Day 4: Matt Vanbrundt

Friday blog!

12:37

So being the last day of CHIC 2015 everyone here is excited because we know its going to be an amazing night, my favorite band in the line up Rend Collective will be preforming and I'm so pumped for that. But there's also the air of sadness about people. We're getting done with this big adventure we are all in and about to return home. Personally i will be sad to not be in as much contact with the people in the group. During this week, more than anything, i have grown to love and care deeply about the people in the group. Because coming to a big conference like this i had thought that we were going to meet new people and learn about other peoples way and struggles and indeed we have, through project blue and the taste of heaven project. But again the part that has come center stage is the relationships with the people in the church i would have otherwise never gotten to know. I am so thankful for the opportunity to grow the strength of everyone and come together and support one another in their shifts

1:14

Packing up all my things reflecting on all the different ways my clothes got dirty, when Stephan and i picked up some traffic cones and i accidentally pick thee dirtiest cone on the face of the planet and got my entire body dirty, or the still damp shirt that i forgot to hang up after white river rafting. Its sad because with a cup if detergent all the little memories will be gone.

11:30pm

Today was the best day of chic out of the whole week, the concert tonight was insane, a bunch of KCC kids/ leaders got onto the main floor to watch the show and the speaker was so powerful. We head out tomorrow, but after today i know the bonds I've made with the people in the church will last and the lessons I've learned here have given me the inspiration to really make change happen.

Day 3: Micah Wills

Shalom KCC blog. Today is Tuesday. The temperature was around 80 degrees so that rad, but what was ever radder (if that's a word) is there was a huge thunder and rain storm which we ran through at the begging and it took me back to Detroit when we went. A few people and I went to an underground lake tour which was kinda cool but we got experience "complete darkness", which was my favorite part of the day. You couldn't see your own hand in front of you which was insane! The speaker at night time was Judy Peterson and she was superb and spoke a lot on how God forgives us no matter what. The band was King and Country, who were an Australian man band who rocked. I'm typing this as I am watching them so I must go and experience the musicá! 

Day 2: Linda Marburger

As the lyrics to the song go…

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

 

Tonight at Main Stage we sang this song and I was thinking that it’s a great song to describe what God is doing in the lives of our teens at CHIC.  In the midst of schedules, humidity, sweat dripping down our backs (literally) and early mornings, we are settling into routines and getting to know each other.  Kids are making new friends within our KCC family and with kids from other churches.  In many ways, it seems amazing today was only our second full day here!  But God is definitely here and He is at work.  We can see Him making a difference in kid’s lives already.  I’m excited to see what happens as the week progresses.

 

Tonight LaCrae was the performer.  Oh my gosh!!  The kids were so excited!!  He was not only the musical performer but also the speaker.  There isn’t enough time to describe his whole speech but here are a few quotes that stuck out to me:

 

Who you think you are is based on who you let define you.

 

If you live for the world’s esteem, you can’t live for God’s esteem.

 

Your ministry is where your feet are.  

 

You’re going to have to sacrifice the rewards of this world in order to gain the eternal ones.

 

There’s no such thing as a secret disciple.  Is there anyone in your life that would be surprised to know you are a Christian?

 

You get the point.  The kids loved the performance!  Some of the girls in our small group were raving about it numerous times tonight.  It wasn’t exactly my cup of tea but I loved watching the kids loving it.  

 

Thanks for the sacrifices the KCC family has made in order for this group to be here.  It is worth it.  God is going to do great things in the lives of these kids.  He has already started working.  It’s awesome to get to see Him work!

Day 1: Hannah Hren

Yesterday, Sunday July 12th was our first full day here at CHIC! We all woke up early as we met to eat breakfast together at 5:30 AM in order to leave for White Water River Rafting at 6. Though most of us got little sleep leading up to it, we made up what we could on the 2 hour bus ride to the river.

I think our group could all agree that the rafting was one of the best things we've done here so far. The weather was warm and the water wasn't too cold, and we all got drenched. Which included watching Ruby and her group fall into the river after flying through a rapid. 

When we arrived back to campus, we finally got to explore the HUB, which is where the CHIC staff has set up activities such as inflatables, crafts, snow cones and the large outdoor pool. A large group of us took the time to see what there was to offer, as we enjoyed 3 boxes of free pizza (which we couldn't finish so we decided to offer the leftovers to other students from around the country) and Evan blared music from the speakers attached to his backpack. 

After dinner we finally got to wait in line for Mainstage. We passed the time by playing games and singing from the top of our lungs with other churches from the PNW. One hour later we were able to rush into the stadium and stake out our seats. We got the very front rows!! The music lead by the Chic Band was incredibly uplifting, along with the speaker Ben Stuart who shared his message on how Jesus is a warrior and that even though we may fall and evil tries to grow within us, God will always take us back and continue to let us grow in our Faith. 

These last two days at CHIC have been amazing and I can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings!! Please continue to pray for our health as some students have had a difficult time adjusting to the heat here in Tennessee, as well as pray for continuing the great weather we have had! 

Thanks for all your constant prayer and support!

-Hannah Hren

Tennessee Bound

Well we made it all safe and sound. We even have Russ Jones Josette Esperanza Lake Jennie Connelie Thomas Connelie and Ted Stephens surprised us group for a few days! I can't wait to see and hear what God does with these 47 this week! Pray for us this week!