Letters From Camp: Sr. High Youth Group at Harvey Cedars
Friday's Highlights: Wrapping Up, Romping in the Waves, and the Wonder of God
 Today was another beautiful day at Harvey Cedars. This morning's session split into two groups. One group talked about peace making. The other group talked about God's love and how it's exemplified in the characteristics of sacrifice, integrity, and humility. For the morning game time we played the Bible version of Amazing Race. West Shore made a good effort but former West Shore student Emily O'Connor’s gift for memorizing scripture foiled our chances at winning!
This afternoon many went to the beach and enjoyed the awesome waves. God's power was shown in the power of the ocean!
At evening session Pastor Mike spoke about how our thoughts lead to actions. Using Proverbs 23:7 as an example, he asked us "Where do your thoughts come from? Can you control those thoughts?" After session we had another great time of sharing as a youth group. We spent fifteen minutes sharing scripture with one another in a group. One after another, more than 50 verses were shared.
After that we had another time of confession and sharing. We have grown so much as a youth group this week; God is doing amazing things among us.
Please pray for a safe journey home and that our time tomorrow would be well spent. Also please pray that we would have good attitudes despite our lack of sleep tomorrow when we greet our parents. Pray also that we would uphold all of our commitments to ourselves and to the Lord.
Thank You.
—Jackie Pierson
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Letters From Camp: Sr. High Youth Group at Harvey Cedars
Thursday's Highlights: Holding onto meaningful relationships with God and others
 Today was an amazing God-given day at Harvey Cedars. This morning Mike talked about how everything except God is meaningless. He used multiple passages in Ecclesiastes to demonstrate specific ventures that are meaningless when compared to living for the Lord.
This evening after dinner we went to Bay Village and everyone had a great time shopping and eating. Later, at chapel, Mike talked about how we need to trust God to transform our lives on a daily basis in a step by step process. He challenged us to commit to trusting the Lord with something that we have held on to selfishly.
Our youth group time was amazing! Tony asked the upcoming senior class to decide whether we would split into small groups or stay as a large group and we decided to stay as a large group and have a time of sharing. Many shared what was on their hearts and encouraged others. Others confessed to the group and challenged us all to grow.
Thank you all so much for your prayers, this evening was so unifying for our youth group. Please pray that we would all be able to keep our promises to trust the Lord with the things we have held on to for so long. Also please pray that this unity would continue to grow stronger after we get back to the church.
Overall it was a wonderful day!
—Jackie Pierson |
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Letters From Camp: Sr. High Youth Group at Harvey Cedars
Wednesday's Highlights: A day full of fun and fellowship
 Senior high youth group is having an amazing time at Harvey Cedars! This morning Greg talked about how the Lord's character never changes. We can trust in the character of the Lord because He never changes his mind; He merely adjusts His course of action based upon the hearts of his children. Greg used the passage in Deuteronomy 28:1-9 and beginning in Deuteronomy 28:15 to demonstrate how the consequences of our actions will endure if we obey or disobey the commandments of God. This passage is an example of how God's actions may change but his mind never changes!
This morning we did a water balloon launch for team games which was really exciting! This afternoon many went to the beach. Please continue to pray for healing for those who have gotten sunburned. Optional worship traveled to the lighthouse this afternoon for a glorious time of worship in God's creation!
At evening session Mike spoke on heaven and hell and described them both using the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. After chapel, our church went to the lighthouse for ice cream and to walk out on the jetty.
Overall it was a wonderful day! Thanks for all your prayers!
Thanks!
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Letters From Camp: Sr. High Youth Group at Harvey Cedars
Tuesday's Highlights: Sun burns, a scorching heat wave, and forgiveness for our sins
 Today was another great day at Harvey Cedars! In morning session the speaker stressed the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven. In our youth group time after the session Pastor Tony asked us to think about what factors prevent us from believing or trusting that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
This afternoon many people went to the beach. Many of those who went got sunburn so please pray for healing for those with bad burns. The temperature at Harvey Cedars today was very hot just like yesterday so everyone was enjoying the water. There was also a soccer game this afternoon which some braved the heat to play.
At the evening session Mike spoke again about trusting God but he used many passages in Romans to stress the fact that we are sinners and we deserve death for that fact. However God is gracious and He gives us the gift of forgiveness to allow us to live an eternity in his kingdom of heaven. Also this evening was the talent show in which many West Shore students displayed impressive talents. Please pray for safety tomorrow as we visit the lighthouse in the evening.
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Letters From Camp: Sr. High Youth Group at Harvey Cedars
Monday's Highlights: An Experiment in Trust
 Today West Shore's senior high group arrived at Harvey Cedars. It was an answer to prayer that we arrived safely with no problems. Everyone took the swim test and we went over the camp rules to remind everyone to honor God with their actions for the week. Most of the students headed to the beach, which has been expanded since last year, to enjoy the hot sand and cool ocean waters.
At chapel this evening the sound system died twice during worship, just another sign that God is in control and he can use anything to show us his power. Pastor Mike opened with a discussion on trust and who we should trust. He focused on the fact that God is the only thing we can truly and totally put our trust in. He read 1 Samuel 8 about the Israelites wanting a king rather than trusting God to lead them. He asked us to ask ourselves "Who/what will you trust?"
Please pray that God will open our hearts to what He has to say to us this week. Also pray that we would grow together as a youth group.
-Jackie Pierson
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How to Talk with a Teenager: Just Talk
 Apparently not much happens in the lives of teenagers. They rarely offer up a description of their day at school or what happened at youth group – to adults, that is. Getting information out of teens is like … yeah, it’s like pulling teeth. That’s what effective youth volunteers do best: they pull teeth.
“Passivity is the worst enemy when working with kids,” says West Shore Youth Pastor Tony Hunt. “Frankly, any personality can be a good youth worker, but one essential characteristic is initiative. Those who succeed say, ‘I’m going to make contact with teens, be present, and start conversations.’”
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