Yesterday I rolled out of bed at 5:30, stubbed my toe on the way to the shower, and realized there was not enough milk in the fridge for my wife and I so I left it for her (I sacrificed myself by going to get 2 donuts rather than having Special K, it was tough but I got over it). Then I drove listening to KNBR 680, Giants Talk Radio until I pulled up to Immanuel to spend my day chaperoning a gaggle of Jr High students on their trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain.
I got on the bus and sat with the Youth Pastor from Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church, his name was Lee (I guess his name still is Lee, but this was yesterday, so it was Lee and I assume it is today, but I haven't talked to him so it is hard to say.) We talked about the usual stuff, programs, baseball, family, God, the important things (and definitely not in that order). We got off the bus and we were in charge of 18 Jr High Boys for the next seven and a half hours. It was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Someone told me once the using an exclamation point in your writing is like laughing at your own joke, and since I am hilarious I use multiple exclamation points!!!)
We had a lot of fun, we had a student ride his first roller coaster (Booya, my red-headed friend Carter!!!), someone (J. Zamudio, no thats too obvious, Jonathan Z.) spent 20 dollars trying to win a seven foot banana who had dreadlocks and sunglasses, and we went on every major roller coaster in the park.
I know most of you are thinking, that was nice of Peter to sacrifice his day off to go hang out with students for 16 hours, and to you I say, I didn't I will take Friday off. "What do you mean you will take Friday off? You played on Roller Coasters and tried to throw red rings over bottle caps to win prizes that don't fit through a standard sized door"
I know at times it seems weird that a work day for me is going to Six Flags, it may also seem weird that sometimes for work I walk around WalMart trying to figure out new ways to get our students totally messy. (I figured out how to shoot shaving cream through a squirt gun last year, I am being heavily recruited by Harbro Inc.) The fact of the matter is, I spent 16 hours doing ministry yesterday, actually 15 hours and 55 minutes, I had to go number 1. But I got to establish and reestablish relationships yesterday, I got to talk to 8th graders about moving up to High school, I go to figure out the things the love to do and the people they don't enjoy being around and why. I got to put my finger on the pulse of their world from sun up to sun down.
I was exhausted at the end of the day and it doesn't help that I am off caffeine and we stopped at a Starbucks on the way home, all the Junior Highers looked like 5 foot tall cups of Pikes Place Roast. I kissed my wife goodbye when she was in bed that morning and I kissed her when I came home while she was in bed (I am not entirely convinced she ever got up). I didn't get to see my son at all yesterday, and I didn't get to watch Chuck. I do it for the Lord, but I won't sacrifice my most important ministry, my family, that's why I won't be here on Friday, I won't answer phone calls or text messages, I won't email you. I will be hanging out, eating cheerios and watching Little Einsteins with the most handsome 13 month old in the world.
I love doing ministry, but I love my family more, and for you Jr. Highers who haven't stopped reading because you are bored reading about my family, I love you all and I will see you at Youth tomorrow night!!!
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