Always loved those weekend residentials ,further longer camp. If you use your imagination, work with me here a bit, you can probably imagine why these breaks for me, (later as leader), more so for a bunch poverty struggling, inner city, Rural community youngsters was pretty fabulous. Reveille at 7:00, we get shower, start day prayer. After good scram, (breakfast,) as they called it, in the morning, Biblical lessons, discussion before activities. Bible study often be introduced along with comic book gospel, music video, lyric explanation, lot of chatter.
Last thing in morning, get lunch together. Cooking, sharing, cleaning up.
Not too enforced, group time after lunch, Climb or a walk, sports, or swim,
Rock pooling and paddling. (I’m not kidding), Some complained because nature of being away on such a break.
Jokes which don`t sound great played.
Self disclosure.
Growing up together.
Break away from that area, those families, tough conditions.
Devotions between supper and the evening Session.
Always discussing bigger stuff, Loads of cups of tea, canned drinks, late evening drinking Chocolate .
Always good food, great music daft board games. Late nights, early mornings.
Good leadership.
LIFE enhancing, learning coping skills, building trust ,developing relationships.
But discussions, sense of freedom. sessions, discussions, yes they and me as a youth were required to settle down somewhere with a Bibles, some mates, Leader and share something about ourselves for half an hour.
Then evening came and end of that residential or camp, asleep for them in mini bus, home safe, back to the provision we youth workers provided.
What great fun, equisized and memories, plus learning stored.
Addressed some issues.
We would return to them in schools, weekly stuff, plus youth Churches we developed.
