So after our long northern tour, we were able to rest for a few days before playing a Sunday service in Topeka at Cornerstone Community Church. Another day of break and we were off to Florence, KS to Morning Star Ranch for a weeklong camp for highschoolers. Now these highschoolers came from the inner cities of Dallas, Chicago, and Wichita. There were about 120 students attending the camp this week--the largest camp Morning Star has ever seen! We learned when we arrived that the unusually large amount of students would require us to counsel as well as lead worship. I must admit that I was not prepared for task of counseling and really was quite terrified.

But God is good. He's proven that over and over this summer and this week was no exception. We saw many hearts changed and we got to connect with the students on a deeper level: God was truly at work! Much of the work God was able to do can be credited to the awesome speaker, Dave Gass. Dave challenged the kids and pushed them to search for their own faith and to live it out. I would classify the transformation of many students from the beginning of the week to the end as nothing other than a miracle.

Our week was not without its trials, however. The major one we encountered was the consequence of a little "friendly competition." Yeah, right. Everyone was way too into this team competition (yellow, you know!). At the beginning of the week, students were split into three teams (red, blue, yellow), which competed against one another for points. Points could be earned through games and memory verses. I don't quite remember which of us where on which teams, but what's important is that Joanna was on red and they were losing (ha, ha), so they needed to win one of the late night games called The Amazing Race. Teams went to different stations and did different tasks, first team finished wins, you get it. So the red team reaches the task at the baseball field where they have to carry fellow team members on their backs or be carried around all of the bases. So Joanna, hurriedly and without thought (tisk, tisk), puts a kid on her back and begins running. Yes, and well, that extra weight needs to be taken into consideration when running, Joanna. In short, she hyperextended her left knee and fell to the ground in pain. She was taken to the nearest hospital and, through many hoops and much prayer, we have learned that her posterior something ligament is partially torn (that's the PCL, I'm trying my hardest here) and that she does not need surgery. An answer to prayer.

All in all, it was an awesome week. More posts will be coming soon (hopefully)!

Kayla

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=826523572217741798

1st pic: The outdoor concert in Gettysburg, SD
2nd pic: South Dakota Badlands
3rd pic: group shot in front of Mt. Rushmore

Hello everyone!

The i268 team has returned from our 3 week tour throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska. We had a lot of fun and experienced a lot of new things. Some of the highlights were: Befriending Jason Garland and recording some of his songs including "Skyline Drive", being able to get to know everyone we came into contact with especially at Beacon Bible Camp in Montana, seeing the hospitality and love people showed for us, paintballing and shooting off fireworks in Gettysburg, SD, getting to Minot, ND and finding our name plastered everywhere including, but not limited too, waterbottles, and of course how could we forget the amazing time we had at Junior Camp here at Tabor getting to know 350 4th-6th graders?

We started off with the week long Junior Camp in which Trent, Luke, and I (Brandon) served as counselors as well as the members praise band. The Saturday camp ended, we loaded up the van and heading off to Bethesda MB church in Huron, SD to play a Sunday morning service followed that evening with a concert at Bethel MB church in Yale, SD. The next day we got up early to drive to Beacon Bible Camp near Wolf Point, MT to play at a senior high camp all week. There was only around 15 campers there, so it was great getting to know each and every one of them. That weekend we played in 3 different places: Gospel Fellowship Church in Frazer, MT on Friday, in a band shell Sat. night and Sunday morning in Minot, ND, followed by a nursing home and Harvey MB church in Harvey, ND all on Sunday. The following Tuesday we playing an outdoor concert in Gettysburg, SD and then had a few days off until Saturday when we drove to Rapid City, SD to play at the Central District Convention. We played here Sat. and Sun. and then drove to Byron Bible Camp on Monday in Huron, SD again for a concert and then a program at Ord Evangelical Free Church in Ord, NE. We also got to visit the South Dakota Badlands and Mt. Rushmore in our very limited spare time. Whew!!

All in all, we had a really good three weeks. God worked in some amazing ways, and I feel that we've planted some seeds in people's lives that will now have the opportunity to grow and mature. We've raised questions about Who is God? Why do I have desires? and what should I do with the desires I have while still living within God's will? We've stretched ourselves and each other, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally. Thanks for all the prayers! Keep on praying, we can use all the prayer we can get. God's got some great things to do in and through us yet, and we're excited to see what those things are!

God Bless Everyone!

Today marks the end of an era for me, my time with i268 has come to a close.

Three and a half years ago I was one of the few witnesses to hear the first i268 song ever played, "Blessed Be Your Name." On a cold, ice-covered day in January of 2005, I sat in the Historic Church at Tabor College with an eager sense of anticipation. I knew at a certain level that something special was happening, not just for me, but for every member of this rotating team. I remember thinking that this is the place where the MB Church started in America and I wondered what God was up to with this eager group of followers. What developed was easily more significant than I ever imagined.

At the time, "Blessed" was a deeply moving, heart-felt worship tune for our family. I couldn't sing the line "You give and take away" without developing a lump to my throat. Our family had returned to Hillsboro with lots of needs; a new job, a new home, a new start, and a new sense of calling from our seemingly distant God.

Through thousands of miles, hundreds of concerts, and countless hours of conversations with these energetic students, God has brought about something new in my life! It can only be described as renewed hope. Hope that the mission that God entrusted to people will prevail. Hope that God will continue to use broken, but willing, people to build His upside down Kingdom. Hope that even in the midst of the noisy culture the still small voice of God is calling us to walk in the way of Jesus.

Today, the last i268 song I heard them play was "Every Move I Make." While I watched hundreds of kids wiggle their way through Junior Camp this week I was reminded of just how old I am, and how much harder it is to move than when I was a teenager. I watched the current i268 members struggle to keep up with the energy of these young campers. While sun burns (ouch Luke!), shin splints (stand still Kayla!), sore voices (sing from your gut Brando), back aches (whoa Joanna!), knee surgeries (stand tall Tobi), abundant hairyness (yes that means you Kyle and David), and weariness (You give it your all, like you always do Trent!) hampered the mood at the end of this hectic week, I stood proud knowing that God is going to be with i268 every step of the way.

May God richly bless you as you seek Him out on the road of life this summer! May you find Him most powerfully in the places you least expected Him and be reminded that God is never far away, for He lives in each of your hearts!

Howdy all...

So, this morning we finished a conference at Willow Creek Community Church. Since worshipping with David Crowder Wednesday morning, we've been challenged and instructed in ways to lead worship and play music. Along with soaking all of that in, it was interesting to contrast our setting and our ministry with that of a mega church of 20,000 people that ministers to the upper middle class. It's definately been a trip of insight and inspiration.

Looking back a bit.... We started our summer with a long weekend to Colorado visiting High Plains, Belleview, Cornerstone, Garden Park, and Trailhead churches with a stop at Sr. High camp. The trip definately brought us together as a group both relationally and musically. The finale was definately the grandest stop of our trip. With those from Trailhead, we had the priveledge of performing at and helping throw a party for 15 foster kids in Denver that rarely get to experience one special day for themselves. It was swell. Those kids were so amazing! They just needed love and to see how they had been so showered in it for the past few days really impacted us. The whole thing was actually a week-long camp at Colorado Christian University for about 16 foster children ranging from 5-9.

Then we had a short break and were back to work again with a service at the Lighthouse Church in Wichita and a performance at Little Pleasures.

That's really been our summer so far... enjoy some pictures and uh... see you all around.








1st Picture: On the Kansas/Colorado border
2nd Picture: Willow Creek Community Church during the arts conference
3rd Picture: Giordanos Pizza - downtown Chicago
4th Picture: band pic on the streets of Chicago
5th Picture: band pic in an outdoor amphitheatre - Chicago

It's been a busy two weeks for i268. With eight events already under their belt, things are really starting to gel. This week we travel to Barrington, IL for a three day training conference called the Willow Creek Arts conference. For more info on this event check out their website.