Steubenville Northwest: God Is

So this last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Steubenville Youth Conference for the third summer in a row!! *thunderous applause* If you've never heard of the conference, it's a Catholic youth conference for all high schoolers to meet other Catholic teens, have loads of fun, and, most importantly, grow deeper in their relationship with God and their faith.

I love Steubenville (as I mentioned above, I've been three times). Each and every time I have had an encounter with God that is indescribable. The first year I went, my heart felt literally on fire and I was overflowing with joy (so much so that I walked up to a random guy and gave him a hug). Last year I was overwhelmed because for the first time, I truly realized that God loves me. He died for me. Last year I cried a lot, I admit it :) This year, I got to experience God in a whole new way: through my peers.

Call me a creeper, but during adoration, I couldn't help but listen to everyone around me and look at their faces. Everyone was so on fire with God. As I was looking at their faces, I saw God in each and every one of the people at the conference. It was really crazy!!

Not only is Steubenville a place to get closer to God, it's a place to get closer to other Catholic teens. Our group was pretty crazy, insane, loud (very loud), but we all love God so much that we all got along. Heck, I made one of the guys' nose bleed (on accident!) and he didn't hate me afterwards. In fact, we were all kind of laughing about it. 

Even if you're not Catholic, you should go. There was a guy in our group who wasn't Catholic and he came with us. It was truly powerful to witness his conversion experience at the conference. Now, he is thinking about converting to Catholicism! Yay! Seriously, though, seeing him stand up when they asked "Who devoted themselves to Christ?" brought tears to my eyes. 

The conference is INSANELY powerful (why do you think I've gone for three years and intend on going a fourth?). And now since I've probably bored you with my ramblings, here are some pictures!! Enjoy!!   

Our non-air conditioned bus

There was a huge storm, so we had to camp in a parking lot

Elephant ride at Silverwood Theme Park (all the big
rides were closed because of the storm)

Left to right: My sister Sam and I

Playing with the Canadians :)

There were roughly 1,300 teens there (the theme was God Is)

One of the speakers/rappers/entertainers, Oscar Rivera
a.k.a. "Fluffy"

The music was AMAZING!!

Left to right: Ariana, Theresa, Me, Matt Freud (one of the
speakers), and Sam

Fr. Mike at Multnomah Falls

(Some of) our group at Multnomah Falls 

It's Independence Day!

"Yes, we know, Elly. I don't care, remember? I'm Irish."

Shut up, Art.

    *hem* I'd like to state... For all my anglophility, I do sometimes enjoy being an American. Fireworks, hamburgers, watermelon, country music, fireflies. Other countries have these things too, I know, but with US (PUN FULLY INTENDED) they've got a sort of freedomy tang. Yum yum.

    ANYWHO. I am indeed alive. This blog still exists. *waves hand* Hello, readers. I'm in Tennessee now. For the last time at this house. I'm not going to be sentimental now because that's the last thing everybody needs (and I'm still recovering from the SW).

    No, I'm just enjoying myself and trying to be helpful. I've babysat my dear cousin Dottie all week. She just about two and sort of testing the limits of her cuteness. =D

    Today I lazed around a little - read Tuck Everlasting, took a nap, caught two turtles (Eccleston & Tennant), played with Dottie, watched the Capitol Fourth, ate elkburgers and watermelon, caught fireflies, played Bananagrams..... It was rather glorious and very American with the exception of the siesta and the turtle names. Now I'm listening to fireworks I can't see with The Lion King playing in the background.

     I don't have a lot to say, and now I'm just rambling. Alas, I'd write an American ballad, but it is rather late.

*Francis Scott Key and Liz scoff from a distance*

-shame-

RANDOM THINGS TO WARD OF THE BALLAD-WRITING GHOST;

............. THIRTY ONE DAYS UNTIL THE VISIT.

............. MY RitR CHARACTERS HAVE STARTED TALKING TO ME AND DECIDING TO DO THINGS AGAINST MY WILL (is this good or bad?!??!)

.............. I WOULD ALMOST MISS NEW MEXICO (AND MY CAT) IF I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO MISS THIS PLACE SO MUCH.

............. i need sleep and willy wombo and sherduck are giving me the evil eye.

        

    I hope you enjoyed the worstly written post ever seen here (penned typed by none other than the aspiring author). Talk to ya'll later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- elly

I feel judged.