Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The LaPorte Pre-teen Retreat

by Lori Steinhiser

Lions, tigers, bears…and 16 Tweens…oh my!! Manna House was bursting at the seams with this energetic and enthusiastic group of kids between the ages of 9-13. SCYL youth director, Kurt Fekete flew in from Maine to explore the deeper meaning of animals in the Bible with kids from Indiana and Michigan.

It was such a pleasure to be a part of this community while they worked hard (and played hard) (and ate…and ate…and ate…) together, learning about God, themselves and each other. We discovered that animals in the Bible symbolize feelings that we have inside. In our sessions we learned how the snake reminds us of the consequences that we face when we fail to resist the temptations of the material world. The many stories from the Bible involving fish and birds teach us to pay careful attention to our thoughts and actions. Stories of the lion symbolize a powerful love of God, or in a negative sense, temptations of love of self. The retreat sessions closed with the lamb, an image of the Lord representing gentle, kind and innocent love of angels in the highest heaven.

Rousing games of Freeze Tag, Rabbit and the Fox, Red Rover, Red Rover (short-lived, since Leo fell like a board in round one…“whoa.”), Triangle Tag, Sardines, and Catch Phrase, as well as creative mod podge mosaic madness and snake braiding, and a whacky, out-of-order viewing of Prince Caspian filled in the time between sessions.

Kids and youth leaders alike left excitedly talking about our fabulous experience and when we can get together to do it again at camps, Convention and retreats. Wow!

Many thanks to LaPorte New Church for providing the nurturing space for these seeds to be planted, and to local youth leaders Dawn Fox, Lori Steinhiser and Lansing’s Rev. Jenn Tafel for all of the time and love you pour into the hearts of our youth. And, of course, a HUGE thank you to Kurt…we all are so blessed by your passion and service through the SCYL.