Thursday, November 4, 2004

   Fall Retreat!
... was last weekend. Here's the report:

We got there on Friday night, registered, and pitched a tent... hung out in the registration area... didn't really meet anyone there, but said hi to the people I did know and then we pitched the tent my friend and I were sleeping in (it was really dark out) and drove out to the place the meetings were at (we outgrew the regular place from last year and had to meet at a high school... which was actually really nice.) We had worship and then the speaker gave his testimony and then we broke up into discussion groups. Which we didn't know what exactly we were supposed to discuss, but we did a little game (two truths and a lie... they got my lie right away). there was a girl from my dorm I didn't know! She came because she wanted to meet more girls (she mostly had guy friends)... she's really sweet and so hopefully she will come to cell group and stuff in the future.

And then we went back and it was pretty late and we just had hanging out time in the lodge. During that time I got my bag of stuff down to the tent and then went back up to the lodge and talked to some people. Well I wound up at one table with the new girl, and Brian (my discussion group co-leader), and a guy I didn't know before. Brian and the girl were pretty much having a two-way conversation, but other guy introduced himself and we started talking for a while. He asked if I had been on summer project with Crusade. I hadn't, and I can't this summer because of summer practicum for my major conflicting with it. Then he mentioned STINT (short-term international) with Crusade, which is a longer-term project most people do after they graduate. Asked if I had considered it, which I have only in the vaguest sense because one of my leaders from last year is on STINT now. So then he asks what countries I would go to if I would choose. Again, I hadn't thought about it much which is good because when I think about stuff like that too much it becomes my plan instead of God's plan. So right off my head I said England. Because I do know it, but I can relate to the culture. I really wish I had been more active about it when I lived there. And now that I'm really equipped for this sort of thing it'd be much better. The sentiments there about God and morality just breaks my heart. That's about it. My second choice would be Colombia. Very dangerous place to be an American, but I think that the need there is pretty great as well. Anyway, I was amazed that I was talking about this with a complete stranger, but it was something I needed to talk out so I'm glad he was there. Hopefully I'll get to know the guy a little better before he graduates.

Then when Brian was getting up and leaving he told me to laugh a lot over the weekend, because it's still like one of his favorite things. Awww. Basically, there is a story about that, but to make it short, I met Brian last year because my chair fell over backwards. I started laughing pretty hard (I laugh loudly and I'm told my laugh is really unique/funny), and a day or two later he found me and we talked a bit and he basically said he heard me laugh and thought "I have to meet this girl"... Anyhow, I thought it was really sweet and I tried to do my best!

So right after that I went to sleep in the tent. It rained pretty hard that night, but the tempterature was ok. I had very little between me and the gravel on the ground, but I slept pretty well anyway. In the morning the feet of my (borrowed) and my friend's sleeping bags were quite wet. Got up, had breakfast (biscuits and gravy - yum!) and went to the morning meeting. Our speaker talked about the story of Jesus... the pith of it and the beautiful way that it is told. We got our group together so we knew where to meet when we got back. Most of my girls were later. Shame on them. Just kidding, we didn't really set a time to be there, they just got there last. I was actually there first anyway. (by the way, the discussion groups were organized by dorm, so there were a few girls from my dorm and a few guys from my co-leader's dorm) We had a good conversation about the storytelling and why we have the task of telling the story, etc. Helped that we had questions to ask. Unfortunately one of the guys was sick and on cough medicine that I think may have interfered his comprehension of one part, but I think he got it without too much fuss.

Then we had lunch, and some free time. Little did I know it, but I was supposed to go to a talent show informational meeting during that time. But I did get to go out in a canoe briefly. A friend and I went on this leaky craft. Before we had it in the water he says "we're taking on water". I didn't comprehend that he actually meant there was a hole in the boat that water was coming through. So we were maybe 50 feet out into the lake when I notice the water coming into the boat at a bit of an alarming rate! "ummm... yeah, it IS leaking. Let's go back." so we paddled back...

About 40 minutes later we went to womens' time and the guys went to mens' time. That was ok, but frankly the lady we had talking was very repetitive and I don't like some of the analogies she drew, so I was a bit bored. Anywho, we went back, had dinner, and then went to the next speaker session. Shortly before leaving I talked to one of the people in charge of the talent show and he said since my talent was really quick it wouldn't be a problem. So we went to the session, and he talked about running the race in such a way as to win the prize. Really cool because he was talking about the time he qualified to run in the Boston Marathon.

After that, we had a little time for a "summer project fair". Sort of like a science fair but with Cru summer projects. At first I just stuck around the summer projects I knew people who went to... That was cool and all, but when I followed someone over to one table where a guy who went to Hawaii for project. He was talking to her (who is raising support to be on staff here), but what he said got to ME. I really have to go on summer project. I'll get one chance so I'll have to make it count and trust the will of God for where to go.

Then we had the talent show! Much talent was displayed there in many different ways... skits, songs, random things. What I did was my cat impressions. I just did four different ones. The kitten, the cat running up the stairs, the purr (yes I can, if I try, make a purr-like sound on both outward and inward breaths), and the claustophobic cat (the grand finale, everyone loves that). That fits the category of "random things". Anyway, afterward, I hugged my friend who was right by the stage (her band, The Leftovers, had their first performance. It was cool!) and then walking back to my seat I got a hug from my co-leader, and when I got back to my seat they were very excited for me .

After the talent show, we had some extra optional worship time that I stayed for all but the last song. That was really great and really intense and by that time most of us were losing our voices, so it was really cool that nobody cared how we sounded but just that we were praising God.

Then we went back to play capture the flag. It was disappointing because the rules weren't explained too well and both sides were cheating. So then we went to sleep. It was REALLY cold out. I woke up several times to find a more energy-conserving position. When I woke up I had my legs crossed Indian style and the top of the bag was over my head and I got my poncho in there somehow and I was sort of sideways... strangely enough being cold was my only complaint. No back problems or anything.

Sunday morning had a light breakfast with hot chocolate. Then went to the morning meeting, a worship service, and the speaker talked about the glory of God and how He's dangerous, but also good. That was important for me to hear. However much danger He puts me in, His goodness means He'll never leave me. Quite a comforting thought, because I am still very afraid. Afraid of what my parents will think, afraid of relationships that don't work right, etc...

And I just noticed that the summer project fair was not Saturday night, but Sunday morning after the speaker talked.

Then we had a sharing time. ABC - Audible, Brief, Christ-centered. It was great to see a friend or two go up there. One girl I know said what had been somewhere in my mind the whole time. That she realized how much she is loved, and how much she loves us all. It was awesome to see how God has been working in so many people this weekend.

We had a little more worship time and then broke to pack up and leave. I didn't want to go, but I knew that since everyone else was leaving and going back to school if I wanted to hang out with them I had to leave too.

So now I'm back, and really excited, and people are still talking about my "talent" with the cat impressions and it is totally awesome. I actually just realized that it's not high school anymore. People aren't going to tell me I can't sit with them at random meals. No matter how cool they are or how ridiculous I am. For some reason I've been told that, but just now as I'm thinking to write this I realise the truth in it. And I am so glad.
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