Camp New Generation

So, on July 11 we took 8 rising 7th graders to Tepic for a one-day camp to welcome them into the youth group. This was something we tasked our four new student leaders with planning and executing. We had a great van ride, and upon arriving we headed toward a public park where all the events took place. The leaders (Chuy, Jose Luis, Martin, and Sandy) had planned several team-building games and then some small group time to debrief about those games. At first the 8 new students were pretty quiet. Each one had at least one friend with them on the trip, but as a group they weren't very interactive. It didn't take long, however, once the games began to break the ice and get them laughing together.

The four student leaders welcome the New Generation students and introduce themselves.

The Toilet Paper game: Each one takes a few squares and then has to share something about themself for each square they took.

Newspaper Name game: person in the middle has to hit the person on the head whose name is called out before that person calls out someone else's name.


Back to Back: Each group links arms back to back. Then they must stand up together without letting go of their arms.


TP Nose Roll: they had to roll the tp roll up and back again with their noses.

Banana Game: they each hold one hand and have to peel and eat a banana in the other. The first to finish wins.

Straws: each has two straws, one inside the cup and one outside the cup. Both straws must be inside the mouth. The first to drink the whole cup of water wins.

Small Group time: there were two groups of four new students and 2 leaders. The leaders of the first group are Chuy (green shirt) and Jose Luis (orange shirt). The leaders of the second group are Martin and Sandy.

While the kids were in their small groups talking about their game experiences, Steve, Gena, and I were making lunch: turkey "tortas", which are kind of like deli subs. We had a good time not running everything and enjoyed our tasks of WATCHING, TAKING PICTURES, and MAKING LUNCH. All three of us remarked about how nice it was to NOT being in charge for once. We are excited for the growth we're seeing in our student leaders and the leadership they are taking on more and more, but I think it's also really great to know that there are now more shoulders to help share the burden of dreaming, planning, and executing the vision that the Lord has given us for this youth ministry. God is certainly faithful in providing for His plans!

Making lunch!

Lunch was very relaxed, and it was neat to see the student leaders spread out among the kids talking to them and getting to know them even better, and not just with the ones that they already knew. After lunch, we cleaned up and then the student leaders took the kids to a quiet area of the park where Martin shared a devotion he had prepared. Then all four of the student leaders gave short testimonies about their what it was like for each of them when they first started attending the youth group activities. They were honest about how different it was for them from what they had been used to or about how they felt a little out of place at first, but they also shared with them that how the Lord really worked in their hearts and lives through the relationships they made there. They encouraged these new students to stay involved and make friends reminding them that the Lord would use this time to grow them in many ways. It was a really neat time!

Devotion time

Once the day's programed events were completed, we headed over to the mini zoo next door to the park. It's free, and there were lots of little street vendors and some really cool animals to gawk at. The kids all had a good time, and they all intermingled pretty well. Once we finished touring the mini zoo, we took some time to just play in the park. Of course, a soccer game was begun, and it wasn't long before everyone was playing. Everyone was exhausted from a full and energetic day, so they slept on the ride home. It was a light day in many ways when we compare it to other youth activities we plan. However, it was effective. We continue to see most of those 8 if not all of them involving themselves 100% in other youth activities, and we see how they look up to the student leaders as friends and role models. We're excited for the relationships that the Lord is building there, and look forward to how He will continue to work in our youth as a result of what He started that day!