This week I squeezed the FUMC Confirmation Class Retreat into my schedule. We had a schedule SNAFU and this was not on my schedule until I had committed to several surrounding days off from work. DER was okay with it... since he has been sick he better understands that other things have priority at times. I always enjoy these retreats - I think I often get more out of them than the kids do. This year we worked on team building and being thankful for what we have. Rev Mike wanted them to add fuel to their faith (great imagery as we were sitting around the campfire).
We did the retreat at Camp Istrouma, located NW of BTR off Greenwell Springs Rd. Monday the class was randomly split into small teams and competed at several team activities (bridge building [see photo insert], water hauling, low ropes, etc). We capped the evening off with a game of Methodist Jeopardy. The winning team got the heated cabin with indoor showers plus food with kitchen for cooking, 2nd place won the lodge porch plus food with propane burner, 3rd place won canopy tents plus food for fireplace cooking, while 4th place got flat fold cardboard boxes, duct tape plus manna bags. Rev Mike and I were assigned to the cabin and kitchen. All was well....
After some kick-ball, lunch, and trash duty near the camp entrance, a planned natural disaster struck. The cabin was burned in our scenario but the sleeping bags were magically saved. The box city people were moved to relief housing at the other end of the porch. The refugees from the cabin (that would include me) moved into the abandoned box city. UMCOR relief managed to get through some fruit cups and Vienna sausages with a second delivery to make s'mores just before bedding down. I bedded down on several cardboard boxes taped together with a blue tarp draped over some of the fireplace log stools so there was no headroom. I did my normal photography duty and shot about 300 pictures of our trip. I've inserted a few of my favorites here.
Wednesday Tracey and I worked Bern's weaves... he needs them for this weekend. Grace is doing better at everything. Nedra thinks she will be weaving in 2 weeks. She is letting me do front and rear crosses now... I must be speedy or I get in her way. Thursday evening was teaching puppy class - Tracey is in love with my mini beagle student, Bella. Since I didn't make it home before class, both of my guys missed obedience classes. I'm picking Tracey up at her house at 6:15 AM to drive to Amite for the AKC agility show. May we run clean.
