I love hanging out with friends, but even more I like making them. To be honest I didn’t think this winter retreat would be that much fun, partly because I couldn’t go up to the mountain due to a recent surgery, and partly because not a lot of people I knew were going. Boy was I wrong!

Not only did I get to go with great friends, I also got to know some people I probably never would have talked to if I hadn’t gone on the trip. I was honestly shocked at how much fun hanging out with people you don’t know can be. I couldn’t have asked for a better retreat for my last year in Youth.

Retreat has always been about growing closer to both God and peers, and though the plan was one of a kind, (staying Friday night in Santa Fe and leaving Saturday morning due to roads) I felt closer to God on this retreat than ever before. I enjoyed the small groups and games, and after those were over we had fun playing foosball, shooting pool, and just hanging out with friends with some coffee or cider.

When I look back on the weekend I realize how blessed I am to be involved in such an extremely fun, loving youth program. I want to thank Erin and St. John’s UMC for giving me the opportunity to come to such a great program and I thank God for not diverting me through my Jr. High and High School years from this blessing.