Fall Retreat 2004
October 19, 2004

    Who ever heard of a banana trying to become an apple?  Funny question, and yet, everywhere I turn there is a mindset of working hard to become something or someone we were never designed to be.  October 9th-11th our team, along with 19 students, had the opportunity to just “be,” as we went on a retreat two-and-half hours away from home.

    Retreat is a fitting word for our experience, as it was definitely needed.  We were able to retreat from the “busyness” of life, the pain of broken families, and trying to fit in.  The plan was to have no agenda.  The students had the freedom to choose how they spent their time, coupled with an understanding of maturity, trust and responsibility, all of which they handled well.  The weekend included optional teaching lessons and a group time focusing on the book of John chapters 14 and 15.  The students spent time digging through these two chapters discovering the reality of who they are in their relationship with Jesus Christ and teaching one another through sharing personal insights.  The weekend was a time where each person could, with all their quirks and personal amusements, know how unique they are and yet be recreated in the image of the One who created them—they discovered real community in Christ.