We left the city.  We left cell phone range.  We left paved roads.  We left indoor plumbing.  Unfortunately we DIDN'T leave the rain, the cold, or those pesky Minnesota mosquitoes!  I've done a fair amount of camping in my life, but my first trip to Wilderness North, the Tentmaker camp in northern Minnesota, was about as rustic as I have experienced.  Beyond the living in platform tents and the outhouse experience, there was the rather unique "shower facilities."  A wood fire was built under a 50 gallon drum filled with water.  You drew some hot water from that drum into a five gallon bucket and evened it out by adding cold water from another drum.  Then you and your bucket went into an open-to-the-sky cubicle and showered yourself with a milk jug scoop.  I know that sounds horrifying to some of you, but I have to admit, I was amazed what a wonderful feeling shower you can get that way, even in 50 to 60 degree weather.  (Not that I want to continue that regimen at home...)
 
It wasn't all austerity, though.  The food was fantastic!  Nothing fancy-but it was all eaten outdoors, where food always tastes best.  And hot coffee after a cold wet night tasted absolutely heavenly.  The youth ground wheat into whole wheat flour and we baked our own fresh bread, which was also out of this world!
 
The best part of the experience, though, was the youth and the leaders and the leadership training that took place.  You would have been very proud, as I was, of the excellent teaching done by Patty Bringolf and Ann Ebbert.  Patty also led the music for the week.  The youth were amazing-very engaged, very cooperative, very little complaining despite the difficult week of weather we had.  Tim Lance, Mallory Spieth, and Adrienne Isaacs attended from Hope.  They were joined by some other top notch youth from Findlay St. Paul U.M.C. and two churches from Minnesota.
 
Leadership Quest helps youth examine in very intentional ways what God is calling them to be and do with their lives.  It gives them material to learn and skills to practice, but more importantly space and quiet in which to think, dream, and pray.  The long term results of this camp will be determined by how each youth decides to internalize and apply the lessons they learned in their walk with Christ and the ways they decide to serve him with their lives.  I think some excellent seeds were planted, and I anticipate that God's Kingdom will see excellent fruit.
 
Our youth and leaders were able to have this experience because many of you have chosen to support the ministries of Hope Church with your regular and generous gifts.  Can I tell you how much I appreciate your life changing faithfulness?  I doubt that I adequately can, but I believe that some day God will.
 
Yours for growing Christian leaders,

 Tom Hoover, pastor