Sports Day

Sports Day

Day 2 of the Youth Conference was sports day.   The day began with a high energy worship that had people out of their seats, forming circles in the front and in the aisles just jumping and dancing their hearts out for the Lord.  After several songs and a few minutes before we probably would have collapsed, it was time for the message.  Pastor Eric was the speaker and the message was centered on trust.  Prior to him speaking, Bryan and Tammy performed a skit where the girl has to trust Jesus and fall back in to his arms, and then she is supposed to fall back away from him.  This video was played at Lifepoint earlier this year. Will you still trust Jesus even when it looks like He isn’t there? That was the question presented to the youth.  This is a good question for all of us to reflect upon.  Think back and see if you can remember moments in the past where you either did or didn’t trust Jesus when He seemed to be absent.  What was the result and what did you learn about yourself and your relationship with Jesus? How can you use the past to guide your future?

There was some lunchtime entertainment provided by Cathy and Bryan, but you’ll have to get the details from them.  ;o)   After lunch, there were 3 hours for fun and fellowship within the confines of sports.  Most of the men played Cricket, although several did get a game of volleyball going.  The women played a game called Cocadi (probably spelled wrong but pronounced Co-Ca-Dee)  This is a game of tag between two teams that involves a bit of strategy.  None of the US women joined the game but we watched and learned.  The women also played Red Light – Green Light and Duck, Duck, Goose.  There are similar versions of these two games in India, but they have different names.  The last game the women played was Dog and the Bone.  The US team played this with the Anukamp boys when we were in Latur and is a game that I think would be a favorite back home. 

Soon it was time to freshen up from all the sweating and dust and prepare for the evening sessions.  After a fairly tame worship compared to the morning, it was time for Katherine to speak.  The youth got quite an unexpected surprise, a kind and gentle, but firm reprimand from Katherine regarding the assignments they had been given on the first day.  Only 1 youth (out of almost 200) was able to say that they had completed the assignments.  The youth were being held accountable for the purpose of the retreat and I think it was an eye-opening session for many of them.  These people show sparks of desire to serve the Lord during the worship sessions, they openly pray during prayer times, they respond to the messages, but in these times they are all being lead by someone else.  There is a band selecting the songs and the energy is infectious, one of the pastors is requesting that they pray.  How about when they are not in a session? What are they doing during their free time?  Are they praying of their own accord; are they humming or whistling a tune of worship? Are they reading their bible? Are they working on their assignments given by Pastor E?  Toward the end of the session, Katherine gave them 10 minutes to work on their assignments while the pastors, leaders, and the US team prayed for them.  We asked the Lord for His guidance, to open their hearts to Him, to help them develop their own spark so that when they go home, they are not back to the same old – same old.  We want these youth to be changed individuals who actively seek the Lord on their own time, and then reach out and share what the Lord has for them with others.  Please pray specifically for the youth that are here this week, but also for the youths in your life.  They are in the process of learning to be responsible for actions and choices that have the possibility of significantly altering their lives.  We know God will pour out His wisdom and blessings, but we need these young people to be ready and open to accept it.