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

So here's some of the current random thoughts...as my mind wanders...

As counselors, we know some of the ways that God might use us this week. We are prepared to be with students, hang with them, be there FOR them...yet it's always fun and such a joy when God gives us those "extra" ways to be used. Whether it's a conversation with a student that we may have thought we didn't "connect" with, or a completely fresh view from a speaker, or whatever, always fun to see that we as counselors can grow too :)

Praying for my volunteer staff this week has been such a joy...I love watching them interact and be the true "youth pastors" to the students that are in their direct care...please continue to lift them up for physical strength as the week continues, wisdom as they share into the lives of the students, and patience as Satan tries to attack and break the connections being made by the Holy Spirit

Going to Petco Park today! Gonna see the Padres and KC Royals. A friend of mine here from SD already had pre-purchased our tickets. The Hume/SD staff has been amazing as they've arranged for us to take sack lunches and transportation down to the Stadium! We're going to take the Trolley back to campus after the game, the kids are excited! (Actually we'll take the trolley to Old Town, then take the public bus back to campus...

Tonight is the Youth Pastor's dinner...always a treat to go hang with the leaders from each church and share stories, and encourage each other as fellow youth pastors

Today is "Double Spirit Day"...campers will get extra spirit for dressing up and going crazy with the theme of "Rhinestone Cowboys and Bedazzling Bling"...kind of fun to have a "macho" guy come by last night as I was having a deep conversation with another guy in the dorm and ask me "Hey Troy, do you know where the Bedazzler is??"

Watching the "Spirtual Light go on" just never gets old...to see a young person truly attempt grasp for the first time the love and care of our Abba Father, our Daddy, is humbling and amazing...that's what this pic is about...and his new "brothers" coming around him...

I love seeing the bonding of 30 guys become a brother-hood. There are so many different aspects to camp, but I really think my favorite part is our "all-guy" time back in the dorm lounge right before "lights out" each night...one of the neat things is that Hume/SD's lead counselors have begun to come and hang out with us during that time, cuz they can see God moving

Jamie Smyser was the girls champion in Kajabi-Can-Can yesterday during rec! First time she'd ever played it...the other girls in her group were calling her "A BEAST!" (that's a good thing)

Felt amazing this morning after getting a few hours of sleep, waking up and taking a shower before heading to breakfast and our counselor meeting...only to be told by one of my staff that I looked horrible...lol...age catching up w/ me??

Hoping after rec today as we take the camp picture that we'll be able to get our "traditional" front left spot...it's difficult to hold a spot for 60 people in a sea of over 700

I still occasionally wonder why I get to do this for a living...I'm so blessed...

Tonight is our annual late night Roberto's Mexican Food run....I'll be driving down about 10:00pm for about $150 in food! Nothing like Carne Asada before going to sleep!

TN