Harvest 2009 Youth Winter Retreat

Hey guys, sorry for not updating in a long time. I've just been pretty swamped and haven't had time to sit down and update which is surprising because we're on winter break but..... yea. So without further a due.....

     Two times a year, Harvest is blessed enough to have their annual summer and winter retreat. From December 21-24, Harvest went on their 2009 Youth Winter Retreat at the Lakewood Retreat Center. It was truly a time of un-ending blessings and praise to God. We had an amazing speaker, Pastor Byung Ham (Pastor B) from Baltimore and our praise was led by our very own Pastor Albert. This retreat was filled with overflowing blessing and a constant example of how much Christ loves us.

This was one of our ice breakers and as you can see, some of us really got into the game.

At our retreats, we have 12 small groups and 6 teams. Within each team, they compete against other teams in games, skits, and other activities. One activity was to create a team name and create a skit based on certain criteria of one type of animal and a movie (i.e. monkeys & The Titanic). This skit was based off of the criteria of "Sloths and The Grudge."

Another game was to try and build the tallest/strongest structure with paper, tape and a balloon... obviously this team failed.

So this game required a lot of physical work. Basically, you have one balloon tied to one leg and you have to go around and try and pop other peoples' balloons BUT keep yours from getting popped.

Team preparation for some outside games.

The point of this game was to direct your team mates, while they're blindfolded, to find your team's designated object for your team.

This game is called magic shoes. You basically have to get your team across the field BUT each person can only go across once ON THEIR FEET but they can also only be carried across twice. Kind of confusing....

This game required you to put panty hose over your head and eat apple sauce through the panty hose.

Every year, each team has to come up with a skit based on a certain criteria and within a certain time limit.

Another skit

Our pastors during our Q&A session. Pastor B (left), Pastor DL (middle), and Pastor Albert (right)

Group picture

     Overall, it was an amazing time. People were blessed beyond measure and lives were extremely changed through the power of Christ. As we've come back from the retreat, please pray that our hearts would not be on a spiritual roller coaster but that our love for Christ and the immensity of our passion to worship him would be made permanent. Too many times do we come back from the retreat replenished and refueled but that fire for Christ soon dies after about a week or two so let's really pray that our passion for Christ would burn strong that we may live in Christ everyday. May we make Christ a person in our lives, not a product.

In the song "Hosanna" written by Hillsong United, there is a portion of verse 2 and a part of the bridge that just speaks so clearly and I pray everyday that this would come true in my life and the life of Harvest.

Verse 2:

I see a generation

Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

Bridge:
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I walk from earth into
Eternity

Let's really pray that this would come true in our lives today.