Things I've Learned on Tour 2008

OK, so Heartbeat Choir tour 2008 is now "history" - oh wait, that was last year. Let's try that again.

The "noise" has subsided on this year's tour... "Beyond the Noise" - HBC Tour 2008 is over. As always, it's bittersweet. On one hand, it's almost always good to be home and this time is no exception. By the time we rolled into the building last night I was tired and I didn't feel 100% well. Also, as is usually the case with teens on trips like this, the closer we got to home, the louder and more crazy the bus got. No sense in fighting it - the kids are going through the same thing the adults are going through - they just express it differently.

On the other hand, it's the "end" of a labor of love. This tour and this program was one of the best things God has allowed me to be a part of. The tour went as smooth as any of us could have imagined - God is good and His hands were all over this. The kids gave us no unexpected or out-of-the-ordinary problems. In fact, they were routinely WHERE we needed them to be WHEN we needed them to be there. Every stop we had comments about how great our kids were and how they blessed those around them.

As the tour progressed, they also did something amazing...

Every youth worker, student minister, choir director and chaperon on just about any trip like this asks their students to expand their world and try to get to know people outside of their close friends. We ask them to do this, but we know it's hard to do. They did it. It was heartwarming to look back and see almost every student sitting with someone else so often that we had hardly any way to tell which seat they had "laid claim to" at the beginning of the tour. It was nothing short of amazing - God was there and He was smiling.

Here's some of the things I learned on tour this year:

• Never let kids go to the pet store while on tour.
• Restrict the use of large fountain drinks on the bus.
• When God sends you somewhere that feels uncomfortable at first, just relax and get ready to be changed.
• Girls are afraid of bugs - even ones that don't bite and are completely harmless.
• Surround yourself with great, Godly people and God multiplies the results.
• Drink wristbands at an amusement park are GENIUS.
• "The Beast" is the best wooden roller coaster I have ever ridden ("Son of Beast" was a bit disappointing).
• Too much of a good thing is bad - case in point - cologne.
• Not all DVD players are made the same.
• Never, ever question what God can do with those that are ready to be molded.

Things I've Learned on Tour Part 2

Ok, tour is over now... Here's the rest of the list. This time I'm not falling asleep while writing them.

• Everyone has spells of "self-preservation" - don't take it personally.
• It is possible to present too much information,
• Control is not always worth the price you pay for it...and often not available at any price.
• You shouldn't judge a Church by it's cover.
• Roller coasters are awesome...simply awesome. Did I say they were awesome?
• Some things just won't make sense...maybe you just don't have all the information of maybe it just doesn't make sense - either way don't spend valuable time trying to figure it out.
• I love meeting new people.
• If you treat people like friends - that's what they become.
• The term "Contemporary Service" is as descriptive as "As Soon As Possible (ASAP)".

Things I've Learned on Tour

• I might actually enjoy taking a group entirely made up of middle school kids on tour more than a group of just high school kids.
• Even in a crowd of people you can still feel alone.
• Sometimes people you don't expect are the ones that make your day...
• Go ahead, be silly and let the chips fall where they may...you'll have more fun.
• There is beauty in everyone.
• Roll with whatever comes your way, leave the worrying for God...things will work out...often better than you expected in the first place ( or than you planned).
• If you want something done the right way, have a back up plan...be prepared to step in and take over.
• Sometimes good people make bad decisions.
• Learn to acknowledge and appreciate those that have a desire to help and give them the chance to do so.
• Kids love simple things.
• Sometimes the last person you expected is the one that touches you the most.
• Make an concerted effort to remember who you are and who is in control.
• Live to serve.
• Serve to Live.
• Kids appreciate it (even if they are not good at communicating it) when you care for them. Never stop, even when you don't think you are getting through.
• Don't be afraid to give complements and tell those around you that you simply are "happy that they are here".
• Give out more compliments that you accept.
• Listen to others.
• Talk to God daily...as much as you can.
• Don't be afraid to delegate...in fact great leaders are experts at it.
• Realize that things happen and to be flexible and enjoy the spice of that flexibility.
• Remind teenagers that memorial sites are just that, and to be aware of those around that may be using their time there to reflect or connect with those past.
• Reserve quiet time for yourself...make the time...it's important
• Embrace those that are different from yourself.
• When you write blog entries while you are falling asleep at the end of a long day of touring there's no telling what you are going to say...