Many students embarked on mission trip retreats from Jan. 9 – 10 and an MLK weekend ski retreat to strengthen friendships and deepen faith. Over the first weekend of January, the mission trip teams spent time preparing for their upcoming mission trips over spring break by preparing activities and sharing their faith journeys. Meanwhile, the ski retreat group traveled to Winterplace in Ghent, West Virginia to hit the slopes and enjoy time with friends and teachers over the long weekend later in the month. Both retreats aimed to give students space to grow and express themselves spiritually with plenty of fun incorporated in the schedule.
Sophomore Jordan Hubbell attended the ski trip and said, “Much of my weekend consisted of being out on the slopes, and when we weren’t skiing, we were all hanging out while eating, having devotion and just playing games.” With structured check-in times for meals and skiing from morning to night, the retreat blended freedom with routine. Hubbell learned patience as she developed her skiing skills, explaining that “falling down, waiting in long lines, or getting stuck behind a slow skier.” Hubbell is grateful for her ski retreat experience, especially “all of the laughs shared with my new friends and conversations on ski lifts” which were the most memorable parts of the trip.
Junior Will Daugherty will participate in the Costa Rica mission trip and used the retreat weekend as an opportunity to take advantage of the retreat’s intentional faith focus. The group traveled to junior Jack Bennison’s lake house for the weekend and spent time playing games and sharing faith journeys with each other. Daugherty said, “God gave me a lesson about creating space for Him and myself; he showed me in a really powerful way that faith is something I have to invest in and dedicate special time to in order for it to grow.” The retreat was a pivotal point in Daugherty’s faith journey as it motivated him to take intentional steps in his faith each day. Daugherty cultivated a strong sense of community with the other people on his mission trip while watching the football game. Daugherty said, “I had the chance to hang out with people I didn’t know yet and grow closer with them,” which will make the connections during the mission trip deeper. He also developed a better connection with one of his leaders who give him advice throughout the weekend about learning from God. Daugherty is grateful for the mission trip retreat since he had the chance to make new friends and be more introspective to how he can take charge of his faith in his daily life.
Senior Jackie Dwyer will travel with the mission trip to DR Constanza, and they spent the mission retreat weekend playing games like SPUD and catchphrase. Playing lots of games together allowed everyone to “get to know each other as a group,” and Dwyer said, “God taught me that it’s good to be with people different from your everyday life, because you create relationships you would’ve never had.” From the mission trip retreat, Dwyer took away new friendships and excitement about what the Lord has in store for the mission trip to the DR. Dwyer said, “I went to Belize last year and bonded with so many people. I can’t wait to make new friends this year and serve a new community.”
Overall, all retreat groups spent time growing in their faith, but they spent time in fellowship together as well that provides each student with a support system to continue to build their relationships with God.
