At 8:30am the MAYA young adults gathered to leave for what would be a 5 hour 500 mile round trip trek to Samish Island for the annual Samish Island Young Adult Retreat. With everyone carpooling we set off at what was the start of a beautiful day. Upon arriving at Samish we were blessed with a beautiful day. Since we got there rather early many of the young adults set out to explore the campgrounds. From the lake, to the Indian burial ground, to the point, and back again. Camp started at 8pm as more and more young adults arrived. We started the retreat off with a campfire and ended it with devotions and games.
The next morning everyone arose to find that the local forcast had been wrong. We were supposed to have rain all weekend but the Lord blessed us with wonderful weather all weekend. Saturday was full of fun, fellowship, and worship. The morning worhsip was led by Rachel at the campfire pit overlooking Lake Freestad where Rachel shared a personal testimony of her struggles this past week and how the Lord led her out of it. She then opened it to everyone to share of thier struggles. The group took the time to open up and share with one another. We closed with what became the weekend song, "We are one in the Spirit." From there everyone attended the theme class given by guest ministers Christie and Christian Skoor-Smith. They discussed with us about Enviromental Stewardship, the state of oil in the world, what we can do to help the environment, and how to get involved. Many came away with a deeper understanding and conviction for what they need to do. The afternoon was filled with rest, volleyball, and many spending time laying out with a good book. For dinner everyone participated in what has become a camp tradition of making our own pizzas for dinner. Some were unique, pretty, and odd but they all tasted good as Sean yelled out Prices Right style when each individuals pizza was finished and ready to eat.
We started off the evening with a rousing game of "Mafia". Who says you are ever to old to play games. Campfire followed as Rachel and Jessica topped off the weekend with an encore of thier toast skit. We all then gathered together for a communion service led by Erik as we listened to music and shared testimonies of the cost of our discipleship. Erik portrayed wonderfully how in our world today we all struggle with being Chrisitian. Many shared and bore testimony and strife over the cost of thier discipleship. Everyone connected and comforted one another and the peaceful Spirit of Christ was present as we all partook of the sacrament of communion.
The night was topped off again with games and late night discussion. As the retreat came to a close the following morning with everyone running around doing camp chores there was that Spirit of anticipation as the time came to leave. We gathered together in the closing worship led by Sean to share in our experiences over the weekend and how we know it is hard to leave after being together in such an amazing environment.
Camp ended at 12pm but most stayed behind talking and saying good-byes until 1. We were truely blessed this past weekend with the Spirit of Christ as we gathered together to share with one another in fellowship, worship, and fun. For those that missed, do not worry, you do not have to wait another year. There will be another young adult retreat in the Spring at Lewis River Campgrounds in Yacolt, Washington (more details to come soon).
See below for a slideshow of the weekend with pictures compliments of Erik Olinjsma
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A Testimony From Tim SoperThe recent young adult retreat at Samish Island was truly awesome. We had 36 young adults show up which to me is just wonderful. We had great times playing volleyball, making pizza and of course joining together in worship and sharing each others company in fellowship and shared testimony. About midway through camp I had already decided that the camp had met my expectations and exceeded them and it only got better as well and concluded with, for me, a sense of accomplishment and contentment.
For the week approaching camp though I have to say I had my doubts and was seriously questioning what my role was and how I would fit in. I deeply wanted to be completely in-tuned with God's will and make the most of what I felt could be a great opportunity. As the days past and it became closer and closer to the time we would begin the 4+ hour drive from Portland past Seattle to Samish, nothing it seemed was stirring in my heart or leading me to contentment with the upcoming events.
But, if I may, I'd like to turn the clock back about a week to our congregational retreat at Lewis River. It was here that an epiphany occurred in my spiritual growth and development that allowed for further closeness with God. Although simple and possibly trite, I took a step with God that has revolutionized my look at life and has changed me in a way which I believe has forced me to a brink from which I will never be able to return.
I gained a closeness with God I had never achieved and so naturally any upcoming events would be judged by the success of this leap and so naturally my heart was set on great things and it was easy to look at further progress with speculation. In the process of this retreat at Lewis River I accepted God and my relationship with God to be one of Father and child. I had already learned of the unconditional love He held for me. Deep inside me though, for the longest time I felt I constantly had to earn it or repay it through good deeds. Everyday I would approach life with an unceasing drive to do good in anyway I could. I constantly tried to gain new ways in which I could pray more efficiently or make a closer approximation of myself to my Savior.
With God playing the role of parent it is now clear to me that with my heart true, any reasonable request for needs from Him are requests He wants to fill. This is the, "possibly simple and trite", "epiphany" I had. When these needs are not fulfilled the result stems from the work of the devil and the evil in men's hearts. I know now that I am literally entitled to the granting of these needs on my behalf as I unceasingly look to do my Holy Father's work.
At Samish, I walked out into the daylight. I felt a refreshing breeze flow over my skin. I looked to an open bench with a spectacular view of the bay. I knew this was where I would spend my "rest-time" for the afternoon. As I lay on the bench and peered out over the majestic view. Birds flew over my head. Insects buzzed about hurriedly attending to their "daily chores". The wind whipped about. All about me the Spirit moved and I shared with my maker, some one-on-one down time. I conversed with Him openly in my mind and through my senses. We were completely connected and we knew every attribute of each other. As a loving Father He guided me to understand anything I desired and gently instructed of priority kingdom building needs. He swept away any fears I held inside or was ready to openly share with Him. The most deep love I had ever experienced occurred here and every doubt ended. In the innermost depths of my soul I have a devotion to my God now that I know I can never again deny. I have an understanding now of exactly how he wants my life to be lived and truly all that's left of this life as far as question or insecurity is an endless war, for love.
-Amen
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