There’s something about my luggage and this corner of the world (this time my CHECK ON bag got lost for a few hours!).

Leigh Sterten and I broke into diocesan youth ministry around the same time. She has been in the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau as director of youth ministry for about 15 years, if my math is correct. She has had me speak to her adults about 2 years ago and invited me back for the youth conference in West Plains MO (a place I had been 18 years ago for a basketball tournament!). And driving through town I saw this sign and had to snap a pic of it!

The theme for this weekend was “Jesus: Unlimited Talk Time”. This theme allowed for a lot of neat connections between the images of using cell phones and our faith life with Jesus.

The house band (I think they may have been from Immaculate Conception in Jackson) did a good job. Their song “God is Good” may be a fixture at future youth rallies….very catchy!

The local workshops speakers were very impressive…Vicki B., Mat H., Troy P., Mandy A., Kim , and Aaron Jahn (Lousiville). I regret I didn’t get to go and see them because teens said such good things about them.

The teens were SO receptive and open…and generous. They collected over $1400 in cash at their closing collection for victims of storms in the Diocese of Biloxi. Not to mention hundreds of dollars in gift cards. I had already seen the generosity of folks from this area [see my December (28?)blog].

I also got a reminder that people begin to look like their pets or vice versa—so do you think Pepi and I look that much alike? Thanks Cece.