Celebration

This past weekend was Celebration - a huge gathering of youth groups in the Western Kentucky area.

It's setting is in the beautiful Land Between the Lakes at the Kentucky Dam Village State Park.

Photo by Kyle (check link for bigger size)

The students at the UCSC volunteer that weekend.

They work really hard doing the manual labor to make sure the weekend can happen.

They set up a thousand chairs, lots of banners, serve lunch and breakfast in the freezing cold

among many other things.

I loved serving with these guys and I'm so thankful Kyle and I get to be with them.

We got to sit in on lots of the lessons at the retreat during times we weren't busy. I was greatly blessed by being in them. The theme was "Reboot" and some of the main points were that you don't have to deal with things alone - you're not the only one who struggles with something no matter how bad it is. Lots of times we think we're the only one who does something and that no one will understand so we keep it inside and try to fight a lone, but that's just what the enemy wants us to do. It is so much more helpful to share with others (most of the time you figure out right there that you aren't the only one) so that you can encourage each other and keep one another accountable. This is similar to another point that was made which was we can and should reveal our true selves to each other and love each other - the whole naked and unashamed thing (Gen 2:25). I wish I could communicate these messages as well as the speakers did, but that's why I'm not a speaker ha :)

Worshiping with all the students was also wonderful.

I could definitely feel the spirit in that place...

Though it was a very tiring weekend, it was also a very encouraging one

and I'm so thankful I got to be a part of it.