Reformed Youth Convention

This was the first year Russ and I have ever been a part of the Reformed Youth Convention.  Although the convention occurs every year, our church traditionally only sends the youth group when it is on the West Coast.   This year it was at Biola University near Los Angeles. After a 15 hour drive (yikes!) we were treated to a week of solid teaching in five main sessions on the five solas of the Reformation and five (our choice) of twelve different workshops that were offered.   Russ and I were also privileged to each co-lead a Son-Rise group each morning for devotions.  Every evening we enjoyed touching base and debriefing with our own youth group for Son-Set devotions.  Other highlights included the volleyball and basketball tournaments, talent show, praise and worship time, and, of course, the day away to Knott's Berry 

Farm.

The pretty part of the drive

Arriving at Biola University.  Russ had to go to the bathroom for the last couple hours, but we were unable to stop due to LA traffic.  When Glenn missed this entrance thinking that the sign said "RV Entrance" rather than "RYS Entrance" Russ couldn't take it anymore.  When we pulled into another part of the campus to turn around Russ jumped out of the van and found some bushes to relieve himself.  We laughed pretty hard later that evening when Biola security talked to conference attendees and let them know "there are cameras everywhere on campus. Everywhere."

Everyone was given a RYS towel as a gift.

Here are a few of the speakers from the sessions and the workshops answering kids' questions.

My Son-Rise group

Meeting with our youth group for Son-Set devotions.

3-on-3 Basketball tournament.  Russ' volunteer job was refereeing basketball games for 3 hours on Tues and Thur afternoon.

Volleyball Tournament

Waiting to play or just watching the teams.

Late night swimming.  On the first swim night one of our guys accepted money to belly flop off the high dive.  It totally started a strange trend, and you could hear the cheers from the pool all across campus.  

All 800-some of us wore the same t-shirts to Knott's Berry Farm. It made quite a stir across the park.  The park workers often mentioned to us that they had never seen such a large group and "where were we from?"  Great opportunity for our kids to share what was on our shirts!