College Cass, WL Paint War and other Updates

In just one week the Fall Creek Junior High 7th Grade Field Trip to Camp Tecumseh will be in full swing. WE CAN'T WAIT! Earlier this week, all 293 of our t-shirts arrived, get sorted and distributed to kids, counselors and teachers. Now we just need October 1st to arrive. 

Some of my favorite words I've found lately...

Last week a dream came true-- Justin and I hosted HS Young Life kids for the first time. Maddie, Liv, Wash, Grace, Hannah and Meric are all girls that I lead FCJH 8th graders with. They came over for Fried Rice night and an enthusiastic game of Fishbowl.  We want to have the kind of house where people always feel welcome and know they can show up unannounced.

Saturday morning we set out early to Muncie to pick up our girl College Cass to take her to Victor's for breakfast. Over pancakes and biscuits & gravy and french toast, we asked her all the questions about school and classes and friends and everything she's checking out and getting involved with. After being a constant part of each other's lives the last few years I really miss seeing her all the time. Cass is one of the greats.

The rest of the Davis clan arrived and we got to celebrate Emily, our niece, at Ball State. We walked all over Campus, checked out the Brookstore and one of the cafeterias, saw the dorm room, played some pool. Chirp, Chirp.

Saturday night we made it back to Fishers for the Wyld Life Paint War. Thankfully, the cooler temperatures made it much more enjoyable to run around outside all night long.

Our outstanding, welcoming, positive HS leaders greeted kids and gave them name tags.

A whole slew of kids showed up for the very first time tonight along with dozens of regulars.

We had a human ladder race...

Had a relay race with some balanced eggs...

Chugged Mt. Dew through a smelly sock...

FTK (For The Kids)...

Got to listen to a Club Talk from Johnna...

And then through colorful powder at each other-- it was awesome.

Sunday I traveled to Camp Tecumseh with co-directors Kristen and Haley and our 23 new counselors so they could learn where everything is at camp before they have 6 kids to teach.

Sunday night we got to have dinner at the Barn with our adult YL leaders-- Ian, Brad & Johnna, Abby, Emily Kitchen, Rick, Scott & Jordan and Justin. We had a fiesta and talked about life moments and laughed together. It was time well spent.

"If anyone has a dream of becoming an organist, let me know!"

Highs of the Weekend:

1. Spontaneous Portillo's cheeseburger and fries with Justin

2. Friday night with Nicky-- playing tennis and basketball, Dairy Queen treats and watching Wonder till we all fell asleep

3. Saturday morning bagels with Maddie, Tatum and Rose-- I really love hanging out with these Wyld Life girls

4. For the first time this year I had the whole afternoon to myself-- leisurely ran some errands, watched a Netflix movie, cut string so I can jump back on the friendship bracelet band wagon, took a run

5. Spent Saturday night with Mollie Krone and Taylor Swift at the Reputation Tour

Taylor Swift is the Queen. She is the greatest performer possibly ever. I'm such a fan.

6. We took Nick to Bethlehem UMC Sunday morning and stopped for Jack's Donuts on the way home before he got picked up

7. Surprised Justin and took him to the largest Bounce House in America-- we had a blast

8. Bethlehem's Annual Ice Cream Social in the yard of the church-- we've been going for a month and love these people

"I pictured a lava lamp."

The first Wyld Life Campaigners of the year!!!! Our leaders were so excited. 

The kids were so excited. 

Rebecca was so excited.

There was no way we wouldn't have an awesome night together.

Adult and HS leaders met together first-- we talked about our testimonies and how it's not the "story of your calendar" but the "story of your soul." We thought through some questions and started thinking about sharing our stories in our teams.

For the first time, we're going to have a rotating Campaigners location all year. This week we were at Sophie Sam's house and we took over the cul-de-sac and street as kids arrived. It looked like we were having a block party.

I love the start of any event when friends reunite and leaders greet their kids with hugs. Everyone belongs here.

Brad and Justin are leading Seniors and 8th grade guys together and they're pumped about already having a year of friendship with these dudes.

Everyone squeezed together down in the basement... the space is huge but there are a lot of us. 

We're singing along to music videos of worship songs right now with words on the screen-- it actually worked so well last night.

In our small group teams we dove into the Bible together to learn more about what the Bible even is and some of the names that get used for the Bible like word of God, righteous law, instruction, lamp and light, mouth of God.

Tonight I was so proud of how Wash, Meric, Maddie, Mayson and Hannah directed and loved these girls-- they're mature and smart and becoming more confident in their faith.

I loved seeing these 8th grade girls be so excited to be here. They bring enthusiasm and questions and genuine care for one another. I love that we get to do this with them.

Caitlin, one of our adult leaders, posted this picture with some of her new 7th grade girls and leaders tonight and captioned it, "I have a feeling we're going to be great friends." She's so right and I'm so glad that this is a ministry built on relationships.