FALLAPALOOZA 08

The first six weeks on campus go by so quickly and we meet so many students. Those first weeks are a time to connect with new freshmen, share the gospel A LOT, and re-connect with some of our older students too. They are busy weeks and then we hit FALLAPALOOZA! This is a weekend getaway that we plan for our students. It's a time to get away from Missoula and the normal grind of college life. Although this weekend is full of fun acitivities it is a refreshing time for our students. It was refreshing for me also as I got to spend a lot of great time with girls that I am working with this year.

One of the highlights for students is the opportunity to hear from a speaker. This year, Marty Brown, (a fellow staff member with Campus Crusade) shared his heart with students. He shared a lot from the life of David, specifically the courage he had in facing Goliath. Marty is a great storyteller and I feel like he really connected with students hearts as he shared experiences from his own life about missed opportunities to share the gospel and how to live a courageous like for the Kingdom of God. Another great part of the weekend is the extended time students have to worship and spend time alone with God. Flathead Lake is a great backdrop for students to enjoy time of reflection and fun with friends.

Are you wondering what these pictures are about? Well, our staff team planned a little competition for our students one of the afternoons during the retreat. The 80 students were divided into five teams and they were cycled through a series of challenges. The challenges ranged from spitting kix onto someones shaving cream covered face to spam carving to a dance competition among other things. The teams were each awarded points and then the top teams got a sweet prize which I will explain in just a minute. I got to be a judge for the dance competition and it was hilarious to watch them show off their skills!

Okay, I'm learning something funny about Montanans...they like to shoot at things. :) Our staff team came up with this brilliant idea to allow the winning teams to shoot us with paintball guns! So I put on as many articles of clothing that I could fit, for extra padding, and prepared for the fact that some students would be gunning for me...pun intended! The rules were simple, students from each team lined up to shoot us and we ran in front of them dressed in ridiculous things. Yes, that is me in the cow costume. Mostly I ran as fast as I could, screaming all the way. The first time I ran across, I think every person shot at me, as I was hit about 500 times with paint. When all was said and done, the students were pleased, and I had 10 welts to show for my devotion to the gospel! Haha...it was really fun and I feel more like a Montanan now.

In the Old Testament, God has the Israelites build an ebeneezer with stones to remember what God had done while they were traveling in the desert. In the same vain, we asked the students to take some time with the Lord the last morning of the retreat and listen to what He was saying to them. Then they brought a stone and built the ebeneezer shown above. Our hope is that students will see this image and be reminded of how the Lord spoke to them during this weekend on Flathead Lake. I think it's cool to look at those stones and know they represent so many different emotions, commitments, and expressions of devotion. Please pray for the students to be reminded often of that weekend.

Well, that was Fallapalooza. Thank you so much for praying for me and giving so that I can be a part of times like this. It is such a privilege to engage in life with these students and to engage in the wonder of God's plan for this campus. THANK YOU!!