As I stated in the last blog, the St. Luke Youth (aka SLY) went back up to Leadville to put on a retreat for middle schoolers in the community. It was a lot of fun again even though our numbers were much smaller this year. SLY really stretched themselves as their jobs & responsibilities changed daily. The view was gorgeous as always and there was a lot of fun playing games when it was free time. Tim worked with Peggy and Sarah to get work completed such as a concrete job, some painting jobs, bathroom work, and roof work. It’s amazing to watch the youth grow and take on the responsibilities to pull off a retreat like this. We had youth just now entering 6th grade up through college-aged and young adults – God is good ALL the time!
Wednesday night was talent show night and we booked 22 acts this year! It was awesome! So many of the youth danced, played music, sang, did comedy, and of course the adult sponsors couldn’t be left out so they showed their stuff as well! Thursday night was a special night. Tim wanted to give the youth a special dinner and talk about servanthood. All of the adults decorated the room with lights, candles, table cloths, real plates and silverware, and a special table for our three seniors – Becka, Darcy, and Ruth. Bob and Roger got ham from Eades’ meats and made salad and potato casserole along with some awesome cobbler. I spent some time with the kids doing verbal affirmations (holy moly it was a huge cryfest I didn’t anticipate) in the sanctuary as the adults prepared and served the meal. Whew! Time came up to the sanctuary and got small groups of youth and as they came downstairs they met Pastor Jim or Pastor Peggy who washed their feet. Everyone had their feet washed! After dinner Tim talked about servanthood and how important the work they do every year on these mission trips means to those they serve. It also means a lot to the members of St. Luke knowing they have helped teach these youth in a Christian environment. Of course the kids felt it was time for the adults to stand up and affirm us so we spent a lot of time crying Thursday night.
Friday we traveled to Denver (where we saw snow on the pass!) and enjoyed a day at Elitch Gardens. Everyone had so much fun and they had something for everybody there! Before heading to our hotel room we stopped at Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli for a fantastic sandwich. This particular restaurant is owned by the Botsonis family who had been very involved with SLY before they moved to Denver. Saturday we traveled home! What a week of fun we had! I heard several youth say next year we needed to do disaster work…
Wednesday night was talent show night and we booked 22 acts this year! It was awesome! So many of the youth danced, played music, sang, did comedy, and of course the adult sponsors couldn’t be left out so they showed their stuff as well! Thursday night was a special night. Tim wanted to give the youth a special dinner and talk about servanthood. All of the adults decorated the room with lights, candles, table cloths, real plates and silverware, and a special table for our three seniors – Becka, Darcy, and Ruth. Bob and Roger got ham from Eades’ meats and made salad and potato casserole along with some awesome cobbler. I spent some time with the kids doing verbal affirmations (holy moly it was a huge cryfest I didn’t anticipate) in the sanctuary as the adults prepared and served the meal. Whew! Time came up to the sanctuary and got small groups of youth and as they came downstairs they met Pastor Jim or Pastor Peggy who washed their feet. Everyone had their feet washed! After dinner Tim talked about servanthood and how important the work they do every year on these mission trips means to those they serve. It also means a lot to the members of St. Luke knowing they have helped teach these youth in a Christian environment. Of course the kids felt it was time for the adults to stand up and affirm us so we spent a lot of time crying Thursday night.
Friday we traveled to Denver (where we saw snow on the pass!) and enjoyed a day at Elitch Gardens. Everyone had so much fun and they had something for everybody there! Before heading to our hotel room we stopped at Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli for a fantastic sandwich. This particular restaurant is owned by the Botsonis family who had been very involved with SLY before they moved to Denver. Saturday we traveled home! What a week of fun we had! I heard several youth say next year we needed to do disaster work…
