Pine Cove- Trick or Treat

The theme of the Watermark Youth Retreat this year was trick or treat. A fitting theme since it was over Halloween weekend.

Day 1: We got to Pine Cove around 10:00pm on Friday night and changed into our Halloween costumes. We had our first "club" which consisted of upbeat worship music and a crazy rules video that David and Bode came up with. Afterwards we played a "trick or treat" game which resembled capture the flag but instead of a flag the kids had to make it to a leader on the opposite side and ask us "trick or treat". We had to alternate "trick" and "treat". "Treat" consisted of a ticket that they had to turn in for points and "trick" consisted of flour, shaving cream, silly string or whipped cream being sprayed/thrown on them.

Wesleigh (fairy), Faith (elf), Sarah (Sarah Palin), Me (rainbow), Izzy (Izzy bottle), Lauren (Izzy bottle), Cali (Hershey Kiss), Melissa (lightning), Sydney (vampire) The Storm: Lightning, Pot of Gold, Rainbow, Sun, Rain, Rain, Thunder Me and Melissa getting ready for the trick or treat game... Game face ON.
Katie, Me, Sarah... After the game.

Day 2: We had 2 Club sessions on Saturday that were both amazing. The first one talked through Genesis 3:1-9. David talked about how Satan tricks us into sinning and how sin draws us away from the Lord through shame and guilt. He ended on the truth that God always seeks us (Gen 3:9) despite our sin.

The second club consisted of two leader testimonies, communion and an open mic for the students. Around 50 students got up and shared what the Lord was doing in their lives during the weekend, or the struggles/trials they have endured in the past. It was a very powerful evening that I will not soon forget.

Our group at breakfast.

During free time two of our girls wanted to do the zip line so Melissa and I each got to zip with a girl. I was pretty scared from the top of the zip line but it was over soon enough and totally worth it!

Sydney and Melissa Me and Wesleigh
Zip on!

Saturday night we played Recon, which is quite possibly the best game ever. The kids had to make it through the woods in the dark to the tower where they would change their Cheerio for a Fruit Loop or the secret bunker where they would get a Frosted Flake. The leaders were all in the forest to stop the kids. When we would see a kid trying to pass we would tell them to freeze and either crush their Cheerio or make them do something to regain it. At first we were all crushing but as the game progresses we were supposed to let them earn back their Cheerio. It was great fun. I had kids doing interpretive dance while singing "I'm a little teapot" or "twinkle twinkle little star". Amazingly entertaining, though I am not quite sure the kids liked it as much.

Day 3: The last Club used Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (the quest for the Holy Grail) to teach the kids three challenges related to the three challenges Indy faced to find the grail: (1) Only the Penitent man will pass (2) Walking on the Word of God (3) Leap from the Lion's Head - leap of faith. The final challenge to the kids was that they must choose wisely meaning they should drink from the cup of life (Christ) instead of the other cups that lead to death (sin). It was a great analogy that will hopefully stick with the kids for a long time.

We had some great bonding time and I got to know these precious girls even better over the three days. I can't wait to see where the Lord brings them in the next few years.