By Tim Anderson, Associate Pastor of Worship & Youth, Creekside Covenant Church
MUD 2022 was all about one thing: reconnecting. After two years over 150 youth and their leaders gathered at Cascades Camp in Yelm once again. We worshiped, played games, talked, prayed, and ate together. Kids jumped around, talked together, and reminded us all what it means to spur one another on in love.
We spent the weekend diving into our theme, The Blueprint, where Tim Ciccone, Director of Youth Ministry for Make and Deepen Disciples in the ECC, challenged students to ask themselves important questions: Who Is God? Who Am I? Where Do I Belong?
We were reminded that our lives are built on Jesus; that the adventure we are living is worth pursuing even in the midst of great challenges. Students engaged in interactive prayer stations, sang out and lifted hands in worship, and shared in small groups about what God had been doing over the weekend.
We had a ton of fun, too: Jeneeth Pathula from Kent Cov led our session games and our big game outside in the ball field. Erik Cave and I ran Family Feud on Saturday night peppered in with some fun youth group games. Cascades Camp staff and volunteers were so hospitable, as always, and made sure the camp was ready for our kids to, ‘just be kids,’ at camp again.
What stood out the most was seeing youth groups from around the PacNWC gathered again: laughing, eating, playing 9-square, chasing each other around camp. God shows up anytime we meet up and it was clear at MUD 2022, as well. While we all took precautions and Covid tests before meeting at Cascades, we were reminded again of how important it is to be close together again. Even just seeing youth pastors and leaders reconnect, talking with Cascades staff and their families, sharing stories of life together – all of this was so deeply encouraging.
As you continue to support and pray for the PacNWC, please remember all that youth pastors, camp ministries, volunteers and leaders are sharing with our next generation. God reminded us at MUD that together we are the Body of Christ, those given the Holy Spirit to enrich and encourage one another and share God’s strength through times of healing and reconnecting. God is good!