Day 1: Arrival

What a great day! Everyone arrived at St. John’s safe and sound and raring to go. For the first time in four summers, we pretty much had everything unpacked and bed rolls laid out before the dinner bell rang. Breaking into teams, we enjoyed Pizza Hut pizza and got to know one another a little better over our meal. Afterwards, we headed to the sanctuary for a meeting to discuss how the teams would work and some of the ground rules for working with the youth from Rosebud and for roaming around Valentine. With these tidbits of information in the pocket, our youth went exploring with returning missioners showing the team around.

Later in the evening we gathered together for some get-to-know you better games and to have a few laughs. Then it was time for our teams to decorate the van’s windows and draw up a couple of signs for the sides of the van. With these little chores behind us, we all received this year’s T-Shirt. Once our team leaders got their shirts, they were off to plan tomorrow’s bible skit which I am told is centered around the story of the creation. We could not turn off the lights without thanking God for the blessings we have found in the new friendship begun today. So team Crystal helped us do so by leading Compline. I can tell it has been a long day for all, when the lights went out it actually got quiet. Except for a little snoring, it sure is peaceful.