May 13-15 this year was BCYAYM’s spring event, Young Sojourners at Sorrento Centre.  Around 40 youth came out for a sunny weekend with speaker David Taylor.  Here is one of the attendee’s reflections on the weekend:

To be completely honest, I’m not really afraid of ghosts, never have been. I’ve always know who I’m gonna to call, even though I think their number only existed in a 1980s New York Phone Book. So when the theme of this year’s Young Sojourners was Holy Ghost Stories, I was at first mad. Mad because David Taylor stole a great fall conference theme, but I got over that. Then I was wondering what this weekend could offer if I already had Bill Murray on speed dial. As usual though, a great weekend is made of more than one awesome part, more than great speaking or new friendships or spirit vacuum backpacks, and this Young Sojourners was no different.

Before service projects started Saturday, I’d heard a rumour I’d be pouring concrete. The emotion to describe how I felt about that: Elation. Turns out these rumours were falser than my grandma’s teeth and I’d be clearing brush. Other groups painted picnic tables and buildings, and still more did secret projects I have no idea about, and I’m pretty sure they can’t even talk about.  Back in the forest, our team rocked clearing small sticks, and graduated to carrying cut logs of increasingly heavy cedar and birch. I still have scars on my forearms from where those jagged-edged wood wheels decided to plead their case not to be delivered to the fire pile. I can only imagine the state of the arms of the true lumberjacks in that forest, Michael, Mathias, and Arthur. Ugh.

No formal fitness test was introduced this year, despite my attempts to introduce the Young Sojourners Full Ironman. However, wide-games were the proving ground of many, where your options were win or wander-aimlessly, run or receive chastisement at your laziness. Despite a few rough calls, and several attempts to cheat through fouls, our traditional soccer game was played with extraordinary prowess. Everyone was great for playing, although credit to Will for 2 goals and two assists for his team.

In the end, David took a great theme, and made it a GREAT theme (careful, those capital letters are made of fireworks). Beginning with stories in The Bible where the dead walk, water is solid, people suddenly appear and then disappear as quickly, and witches cast prophecies, David led us on an exploration of the Spirit (new greek word – Raouch). He immersed us in the emotions of the stories, and shared the fear with us. After, we learned the Spirit empowers us, and gives us no reason to be afraid. With God surrounding us, we have nothing to fear. After all, I ain’t afraid of no Phantomahs.

-        Alex

Side note – personal thank you to everyone in Cabana 10; you were the best. Got time - Jungle Speed?

It was an amazing retreat and we hope to see everyone out again next year.

Leave a comment about your greatest/funniest Young Sojourners moment or the best part of Young Sojourners this year for you :)