So here we go...a short final post from HUME/SD 2011

We are off to the beach where at least one student (Alex Berthusen) will be getting baptized...next to leading a person in their prayer as the receive Christ, is the blessing of being able to baptise someone...can't wait!

Had a neat time with Brian Kitson, my former campus life director from high school, being a last minute guy counselor for us this week. What an awesome thing to share with a guy who played a HUGE role in my comittment and walk with Christ...so thankful for Brian. He came by my room last night and had some neat words of encouragement and affirmation, from the unique perspective of knowing me for so long. I love that guy :)

Another special way I was blessed yesterday, as the camp called all of the youth pastors to the stage to let their churches know where we'd be doing our "Church Time", which they reserve for the teaching time on Thursday morning. The youth pastor standing next to me?? One of my former youth, who is now a youth pastor himself. Pretty cool. I'd seen him a number of times at camp, and we'd talked and hung out already, but still just a neat moment to stand side-by-side with him in front of youth together.

There truly are many, many thoughts that I want to write out...so if I'm awake, I'll write one more P.S. on Saturday...if I don't end up writing, then know this...this has been one of the best weeks of camp I've ever been involved with.

Pray for safety as we head home! Hope to be there by 5:00-6:00pm

GOD RULZ!

TN

Had a great time at the Padre game...had quite the adventure getting back on public transportation...had to run a block to catch a bus, but we made it :) ...oh, and the Padres won!

Youth Pastor dinner was really great. Got to touch base with some friends that I haven't seen in about 365 days (since the last dinner)...

Evening meeting was awesome as usual...a chance mainly for the Christian students to really evaluate their walk, and make decisions to simply stop doing the things they know they shouldn't be doing, or to start doing the things they know they should be doing...a number of our students made that choice tonight! Lots of personal decision stuff going on, God is def moving!

Our "guys only" time was yet another hi-lite for me personally. I don't mean to disrespect ladies in any way shape or form, but I want to try and explain something about us guys....there is a thing that happens when we as guys get to a point of humilty, and we are able to lay down our walls and be real with each other, that is simply the sweetest feeling we could have.

You see, despite whatever label or mask we try to put up, deep down, every guy wants to have a "Johnathon", like David had in 1 Samuel. We want a guy we can just sit and not say a word with, and know that he absolutely understands everything we're saying.

Tonight, a lot of those walls are starting to come down. To see the way these guys are bonding would do any movie proud. My prayer is that they can keep it up, that they can stay true to the commitments they've made to become crazy in love with Jesus...

After that...Roberto's run! Dropped about $250 on food (fortunately I had snagged the menu on Monday, so I called it ahead). SO GOOD! Everybody finally got to bed about 2:00 or so...most of them said they'd be at the Optional Dawn Patrol at 7:00am...we'll see :)

Great Race tomorrow for Rec...then gonna get some body surfing in during the afternoon...Peace!

TN