Campus Life West Virginia Rafting Trip is a BLAST!
           
What could be better than good friends, good food , beautiful weather and time with God and His word?  NOTHING!  God certainly provided us with all of that and more on the annual Campus Life rafting trip in West Virginia.  This year 15 students from the Brunswick and Collins area journeyed along with 11 adult volunteers to Anstead, West Virginia to experience God’s creation at its finest.  The trip began on June 10th at the Campus Life teen center in Brunswick.  There waiting for us was the new Campus Life Cruiser, a new refurbished school bus emblazoned with the Youth for Christ Name and a remarkable volunteer driver, Howard Eakin.  Once packed up with sleeping bags, coolers, iPods, pillows and people, the crew began its trek to beautiful West Virginia.  Time on the bus provided opportunity for fun and fellowship and gave the students and volunteers time to enjoy one another and develop close bonds that would strengthen throughout the trip.  The eight hour trip (yes, EIGHT hours!) featured lots of singing (sometimes even on key), lots of games (did you even know that there was a game out there called Big Booty?) and lots of potty breaks (mostly for the boys if you can even believe that !). 
Upon arriving in Anstead, the group was meet by Bob and Bill Warren, parishioners at Anstead Baptist church where we were graciously given free accommodations and complete run of the church and parish.   The Warrens were incredibly welcoming and were even so wonderful as to give us access to a cable TV where we could anxiously watch the first game in the Cavalier playoffs!   Sadly, no amount of prayer seemed to bring the Cavs to victory, but He did grant us a safe trip and before long we were all off to bed in order to be ready for the next day’s rafting adventure. 
Monday morning, students and volunteers awoke to French toast, bacon, juice and a remarkable spread of breakfast foods, put together by volunteer, Reba Seward.  This was just the first of many amazing meals served to us on this trip.  Most of us ate better on this camping trip than we ever do at home. (Thank you Reba!)  After morning devotions and a quick head count, we were all off to North American River Runners, where we would brave the New River.    Outfitted in incredibly flattering yellow helmets and bright blue life vests, we divided up into three rafts and took to the water.  The next six hours were a time of fun, fellowship and an incredible opportunity to experience the splendor and vastness of God’s beautiful creation.  Students and volunteers paddled through rapids, swam in the calm current, jumped off huge rocks into the river and generally enjoyed being outside in the beautiful weather that God provided us.  It was truly an adventure to remember. 
Following the rafting trip, everyone headed to the (much needed) showers and then went off to a huge dinner of barbecue and fried chicken, buttered potatoes, green beans and rolls.  Yum!  After dinner, we all loaded up and went to a nearby park where competitions were fierce in the Ultimate Frisbee game, while others enjoyed taking pictures at a scenic overlook.    Thoroughly tired and ready for a rest, the gang gathered at an outdoor fireplace where we made s’mores and got ready to hear from an amazing young guy named Ron Harrison, Jr.  Ron is a student at Malone college where he is studying youth ministry.  Ron gave an amazing testimony to the group as well as presenting the gospel to them.  Ron’s message not only touched to students on the trip, but also impacted the volunteers and brought the groups together in a way that only God could have provided.  His talk led the way for several small group discussions that gave volunteers the opportunity to discuss issues in depth with kids in an intimate way. 
The next morning came WAY too earlier as no one was ready to be up and loaded on the bus.  But, load up we did after cleaning up the church and leaving a heartfelt thank you note to the congregation of Anstead Baptist Church.  What an incredible group of Christians who allowed us to use their facility, without once checking up on us, when all they knew were our names and our mission.  We thank God for His provision and ask His blessings on the Anstead congregation.  After a quick group picture in front of the church, everyone was back on the bus and we were headed on our way back to Ohio.  It was an amazing trip and the relationship between teens, volunteers and Jesus Christ was strengthen and fortified during our experience.   We want to send out a huge thank you to all of the volunteers and financial supporters of this trip.  Without the support of you, we would not have been able to pull this trip together.  Please continue to pray for the students that they may continue to have a fun and safe summer and strengthen their relationship with God. 

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