Report on the Retreat

Last weekend we had our first retreat of the project. It went well, I enjoyed it. So, I am gonna break it down into day by day thing:

Friday:
So, it took 2 1/2 hourse to get there. They rented vans and we left by 6:00pm (there was 3). So, during the trip we go to meet the speaker for the retreat: Sean (I forgot his last name). We ate at MacDonald's, I had my favourite: a Big Mac, fries and a Diet Coke.

When we got their the tents were already set up. So, I just went into the tent with my tent mates: Marianna, Angela, Kaitlyn, Katie, and Kelly. Where we were was right by a fresh water lake. Some of the girls went swimming the next morning, but I didn't (I don't like swimming in fresh water; only the ocean or a pool!).

For snack that night we had Jiffy Popcorn, Hot Chocolate, and a snack mix of peanuts, M&Ms Peanuts, Raisins, and pretzels. I stuck with the popcorn.

So we played a game where we had to find the staff members who were hiding within the forest around the campground. It was pitch black out and the stars were so beautiful. They defenately prove Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." I could see the the ursas (big and little dipper), but not Cassieopia (the W) due to tree blockage, but it was still beautiful.

After the game we went to bed and I was cold, my face felt as cold as a corpse when I touched and I woke up with a sore back! Morning did not come fast enough that night!

Saturday:
Breakfast was at 9:00, I woke up at 8:30 (I couldn't wait for 8:55am, which was the time my alarm was set too). It was good, we had bagels, muffins (I had 1 blueberry and 1 raisin bran muffin), oatmeal with rasins (I had some) and juices (I had apple).

At 10:00 it was quiet time. I read from my 7 minutes with the Holy Spirit book. Then at 11 was session #1.The theme this weekend was about 'Love'. Session #1 was about how Jesus is Love. Session 2 was after supper where we learned about how the Holy Spirit is Love inside us. I realized that during the first session because, as you know, I have been learning about the Holy Spirit.

After lunch we had games, and then free time. What did I do during my free time? I started reading through 2Kings, when I got to the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel I started to read Jonah, and Amos. Why? Because they served during the reign of Jeroboam II of the N.K. whom God allowed to be prosperous even though the nation was very sinful (idolatry, murder, deceit, etc.). 2Kings recorded the history, but I wanted to know what was happening to the Israelite on a more spiritual level so I read through the prophets. I finished Jonah who went to the Assyrians, and I read Amos (who went to the N.K. specifically) and I read and finished Hosea last night (also ministering in the N.K.).

Supper came, and then we did session #2. After the session we did sharing time. I didn't share anything, but a lot of people did and it was really encouraging. Then we roasted smores (I had 4, oh man were they goood). Although we had to do everything inside because it was pouring out (we even heard thunder claps once in a while). I slept alot better that night!!! Not only did we link sleeping bags so we could share heat, I also layered up a lot better. The only problem was that breakfast was at 8:30, so I couldn't sleep in a lot longer.

Sunday:
After breakfast we had our last session. It was talking about how to love through our actions. It was very inspirational. Then we had some quiet time and afterwards we packed up the tents and our stuff, had lunch, and then we drove back to Halifax.

And that was the retreat!!