This summer the Reformed Youth Services youth convention was held at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID. After traveling to Biola, Dordt, and Cedarpoint University for the last several years, the kids were initially disappointed they didn't have to travel this year. But after being on campus for a week without phones, they agreed that they could have been anywhere! Anna was able to attend as a "super senior" since last year's convention was canceled due to COVID. Having our three kids attend along with 25 other youth group members was so exciting for Russ and me. We also loved having two youth groups (one from California and one from Michigan) attend our church the Sunday before the convention.
Our youth group welcomed the other 750 or so attendees with a skit on Idaho the first evening. The theme this year was "Be the Light." We enjoyed five main session talks by Pastors Bob Van Manaan and Nick Smith, and several workshops, including one by Pastor Russ Herman on "Idol Factories." On the "Day Away" we enjoyed whitewater rafting on the Payette River. Seth joined a different raft (he's so social that I teased him that he probably knew everyone's name by the end of convention week) but we all agreed we loved being on the river!
