Oh boy, where do I even begin to start about my year?!? I had such an amazing 10th grade year, and I do not think it could have been better! I guess I should just start with saying, that I went into this year feeling as though God was going to do some great things.
Well things started off with a Freshmen boy starting a high school Bible study.... and only he, the one Freshmen, and like 8-10 Sophomores came. I know he was intimidated by starting a Bible study with all the students being 10th graders, but he did an awesome job bringing the Word to us every Thursday in Mr. McKinney's classroom. This Bible study was for sure the highlight of not only my day on Thursday, but it was also the highlight of my week!!! It was so cool getting together with my class and just hanging out and talking about God! At the beginning, there wasn't much to it, but then one day, we had like a worship time, and that was so much fun! Our class is Full of musicians...mainly guitar players, and they are really good too!! #mentionaguitarplayer ....NICK VIA. One day, that name will be known! I'm calling it now! ;) Haha!
So as the year went on, something happened with a lot of the Juniors and a couple of seniors and a bunch of kids got expelled. This was a shocker. For some reason, it seemed that every younger classman's attention was suddenly turned directly towards my class, I guess to see how we would respond.... We responded as if nothing happened, and we just continued to shine our bright Sophomore light!:))
One day, my amazing guitar playing friend Nick Via and I decided to plan a worship night at Landon Bell's house over Christmas break, just for our lunch Bible study group! haha! This was so much fun. It was an amazing experience spending time with these guys just worshiping on our own time, not in school...
OKAY!! oh my gosh! I'm like skipping half a year but oh well. The only thing between that worship night and UNITY RETREAT is basketball season, and nothing Big really happened then.
UNITY RETREAT 2013 WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGGGGGG!!!!! We stayed at RiverBend for a Thursday day and night, and Friday day. So on Thursday night after the service, I was talking with Katie M. about stuff that was going on, and after I talked to her, I went out and I hear guitars and singing. I walk around the corner and I see all of my guys out on a deck over looking the river, and they are all standing around worshipping their precious little hearts out. The girls were sitting up on the porch of the worship center because they did not want to interrupt their worship. So we sat there and listened. As we listened to them lift up their voices to the heavens, I sat there and prayed and kind of sang along. A few minutes later, Landon and John Roberts walk up and tell us to come down there with them, so we go and join them. Once we get down there, we sing a song, and then we all agree to sit down and talk. We all sit down and some of the guys get up and talk. Ty got up and apologized to Rachel for being mean the past couple of years (relationship wise), and John got up and mentioned that we all need to watch our words towards Shawn and Colton, and that was soft on my heart because I [use to be] close friends with Shawn. After John, sweet Riley Waters gets up and talks about how the guys need to be acting like our Christian brothers, and we need to be treating each other with respect. This was super sweet. I then jumped in and talked about how the guys are such great role models, and I talked about how if they hadn't been out there worshiping, all of us girls would've just gone back to our cabin and gone to bed, but instead they initiated a close time to spend with each other and with God. (Haha then Noah Hertle and Austin Mays gave me a high five for what I said! haha it was just funny! oh and I was the only girl who said anything! Come on girls! ;) . We then all stood back up in a big circle on the deck, and we then sang my FAVORITE song Set A Fire by Will Regean and the United Pursuit Band..... Did I mention that's my FAVORITEEEEEEEE SONG!!!!!???!!! HAHA! Then Carter Skaggs sang a song that he wrote.. "Yahweh Yahweh, we love to shout your name oh Lord!". Best song that he was written! He is so talented, they even sang that song in chapel a couple of times!
So if you didn't notice, I really really liked 2013 Unity Retreat!!
So I'm pretty sure that at the end of this year, I can say that Sophomore year was successful and absolutely AMAZING!!
So Tylar is going me on Community Rehab Project camp this summer..... its like only 2 WEEKS AWAY!!! This year I have decided to journal each day, and I'll probably put them on here too!! Sadly Jessica, Kelley, and Cody can not come this year because they are going to visit Utah that same week! :( It is sooooo sad that they and Pastor Ben are leaving, but it is great what God is going to have them doing up there (ministering and starting a church in an area that is majority Mormon!! :/) I am going to miss Keeley, Cody and sweet baby Jaz; and most of all, I'll miss Jessica Stephenson! She has been my role model/mentor this past year! we have had many coffee dates where we sit and talk about the Bible and what's been going on in our lives! I don't know what I'll do without her, but I know that God has AMAZING plans for her up in Utah!!! I'll be visiting her ALL THE TIME, just in case you were wondering! ;)
"[God] takes not pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love."
Psalms 147:10-11
Xoxo Faith
