It's Spring!

Though there are rumors that the temperatures will drop at least once in the next week, I have fully committed myself to the fact that spring is finally upon us. Thank God. We'll since I haven't made a post all year, I have a lot to write about. But since there are so many things that have happened over the past few month, it would be hard to talk about all of them... so I'll give the highlight reel:

The Turkey Supper -- the number of youth who showed up to help was great, more than anyone -- but jonathan ;) -- expected.

The Book Drive for Malta--37 boxes of books from our congregation alone is awesome!

Confirmation -- The Confirmation Class has done such a phenomenal job and have shown so much growth spiritually, emotionally, and as individuals. This is a big decision and an important step in one's faith life and they have met the challenge with total awesomeness... that's right, total awesomeness (and maturity, thoughtfulness, blah blah blah)

The Different Drummers Interview/Taping -- If you don't know how proud I am of the youth group for how great of a job they did, let me put it this way: I was extremely proud... think I was gloating about it for weeks.

The Dessert Auction/Spaghetti Dinner -- Again, the number who have shown up to help and who are committed to the mission trips of Franksville UMC is great.

Alright, I think that is enough for now... there is so much more to write about, but it would be a bit exhaustive and maybe a little exhausting to read. We should all be extremely thankful for the wonderful youth of this congregation; but you all know that!

Jonathan

New Year!

It has been a long and somewhat uncertain summer for all of us at Franksville UMC. But summer is over and so is most of that uncertainty! Sure there will be some transitions now that Pastor Kaye is sure to be back with us, now that we are ready to move into our new sanctuary, and now that the Sunday School year is about to start, but I know that the growth possible through these transitions will be both great and rewarding.

As for the youth group--things are already in full swing and I am really looking forward to another great year with you all!

We have a busy year coming up, what with the addition of Confirmation, and I am really excited to see this year's confirmation class grow over the course of the next seven months!

I am hoping to blog a bit more this year and I, again, I don't think I can say how excited I am for this year to take off!

Jonathan

Wildfire! Day 5 Continued

Alright, now that I have gotten some sleep and (more importantly) some coffee, it's time for a bit more about yesterdays trip to the falls. Everyone loved it. We were able to swim underneath one of the waterfalls and then jump through it to ride the rapids. Some of us weren't too keen on the idea of all that so some of us just swam and played in the rapids and climbed on the rocks while others jumped through the waterfall. We also had the opportunity to slide down a natural rock slide! It was a blast; even if it was a little bumpy and tough on the buns...it was made of rock after all.

After the falls we met at one of the pavilions in the park for evening devotionals and worship music. We have a couple of budding dancers, and we have video, so we'll find a way to share it with you soon!

Then, after some time to unwind, we all headed to bed exhausted.

Ok, I think that covers everything from last night!

Until later,
Jonathan

Wildfire! Day 5

Our last day of work has come and gone which means we will be on our way home tomorrow. After breakfast we split up into groups and took off. Jenny took a group to the Damiano center where they spent time sorting clothing for a program that allows individuals in need of clothing for a job interview or whatnot to find an outfit free of charge.

Chris' group spent their day at Solid Rock men's shelter pulling weeds and staining a wheelchair ramp.

My group probably had the hardest work. We helped to set up and serve a picnic for the volunteers of Union Gospel Mission out in a beautiful park on the coast of Lake Superior. We helped not only by serving lunch but we helped by playing in the egg and water balloon toss competitions, to break the piñata, and to test out the volleyball net. The kids who went with me will tell you it was the hardest thin they have had to do on Wildfire to date. ;)

After our work day we took off for Amnicon Falls a great stat park full of waterfalls to play in. It was a great trip. But more on that later!

I am going to keep this short tonight because I am exhausted, but I will do my best to write more on our way home tomorrow!

Until tomorrow,
Jonathan

Wildfire! Day 4

Yet again another good day. Today we mixed ourselves up into different groups and spent the day at several different work sites. Some of us (Drew, Sam, Luke, Zach, and I) spent time painting the mobile home of a great family while another group (Nick, Nate, Blythe, Amanda, and Chris) went back to a job we started yesterday (moving sand to level a pathway) and while part of the group finished that, the others helped out by playing with some little babies. Our third group (Katie W., Chloe, Katie G., Katelyn, and Jenny) spent the morning at a local nursing home hanging out with the residents doing hair and nails.

Now, just to confuse things a bit more, we switched groups again for the afternoon. Here is what I hope is a simplified breakdown: Amanda, Chloe, Katelyn, Blythe, Katie W., and I helped out with VBS at Faith Church while everyone else went to help a woman move to a new home. Though I don't know much about how moving went today (The responses I got from the couple of youth I got to ask about it consisted of a "it was good" and a "fine" so I am assuming it went well) I can tell you that everyone involved with Franksville's VBS should be excited because Camp E.D.G.E seems like a lot of fun. And I know for a fact Amanda was taking mental notes of all that was happening so to be ready to help out next month. Plus, all the girls who are helping with Franksville's VBS said today was good practice, so be ready for some great youth volunteers this year!

After our work day we hit the showers, hopped in the van, and took off for our dinner and a praise concert at a church in Duluth. The food was great and the musician did a fine job.

Then it was off to Canal St. in Duluth for some fun free time before heading up to Enger Tower, an awesome look-out point over the lake. We had pleanty of fun climbing the spiral steps of the tower, taking in the views, and scareing each other in the dark. Ahh, good times.

But in all that we did today, that which entertained the group the most was a $0.15 "Fortune Telling Fish" picked up at one of the shops on Canal St. I think we spent nearly 30 minutes to an hour with that little plastic fish so to decipher it's movements to see who was "in love," who was "false," and who was just "indifferent." The patrons of the Caribou where this all took place were, I am sure, happy to have the constant string of giggles disappear when we left.

Oh, did I mention Luke has a new moustache? It helps to keep his upper lip warm.

Until tomorrow,
Jonathan

Wildfire! Day 3

Our second work day has come and gone. We were split again between the Salvation Army Store (with Jenny's crew--Luke (a powerhouse worker I hear) Zach, Katelyn, and Katie W.); the Salvation Army Corp. (with Chris' team--Blythe, Amanda, Nathan, and Nick ( the box carrying monster); and my team (Chloe (a master painter), Sam, Drew, and Katie G.) at Solid Rock Men's Shelter. By the end of the day the groups were mixed around a bit so to better use our time to complete more projects as we finished our assignments but everyone continued to work hard and we got a lot accomplished. Not only that, but some of us even got some shopping done at the SA Store!

Our day finished out with dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, fries, and slaw at First UMC in Duluth, MN followed by a great night of free time and worship on the beach at Wisconsin Point. It was a great opportunity to expend the last of our energy, do some swimming, collect sand, worship God, collect sand, and--oh, did I mention we picked up some sand? I think I saw Drew pour about a cup and a half out of his shoes when we got back to the church. No joke. But it was all worth it. There is something about being outside, surrounded by beautiful scenery, and next to an bonfire that makes the love of God feel just that much greater.

After worship we came back to the church, dried off and got rid of as much sand as possible, cleaned out the van and started to get ourselves ready for bed. Unfortunately, however, any thoughts of an early bed time (ok so maybe the thought of an early bed time was only in my head) vanished when everyone was offered late night sundaes!

All-in-all it was a great day and we're looking forward to tomorrow!

Until tomorrow,
Jonathan

Wildfire Photos

My phone won't let me put pictures directly into the blog but be on the look-out for a possible web album or other link of some sort. And if that doesn't work we'll get pictures up after we get home.

Jonathan