knew, but it was so refreshing for me to visit with old friends. It's amazing the impact a person can have on you when you only know them for a short period of time. Most of the people I knew were from youth camps that I've been to over the years. I only spent about 5 days with all those people and it was awesome how connected I felt to each of them. It made me think of how important it is to take every opportunity to pour into the lives of others. You never know how much of an impact you can make. The speakers at the Fuel Convention were awesome and I feel like my vision and my passion was restored. It's always difficult to start a life somewhere new and make all new friends and have to build relationships from the ground up so this time with other youth pastors and old friends really refreshed me. It was great to see you again Ben (and Loretta doesn't know you well enough for me to be embarased that you were my best friend so it was ok for you to say that ;)

I also made a surprise visit to Hayward on Sunday. I love seeing the look of surprise on people's faces and I got to see many of them. Not to mention the flood of hugs I recieved. It was so good seeing everyone and I think that was the best game of signs EVER! Hey Adam, "You can't do that, that's my sign." Good times, good times. Love you guys, see you again sometime soon.

Update

It's been two weeks since I've started my new job as youth pastor. It's been a lot of fun getting to know new people even though I miss old friends a lot. In the past week I've had dreams about people from Hayward, New York, Bethany, and Grand Manan it's been really weird because some of them have been mixed together. Youth group is going great so far. Before I came Sunday school averaged about six, but since I've been here we've had between ten and twelve. Wednesday nights have also had ten both weeks. I have two awesome leaders that have a passion for the youth and are a huge help to me. Since there's a sup-section of the church that's the "youth area" (a new name is on the way) I've been opening it up after school for the teens to come and hang out. So far I've had anywhere between 3 and 10 teens come and just chill. We've been working together to paint my office which has been a huge sacrifice for some of the teens because they really liked the paint job it originally had. It was all black with neon words everywhere. We painted it purple, but it was way too light and looked terrible, so we spongue painted a darker purple over it and it's a lot better now. Next we'll add some bright colors to it to lighten it up a bit. The window use to be boarded up, but now that's taken out so it's a lot brighter in there. This weekend I'm going to start taking some teens out for hot cocoa and some one on one time. So, in a nut shell that's where I am right now. Oh and just in case you're wondering (because everyone asks) there's no one my age here at all, so yes I am still very much single. The three questions people ask me when they first meet me, "where are you from?" "how did you end up in Wisconsin?" and "are you here alone, or (awkwardly) with a husband?" Let me tell you, there is no time for a man in my life. They're too distracting and time consumming, so being single right now is good.

Hayward, Oh Hayward

Hayward, oh Hayward how much I love thee.
Those eight months with you meant so much to me.
The games, the pranks, the swims in the lake.
I laughed so hard how my stomach did ache.
I miss those cold fingers gently squeezing my throut.
And those wonderful gestures made at us while in Ben's boat.
I'm taking this time to say thanks for those days
A smile overtakes me as i picture your face.
Don't ever forget my vommitting sign
or the drama's we did that were quite like mimes.
Remember to drink daily from the well,
It quenches your thirst and saves you from hell.
You'll be in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers
The best place to die will always be the stairs.

I love you guys so much and can't wait to see you at Planet Wisdom!