So Sad, yet So Glad

It’s time for another episode of So Sad, yet So Glad. Today I’m talking about missing something that has consumed a lot of our time over the years, Youth Group at the International Protestant Church of Zürich.

Both Keri and I have been involved in the youth group at IPC since coming to Zürich. This has included Sunday teachings, occasional activities, and general hanging out with a cool bunch of teenagers. We both have had a ton of fun over the years. Some of our favorite memories are probably the annual “Party on the Mountain”, the youth retreat, and all kinds of fun activities, especially whooping a bunch of kids hinders in go-karting (Keri missed that one), even being kind enough to slam a nice young lady into a tire wall… Most recently I worked with some of the students and started a worship band out of the youth group. I’ve had all kinds of fun hanging, rehearsing, and worshiping with all these kids. Following the most recent “Party on the Mountain”, it was a joy for me to reflect on the fun I’ve had with these kids, watching them grow into mature young adults, seeing their faiths grow, and being able to have adult(ish) conversations with them. I’ve always found it easy to connect with young and old alike, but it was an absolute pleasure for me (both of us really) to poor into their lives, sharing my life experiences and faith, hopefully equipping them and their faith for the future, while being free to act my IQ rather than my age. I’ll never forget these guys and gals and will forever hold on to the memories we made. I will also continue to pray for each of them (you if you’re reading this) and hope that throughout all your lives you will continuously seek the Lord first, trusting in Him for everything, the world will let you down always (it has me…).

Something we are super excited about is American football, and being able to watch it on television without the aid of Skype. As we hang out this Thanksgiving weekend, gearing up for the annual Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, we were so excited that Big Mama just switched to DirecTV so we could watch the Big Ten Network online and catch the game with clear visuals and sound. Unfortunately we are failing at that since the game is on ABC, so back to Skype we go. Also, for the first time since Keri and I each moved here, we get to watch the Super Bowl live and direct, no 6 hour time difference, no avoiding scores & recaps until we can watch a taping, no staying up to stupid hours of the night (not that we did), and we can finally watch the Detroit Lions win a Super Bowl (right…) in living color. All the while, celebrating gluttony as only Americans can with cheese dip, meatballs, fried-fattening foods, laughing our fool heads off at commercials, and wondering, wishing, and praying for the day that D-town gets to the Super Bowl. Good times will be had on February 3, 2013…

More to come in a few days. We hope and pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and for those in the U.S., managed to stay alive through the insanity that is Black Friday (we aren’t writing about that because one of us is excited, the other not so much, you guess which is which).

Another crazy activity Keri came up with. But let's be honest, who doesn't like a crab walk race on a mountain in the woods.

Party on the Mountain standard fare, brats and peeps.

Passing along American gluttony by way of S'mores.

Youth Retreat 2008, and yes, they're real... Gone now though...

Christmas Party 2011, Wii Cow Racing Tourney, he thinks cuz he's small and Asian he can use his powers to make his cow go faster than mine, well he did...