I went to Maine … and I have the Black Fly bites to prove it!  For almost a decade now, Brandywine Valley Baptist has been sending the youth to northern Maine (literally ten miles from the Canada border) to do Vacation Bible School at two churches up there.  I only went along for the first half of the trip – I had to come back early because I’m leading a team to Nicaragua in a few days!

I have to admit, checking out early was one of the most unsettling experiences of my time as a youth pastor.  It’s not that I don’t doubt for a moment the ability of my leaders up there to handle the 50+ member team – I’m not worried about that at all.  It just felt so strange to be leaving before it was finished.  I’m not doing that again!!!

Some of the highlights for me during my time with the team were great.  I love those kids!!!  We had a lot of fun, great activities and an important task with the VBS, but for me, the greatest moments were during the quiet times.  I absolutely loved it when different kids came to me during the quiet time and asked for help in understanding the Bible passages we were reading – I love that!!!  It means they weren’t just cruising through it, they were actually trying to understand it and get meaning out of it.  I also love scenes like the above photo – kids just randomly sitting around the camp, playing worship music.  How often do you get to see that?

And then, my absolute favorite moment … one of the eighth grade girls came running up to me with a can of silly string that she was going to blast me with.  I was yelling ‘no’ and trying to run away, but it was too late, she had me cornered.  Luckily for me, she was holding the can backwards when she pushed the button – she blasted it right into her own face!!!  Priceless!!!