The Trials and Joys of Working with Youth

Earlier today we returned from the All Ontario Youth Convention. In the beginning and through the months leading up to this week-end we have to admit that we really weren't looking forward to it. To us it was just another committment we had as Youth Leaders, therefore we had to do it and after it was done, so were we. Leading Youth Group has been a tough and challenging haul for us this year. The kids didn't seem to care or appreciate what we were doing and it was always a fight to get them to respect us and participate. And to be honest, in the last month or so we've kinda given up on that fight. It was taking too much out of us on top of all the other stuff we're working on right now. All year we wished that the kids would relate to us on a different level, other than calling us "Mr and Mrs Geertsema." Well after this weekend we've finally reached that desired level of interaction with some of our kids. Going to a weekend retreat like this where their focus is on God and drawing closer to him as well as the others around them, and spending more time with us, has opened them up to the fact that we're people too. We're not just bossy people who make them do Bible studies every other Sunday night. So we were really excited about this, we spent the weekend talking with them and supporting them through life-changing, and not-so-life-changing, decisions. They were finally talking to us. The only sad part for us was the fact that we're done youth group for the year and won't be back next year to build on these relationships.

Anyways, the Convention was great! I'd never been to one before and it was a really good experience. The speaker was amazing and the band was great (Article One, look them up!). They also had a drama group that was awesome called One Time Blind, definitely worth looking into if you're doing youth group and are looking for some new material. Their skits are based on some really foundational questions which students need to think about in order to grow in their faith. So all in all, despite the cold, rainy weather, the serious lack of sleep and hurt ankles (Dave playing soccer), a great weekend was had by all! And for anyone that's interested their holding the first annual Ontario Young Adults Conference this August, it'll be a good one too!