Permeate 2014

Permeate 2014 had the theme of  Mind: Set. 

We focused on Colossians 3:1-4 but really looked at the whole chapter. This year was just as exciting as last year. My small group consisted of 9 girls ages 11 to 14. At the beginning of the weekend two of them told me that they didn’t think that they were going to learn or enjoy the weekend very much. They expressed the sentiment that they perhaps had wasted their money on the registration fee. 

With this beginning it is so exciting to give you a glowing report at the end of the weekend. On Saturday evening as they packed their bags they shared with me and with each other some of the things they had learned. 

It was so very endearing to hear these young women share with me their struggles-regarding emotion control. Most of them were very concerned with how to handle their anger in relation to their siblings, parents, and friends.  It made me think about my days as a junior high student. I don’t know if you can relate but it was hard to control my emotions. I was proud that these young women were seeking to follow Father’s way for their life. Colossians 3:8 says: “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” This sentence is easy to say but not so easy to follow. All nine of my girls wanted to know they could apply this in their lives. How encouraging to me. 

This young women told me that she thinks she learned more this year than last year and that she was really glad that she came. 

The other event that touched my heart during this year’s Permeate had nothing to do with my 2014 small group but actually had to do with how two girls from my 2013 small group have grown. My small group last year had two girls who did not get along. In fact they got along not at all. Surprisingly, they knew just what buttons to push to drive each other CRAZY.  This year as we were preparing to make roommate assignments I was shocked to see that both of them requested the other to room with at Permeate. Father truly does work in mysterious ways.  During one of the game times these two girls plus their other roommate did not show up. When I discovered them I found that my former small group girls were talking with their roommate about why they believed in Father. I almost cried. How far they had come in their love for each other and their love for Father. 

How blessed am I to be involved in these youngsters lives and not only get to witness their growth in Him but also get to impact them. 

Thank you for all your thoughts, support, and love in this endeavor in pointing young ones closer to the cross. 

This year we had some difficulty with the retreat center and we are hoping that next year these same difficulties could be avoided. If you could be petitioning on our behalf asking for good relationships and favor with these ladies: 

These three photos are of one of the stations at our Pr8yer Maze. We did a scrabble puzzle of what our relationship with Father looks like. The pictures with the green background are from Permeate and the finished brown background product is when Mikayla and I finished gluing all our words down. This will be hanging at the Youth Center for future generations to see. :)