Big Youth Weekend

7.18.08
I spent the morning getting everything ready for youth group tonight while the groups did some last day shopping and touring around Leon. We got to Candelaria around 1 this afternoon and the group visited homes and Morgan held his last first aid class. Tommy went to Chinadega and was successful in getting Pastor Pablo’s motorcycle. About half of the group went with Big O to a public high school in Chichigalpa beside the big baseball stadium and got to minister to 3 different classes. We all had dinner at the bloquera and returned for an amazing youth event.

We had some relay races in extra clothes and some water games. Daniel and Kervin played keyboard, with Tommy on drums and Joel on bass for our best worship time to date. The kids were extremely enthusiastic and it setup a great message from Big O. The kids gave him great attention and many kids were touched.

7.19.08
We all came back to Leon after the youth event near 10 pm and some of us stayed up until the bus left for the airport at 2:30. I rode along so that the driver, Pablo, would have someone riding home with him from 4:30-6:30. We got the group to the airport and they prepared for their flight out at 6 am. I went to sleep around 7 am and slept until mid afternoon. This evening I caught a bus out to Candelaria for their youth service and spend the night. About 7 of the youth guys stay in the church every night to make sure no one is stealing from the garden or bodega over night, and I wanted to stay a night. There is an all day youth event tomorrow with City of God church in Chichigalpa that starts at 6 am, so I needed to be out here anyways.

7.20.08
We woke up at 5 am and left Candelaria at 5:30 to meet City of God Church and bus out to the ranch for the all day event “My New Heart.” Pastor David and his wife invited 40 youth from Candelaria to join their 60 youth in full day together. The morning included verse memorization, dramas, and testimony and prayer in small groups. Then around 20 youth shared their testimonies in front of the entire group with a lot of forgiveness, hugs, and tears. It was a very powerful morning as so many of these young adults have a lot of stored hate in their hearts. We had a break for lunch and then had some dance time and a beauty pageant. 2 sister from Candelaria came in first and second place. The day at the ranch ended with some awards and prizes before the busses returned to City of God Church for an evening service. Some of the youth shared their testimonies in front of the whole church and their parents, and then Tommy shared some bible verses and a message about not caring what others think.

7.21.08
Scarleth, Leo, and I had the day off and bussed out to the beach for the afternoon. I spent most of the day napping in a hammock catching up from the long weekend and 10 days of the group being here. We have a group coming Friday from IHBC of Charlotte, NC so we will spend the next few days getting things ready for their arrival.