After the High School Senior graduation barbecue on June 7, I and the six graduates and three chaperones headed to the coast for a one night camp out at South Beach State park.  The purpose was to celebrate graduation and have some fun, but it was also designed to have some time for serious reflection on God, church life, and transition out of high school.   Each graduate received a journal in which they responded to some reflection questions and in which other graduates could write words of encouragement.   One of the exercises we did was for the teens to look through their own copy of the church directory and identify several people who have impact their lives significantly during their time in High School.  We then spent some time around the campfire sharing those people’s names and why they were significant for our spiritual development   It was powerful for me to hear many our church members mentioned as having had a great impact on these teens’ lives.    Thank you.

After smores, singing, cards, and more laughter everyone headed to the yurts for sleep.  The next day we had some good time together, playing disc golf, visiting, and of course going to the beach.  But, as is often the case, the wind was so strong that everyone spent the rest of the day picking sand out of hair and other places.    Although it was short, it was a fun time to get away and reflect.

We want to express thanks to those who made the Yurt trip possible, specifically the Youth Steering Committee, which first came up with the idea back at one of the winter meetings.  We also want to say thank you to our chaperones, Erin and Devin Chaney and Grant Long.  A special word of thanks to the member of the Keizer Church who generously donated $300 to pay for the meals and other expenses of the trip.  This donation was a tangible reminder to the teens of just how much support they have received throughout the years from their church family.  We hope this will be a new tradition for the Keizer ministry to teens.  Please pause for a minute today and pray for God’s blessing on each of these graduates:  Cassie, Carrie, Lydia, Makyra, Nick, & Evan.  DTW