We took 22 kids up to Winter Blast at Camp Forest Springs in north Wisconsin for a weekend. It was a great opportunity to get out into the cold weather and go sledding(we did a large sledding chain at night which is what the video is), play snow football, broom hockey but most of all challenge kids to grow in their relationship with Christ. The theme of the week was to surrender and many of the Plymouth youth made great steps towards changing their normal harmful behaviors.
One example is Terri. She grew up being taught to fight her way out of her problems and lives with her dad and three siblings. When she first came to TreeHouse she was a force not to be reckoned with!
Just to give an example, she was with a friend (who also goes to TreeHouse) and they were at the Library. They were on the computers when two white girls came by and called them "Niggers." In response they each angrily grabbed a girl slamming their heads into the desk and beat them up. They each got pinned with assault and are having to pay a fine and do community service hours. Anger was a correct response but obviously the way they handled it was destructive!
That is a crazy story, but it has been amazing to see God soften and change her heart in the last year. She is one of the sweetest and most caring kids that I know! At the retreat she surrendered her pride and fighting and it wasn't just something she said, but something she deeply meant!
Praise God for how he transforms us into people of real power!
