Busier than the Easter Bunny!

There has been a bit of a lag in my blog postings lately. I realize that and I hope that it hasn't left you with nothing of interest to read! But, the lag corresponds directly with an upswing in the activities of other things in my life. The Easter holiday is a very different thing here in Alice than in Baltimore. Here it corresponds with a school break of 1-2 weeks. So it's a vacation weekend for a lot of kids and families. The youth group uses that weekend together with that break to go on a retreat. They call it "Easter Camp".
I was recruited to help out with this weekend by my friends and co-workers from church who were planning the event. I went along willingly but I wasn't really sure what it was going to be like. I don't help with youth group on a regular basis so I didn't really know any of the teens. I hadn't slept in a swag before but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to be as comfortable as my bed. I had been on youth retreats before and I remembered the haggard looks on the faces of some of the leaders whenever they were over. But, I also remembered the changes that had happened in my life and my faith whenever I went on those trips.
It was definitely a weekend to remember! We had an awesome time as a group, playing games, eating meals, listening to the challenge of God's Word, spending time in small groups. But there were also lots of times for a more personal one on one time with some of the students. It was challenging for me to be in such a direct leadership position and yet, I really liked it. The girls in my group were really fun and great to work with. Each one was different and yet we all had a lot in common.
Overall, the weekend was a totally great way to spend Easter, changing lives with Jesus!
Coming back was not easy. Of course, we were all pretty tired. I got home and decided to throw in a load of laundry before I crashed on the couch. This was a great idea and I even applauded my own self-motivation (I think I actually thought, this is what mom would recommend I do before I relax. But, there was one minor oversight in my plan.
The next day I was expecting to receive a text message. By the afternoon when I realized I had received no such message I decided I wasn't even really sure where my phone was (insert music indicating impending doom). I looked around my room for it and then a terrible realization sprung into my mind! I had it in the pocket of my shorts yesterday...
I'm sure the rest you can fill in for yourselves. I washed it and then dried it in the tumble dryer, twice. So that phone is long gone but, a solution presented itself so that is all good.

Anyhow, the whole weekend was a great reminder of why I do ministry, because Jesus is alive and people need to know it. It was also a reminder of the fact that this world and the things in it die, whether by natural causes or washing machine, and that the only answer to death is Jesus' victorious resurrection!

Thanks for reading,
Shannon