Middle School Retreat

Volcan Maderas

Tini adding her rock to the post of burdens.

Team Red reaches the summit first. Sweaty, tired, and hungry but everyone did amazing.

Our very brave youth leaders plan a Middle School Retreat every other year which goes to Ometepe Island to hike Maderas Volcano. Ometepe is an island in Lake Nicaragua and Maderas is one of the two volcanoes on the island. We took 31 middle school students on this adventure. This could well have been the hardest thing they have ever done in their life.

The adventure brought out many spiritual lessons on the trail and upon reflection that night around a campfire. We started our hike at 7:30am and reached the top at 12:30pm. Each hiker was encouraged to take up a stone which would represent a burden they would carry up the mountain and leave at the top. Depending on the size of the rock, the weight of it in our backpack could also be a constant reminder of that burden and our need to give it over to God.

Many students mentioned that along the trail they were sure they wouldn't be able to make it. We celebrated the fact that all 31 of them started the trail, made it to the top, and made it down again my 5:30pm. That's not to say we didn't have some sore muscles, blisters, and a few scrapes. Since our students could conquer a volcano, we encouraged them to think about what other goals, battles, or challenges God might have for them in their lives. Just as they became discouraged on the trail, in life there will be obstacles too, but we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who gives us strength.

The students hiked the volcano in groups. There was a lot of teamwork and cooperation needed in this area. In each group there were those that wanted to race ahead and those that lagged behind. At the beginning of the trail there were two boys in our group who were almost throwing up and really suffering physically. They just didn't want to continue and were really discouraged. About half way up the volcano and after a good rest they took the lead and took on a whole new attitude. They were know helping their team over difficult climbs and were setting a good pace for the group. It was neat to see the transformation.