the retreat

Be sure to mark your calendars the weekend of November 18-21. We are having a retreat. In case you hadn't noticed, that is the weekend before Thanksgiving. We wanted an excuse for everyone in the youth group to get together for a couple of days...no matter where you are living right now!

So, here are some details:

• While the retreat is Friday-Monday, you can come and go when you need to. Some students will arrive Friday night...some on Saturday morning. Some students will leave Sunday night...others will leave on Monday. We understand that everyone's situation is different right now. Let us know what works for you...and we will plan accordingly.
• The retreat will be at Kingsland in Franklinton, LA. It is about an hour and a half north of New Orleans. Kingsland is a small, family-owned camp. We will be the only group there. We will be sleeping in tents (oh yeah!).
• Everyone who attends needs to bring: (1) enough clothes for however many days they are staying, (2) sleeping bag, (3) towel/washcloth/toiletries, (4) a modest swimsuit (just in case...), and (5) a bible & pen.
• The retreat theme is RECESS. The past couple of months has made us all grow up a little too fast. Have we lost something in the midst of all of this?
• The cost will be $25. (holy cow. that's cheap.)

So, if you can come, please let me or Clay Schuler (home # 393-7003) know ASAP. The quicker we know who is coming, the better we can plan.

Also, if you have any camping supplies that we can borrow (tents, lanterns, collapsible chairs, etc.), please let Clay know.

I'll post more details as they come...

youth group update

So...many of you are wondering what is going on with our youth group. Well, currently we have about 10 teenagers who are located in the New Orleans area (come back!). We met each of the two past Wednesdays...once at Kev's and once at our house. We plan on meeting each Wednesday in someone's home until further notice.

As for activities, the big thing we are planning is a retreat the weekend of November 18-20. That is the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you are located out of the New Orleans area...then this retreat is your excuse to come home and see everyone for a weekend! We will give you more details as soon as we know it. For now...mark your calendars.

If you are back in the New Orleans area and I have somehow missed you...please call me on my cell at 504-975-7570.

I am tired and energized

Wow. What a week! I hope I can find the time to write more about all that has happened this week. We have had three work teams...45 people...this week. This is just the beginning. We helped so many people. I am dumbfounded by the doors that have opened for us to minister. The Cedarville University work team that is coming next week will have the opportunity to help rebuild Ben Franklin High School. Yeah, that Ben Franklin. My alma mater.

Anyway, our first youth group meeting since Katrina was this past Wednesday night. We had Jonathan G, Stephanie T, Jared K, Andrew R, Kaleb A, Jessica R. We met at Kev's house, ate pizza and talked about what our lives have been like for the past couple of weeks. Good times. We plan on getting together this Sunday afternoon to hang out at my house. We will probably watch some of the Saints game. We might head over to the Eastbank so that we can see the 17th St. Canal and London Ave. Canal breaks. I saw them this week with the youth group from St. Louis. It was jaw dropping.

Speaking of the youth group from St. Louis...they were AWESOME! It made me miss youth ministry. It was a team of about 25 (adult leaders and students). They worked hard and had a wonderful experience. I loved getting to know them. They have a leader named Joy who reminds me of Kelly (I miss you Kelly!). They even call her "Momma Joy." How great is that?

I'll write more soon. I am tired. I am stressed. I am excited. God is moving in an amazing way. I can't believe I get to do this. This is the experience of a lifetime.