Where do i start...ok the retreat, we went to Chico on tuesday afternoon. Arrived at this amazing site, it was originally a hotel built in the 1920s, apparently film stars used to go and stay there. They have built little cabins around the hotel which me and lil stayed in. the unmarrieds had to stay in the hotel(girls) and in some shed outside and servants quarters (boys). We had dinner then went to the meeting. The area near the meeting place was smelly cos theres a hot spring near by with sulpher in it, but its wasnt too bad. The water also had a strange sulpher taste!The area was beautiful though with big cliff things around us, and waterfalls a short hike away.

The meeting was really good, they had prophetic artists painting at the front and the speaker was good, some interns were asked to speak what the holy spirit was asking them to, so some spoke, one sang, some danced. and we had a good time of worship. On the way into each meeting the 2nd years had to do a fire tunnel, so to get into our meeting the 1st yrs had to go through it, so the meetings were quite drunken, esp the 2nd years. a few people got healed, back problems etc.
Wednesday, we queued for breakfast, women all went 1st (culture of honour) then men, which was nice because we all talked to new people each meal time.

We then split into revival groups and played an ice breaker, then split into smaller groups and shared about ourselves, our vision and calling, families etc and prayed for each other, after that we all stood in a circle and played prophetic duck duck goose, so someone in the middle and everyone calling out words for them. then the half the class stood facing the other half and we moved round in a cicle and the outside had to prophecy over the inside. only 4 words per person. they called it popcorn prophecy. We got some good words, nothing major, i got peace, beauty, kiwi fruit!?! i really cant remember any of mine or lils really.Lil said a word from God to someone that had been a huge thing over their life, and their name actually meant the word.Lil is learning to hear the voice of God so accuratly!! We then had to switch, and i just couldnt do it. so i told Crystal our group pastor and she got everyone in the middle who found it hard and they all prayed for us. Then we all prayed for crystal because she was preaching that night, and i had a picture God had given me for her. i told her after (whilst crying, always happens dont know why) and she said it was spot on for her, so yey God. I definatly work in pictures NOT words!
We had lunch then went to the pool, and swam and played etc. was fun. Then had dinner and met more lovely people. then the evening meeting!!!

It was a gooooood night, Crystals preach was amazing. about intimacy with God and fire. you cant have the fire without the intimacy or youll burn out. it was about grace, and just resting in his grace, because we cant do it on our own striving. we shouldnt be striving, Jesus died to give us LIFE, his yolk is easy and burden light. Then Crystals interns each gave a word. they called some people up from the 1st yrs who God had highlighted to them, and said they saw amazing futures for them. And for our year group, one intern had the word simplicity. Just keep it simple, keep our eyes on jesus and it will be simple.

After we had a time of worship, then a fire tunnel.
i was feeling quite tired and not really excited. then i went over to sit with my friends, one of them started massaging my and sarahs back, when she was done, i was already feeling whacked(with Holy spirits presence), so we all queued to go through the fire tunnel and i was out of it completely. could hardly walk i was laughing and falling. so FUN. people where on the floor after and my friend was just leaning on a wall with her face squashed up against it, eyes shut, there was so much of God presence there, there was nothing else to do but slouch or lie or laugh.

The band stopped playing, they put dance music on, we cleared away the chairs, turned off the main lights, and just danced for Jesus. everyone was going for it, not worried about what anyone thinks, just dancing in complete freedom. People got healed that night.

So after TRYING to walk sensibly back to the cabin we went up to the lobby of the hotel and lots from our revival group was there, we played games and talked (some still drunk)(and some playing ultiamte ninja) til 1 in the morning.a good night was had by all.

Next morning, out at 8 for breafast, then packing, photos and home.
Good times!!

This evening me and lil went out to our new friends Ben and Sarah, newly weds from sydney AUS. then we all went out for a thai meal which was lovely. They have a pool and hot tub, so we will be making use of that in the near future, and we have been invited to stay with them after school finishes near the beach in australia.:)

This evening lil and ad have gone out to the pray house at the church to pray for an hour, we each do an hour a week at a set time so they will have 24hr prayer going on all over the city.

Tomorrow we are going into school for about 3-4 hours to make a journal, then each person gets prophesied over by 2nd yrs, Josh and Em have gone to retreat now thurs-sat and they had there journal making day on tues, and said their prophesies were amazingly accurate and emotional.so im looking foward to ours!!

love you all. thankyou for reading. xxxxxxxx