I'm sorry, I had started to report yesterday, but I honestly don't know what happened. Got distracted doing something. So, here you go, for all of you who have been checking daily for a report - here's your report from Spark 2007.
I know I probably say this every time I am a part of something like this, but this truly was an amazing weekend. And really for so many different reasons.
I was at the Lindley's house (to most of you that means nothing) with 7th grade girls. Let me begin by explaining the amazingness of this house!!! They live out in the outskirts of Houston and have acreage. It is beautiful and peaceful out there. You truly do get away from it all. This family has a game room (with 2 arcade video games), 5 horses, a heated pool/hot tub, trampoline, pond, 4 wheelers, and even a pit for bonfires! And the best part is that they truly view it as a gift from God and they just want to fill their house with people and love and minister to them. During free time we did it all, it was a blast!
So, about my group, well, 4 out of the 7 girls in my group this year were in my group last year. That was cool. Having previous relationships with them was cool. I wasn't sure what they would think about that, but they seemed excited!
The curriculum was awesome. We did Loui Giglio's Wired study. It's based on the idea of living a life of worship and learning about how we are all wired to worship! Seriously, it spoke truths into my life. That's the thing, I always feel like I sometimes take more away than the girls do. But I think they got it. We had good sessions and I hope they took something away from it. Often times it's hard to tell, but hopefully it invoked change in their lives. That is my prayer.
Also, the Sunday night service was focused on the cross, man it was awesome. Reminded me some of the service that we had when I was a Jr in High school and out D-Now was focused on The Wonderful Cross - to this day I still LOVE that song! Anywho, both services were awesome, man, the cross speaks volumes!
It was a great weekend with some very memorable moments: 5 girls hiding in the dad's closet during a game of sardines, jumping in the 55 degree pool (the heater wasn't working), riding their horses, an 8 yr old driving us in the golf cart on a real street, getting to know the host moms (there was a co-host mom that also spent the weekend with us), and the hilarious game of "Scary Daddy" where the host dad chased the girls and they screeched through the house!!!
All in all, a great and exhausting weekend! Sorry it got so long winded, but you asked for it. Props to those of you who read the whole thing.
Oh, and Jana, I don't think Katy was ever my leader. I'm pretty sure she was a leader at your house one year and then you had my age group at your house the next year...
Here are some pics from the weekend:
Some of the girls and I before we jumped in the 55 degree pool!!!
Jumping in the pool!
Me, riding Jr, the horse.
Driving around the subdivision, collecting can goods.
Super Duper: going to see Katy, Blake & Brady on Thursday!
Super Pooper: a lady turned down Hannah Montana tickets that I could have had to take Ashlyn to the rodeo to see them in concert!!!
