So this past weekend was absolutely incredible. I got to go as a Chaperone on Team Survival Challenge (TSC) with the Bethel United Methodist Students (BUMS), which is the group I interned for this summer. I was so excited for this trip, not only becasue I would get to see some of my best friends, but also because I was excited about a good chance to get a break from school and just go enjoy myself for a weekend.
Team Survival Challenge is a trip in which the youth, and parents of the youth, come together at Awanita Valley to compete in fun, silly, and sometimes strenuous games, competing against each other to win the coveted prize, which is 12 lbs of candy and getting to sign the box! This was my 4th TSC, but my first as a chaperone. College Students who are BUMS alumni come back to be the captains of the youth teams. Every year I have been on this trip, I have always been on the purple team. It all started the very first year, when I was team Purple Nurple, and we had a blast. So I have pretty much begged every year to be the Purple Team since then, and Chad complied. So I came back this year, and we were team Purple Rain.
The weekend started off quite well, as my team won the first three events to jump out to an early lead. This kind of set the tone for the whole weekend, and every team kind of had it out for us in game number 4, in which we came in last. But it was all good, my team was out there, having a blast, just doing our thing. One thing I stressed to my team all weekend was that no matter what, win or loss, we were going to have fun, and be happy about it. My team complied, and we did have an absolute blast.
The weekend continued with many more fun games, including the annual boat race, a home run derby with a spatula as a bat and marshmallows as a baseball, torpedo, warball, bucket ball, and many many more. My team kept competing, and we pretty much stayed middle of the road for the weekend. Placing somewhere between 2nd to 4th for about every game. It came down to the last game, and we knew we were close on the score. We finished tied for 1st in the last game, but we still were not sure where that left us for the weekend.
Finally the time came, and they announced the winners, and it was Team Purple Rain!!!! It was so cool to finally win, after every other year, I had not had that happen. But regardless, as always, the candy was shared among the entire youth group. After all, who could eat 12 lbs of candy anyways? It was a such a great weekend. Shout out to my team, which consisted of Sam, Erin, Jordan, Jillian, Alex, Kent, Patrick and Sally. They were all absolutely awesome, and I had a blast hanging out with you guys this weekend. And thank you for finally letting me get my name on that box. Its been a long time coming! Also, shout out to Chad Deetz for continuing to be the awesome youth pastor that he is, and leading great trips like this. It was so great to spend some more time with the BUMS, which are pretty much my second family.
This weekend once again emphasized how important it is to be surrounded by a solid body of believers around you. I was so encouraged by not only my team this past weekend, but also all of the other youth on this trip, as well as the parents who came out and competed all weekend as well!
Colossians 3:14-16: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
