H-O-B-Y that's the way we get down!

As I said in my last post, I finished my leadership experience at HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth leadership seminar) in Phoenix on Sunday, and I am now back home in Flagstaff! The seminar was fantastic and actually taught me more than I expected. Here is what I brought away from the week:

1. I DON’T hate high schoolers. I really thought I did. I thought they were all punks like I was, immature, annoying, and basically my feeling about them could be summed up in a roll of the eyes.
God used the kids at HOBY, especially my group of 13 kids (yellow team whoop!), to change that perspective 180 degrees and inspire me to pursue ministry to high school kids at my church or somewhere else in the future. He showed me the impact of mentoring people at that moldable age and what a great need they have to be empowered and led by example. My kids rocked my socks off, and I am thankful for them. Here is a picture of us on our last day!


2. I am old. Ok, ok, not in my own eyes, but somewhere along the way I unknowingly crossed the imaginary line into “official adulthood” and didn’t notice. The kids at HOBY were kind enough to repetitively open my eyes to it.

Exhibit A: My icebreaker question was “Name the last song you listened to on your iPod.” I proceeded to NOT recognize a single song or group that was named around the ENTIRE circle of 13 students.

Exhibit B: I have not seen high school musical. This is apparently a must.

Exhibit C: In another icebreaker game, we had to find someone who liked the same cartoon as us. The blank stares I received when listing “tiny toons, Bobby’s World, Animaniacs, care bears, rainbow brite” said it all.

Exhibit D: There are brand new group line dances that are replacing the “electric slide” and "Macarena" that I have never seen before! I didn’t even know they existed, but all the kids jumped right into them!

Exhibit E: They made jokes about me being “so old” all the time! I mean, WHAT?!?! When did I become an adult in someone’s eyes? I don’t think of myself that way, but apparently they do. At first I thought it would cause challenges because of the disconnect with them, but it turned out to be very powerful because they were willing to teach me how to relate to them, and I could honestly listen and learn! It also gave me great influence in their lives because they respect me much more than someone their own age. Weird realization, though.

3. I value integrity. It is so vital to a person’s character and respectability. I saw great examples of integrity this weekend and not so good ones. It encouraged me to reflect on my own integrity and strive for more of it. More truthfulness, more kindness in my words, more edifying others, less stereotyping, less assumptions, less cutting down and hurting, more service, more purity in mind and purpose.
There are many more small lessons I took away, mostly as seen through the kids’ behavior and example! I feel inspired and renewed in many ways, but tired and like I NEED renewal in others as I return home. I think tomorrow I will finally be caught up on sleep. We slept 2 hours per night for five nights in a row and were with the high schoolers acting crazy for 17 hours a day. What a trip! (This picture was taken before the pool party. The year's theme was "superheroes")

Tonight I am attending a BBQ with my home group Bible study friends, and tomorrow I will finally see Ironman and play softball at night.