TeenPact

It's just one of those "you gotta be there" things. I can do my best to explain it and talk about some amazing times I had, but it will be nothing in comparison to what I actually experienced.

So TeenPact has state classes, which is what I went to. It is like a government leadership camp. We had homework involving government before. We had to write bills, analyze bills, memorize scripture, etc. It was a lot of work but totally worth it. I am not gonna lie...I really missed my friends. Even though they kept us busy I thought about them constantly and what we would be doing or what class would be next. They will just all have to go next year! =)

A few different activities:

Prayer walks: We went around the capitol to places like the Peace Officers Memorial, the Justice of the Peace building, outside of the governor's office, the house, the senate, etc.

Field Experiences: These were hands on activities. They want us to not just learn about it but DO it. We had a crossfire debate field experience one time. Sarah Pollock and I partnered up and we just had to debate something simple. Lots of fun! We were taken into the House and Senate for one and told all these interesting facts. It was awesome. There were also more. =)

Legislative Session: We would actually read bills and debate them...then see if they passed or failed. We had to use proper terms when asking question to the "lady" or "gentleman" in the "well". :)

Committees: We were split up into five different committees at the beginning of the week. I was a part of Judicial. That is where we went through bills and decided if they would pass or fail before we actually brought them into the legislative session.

We had worship every morning and night. It was really good. The last night the presence of God definitely was there. He touched many people and it was a really sweet time.

When we did not have something on the schedule to do we could play games, hang out around the camp, play ultimate frisbee, canoe, etc. Lots of things to do! One afternoon Sarah, Blake, and I decided to go take a canoe trip....well thats what it turned into. We did not know there was a place we were not supposed to go past so we went on an adventure. We ended up coming close to a road...oops. They did not tell us we were not supposed to go past the curve in the river until after we got back. Im secretly glad they did not because we had tons of fun. :)

One part of the camp that really drew me in was the verse the guest director spoke on every night when we went back to the camp. Romans 12:2. It is my life verse. It has always been one of my favorites. I have it on a sticky note in my room. I have it memorized. I know I have a calling to be different. To stand out in the crowd just like Jesus did. This verse has been my motivation I guess...what I am following. He talked about the first part too. We need to be completely sold out for Jesus. Our life should be a complete sacrifice for Him. Romans 12:1-2 are just really good life verses.

That pretty much sums up my week...well I am leaving out a pretty important part. Our trip home. We we SO tired. We (Mrs. Spaun, Lydia, Mrs. Redwine, Blake and I. Sarah had dance rehearsal so her and her dad left earlier) left around 6 and stopped to eat. Then we really got on the road closer to 8. We talked and laughed and took a detour. Yeah that sounds about right. I think around 10...maybe before we were just delirious. We had an exhausting and fun week so we could not stop talking about it yet we were so tired that everything we said was funny. Mrs Spaun was in a car by herself :( but Mrs Redwine laughed right along with us. That was the end to an amazing week! =)