This summer, I got to do something incredible: I spent a whole week at a church retreat with a bunch of other kids my age. Because it was my first time, I was a little nervous at first, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences ever! There were so many fun activities, new friends to meet, and so many chances to learn more about God and myself. When I first arrived at the retreat center, I was a little shy. But the counselors were so friendly, and they had us play icebreaker games. I quickly made friends with some girls in my cabin, and we started planning what activities we wanted to try during the week. One of the highlights of the retreat was going tubing! We all put on our life jackets, grabbed our tubes, and floated down the river together. The water was cool and refreshing, and we laughed so much because we were going so fast, and I fell off the raft. It was so much fun being pulled by the speedboat, and another unforgettable activity was the high ropes course. At first, I was super scared—just looking up at those tall platforms made my stomach do flips! But everyone cheered each other on, and the counselors made sure we were safe. I climbed up, took a deep breath, and crossed wobbly bridges high up in the trees. I also tried the bungee jumping platform, called the QuickJump. Taking that leap was both thrilling and scary, but afterwards I felt incredibly proud and brave for facing my fears. I learned that sometimes, you have to try things that scare you to discover how strong you really are. There was never a dull moment! We had camp competitions that were really fun. My team got second place! My cabin won the cleanest female cabin, which I am proud of. There were also times set aside for quiet reflection, Bible study, and small group discussions. I appreciated having time to reflect on what was important to me and how I could be a better friend and follower of Jesus. By the end of the week, I didn’t want to leave! I was so grateful for all the memories, new friends, and lessons I learned. I realized that I’m braver than I thought, and that trying new things—even when they’re scary—can lead to amazing adventures. Most of all, I felt closer to God and to the people around me.
I can’t wait for next year’s retreat! Thanks for Reading!!!