Be Thou An Example

Over this weekend there has been a youth convention at church. It is held every long weekend in March and this year it was held in Launceston (it alternates between Hobart and Launceston). It is for all the youth in our church in Tasmania aged between 14 and 18 years old. The theme for the convention this year was taken from the scripture in 1 Timothy 4:12 which is 'Let no man despise thy youth, but be though an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity'.

Towards the end of last week all I heard Aaron saying was 'I wish I didn't have to go to convention - I deal with teenagers all week!'. Aaron is one of the Young Men's leaders in our ward, and really wasn't looking forward to it, as by the end of the week he is exhausted and really wanted to have the weekend to relax. On the other hand I would have loved to have been able to go all weekend. I used to love it when I was working in Stake Young Women's and often wish I could hang out with the youth again. I kept telling him that it would be very different to school, as the youth are awesome and he should just go and have fun.

On Friday night he got home really late after the first activity, and was so pumped! He said that they had a great night - and he was really looking forward to the whole weekend. On Saturday Aaron spent most of the day at different activities - starting off with a service project at Newstead Heights School (Noah's school!), then some team building activities and later on a formal dinner/dance. Aaron was asked to be the MC at the dinner dance and I heard from at least 10 people that he 'made the night' and did an excellent job. From what I heard he had lots of fun and got the youth really involved in different things during the night . He even made the leaders have a dance off! He obviously outdid himself as he came home not feeling very well and had gastro all day yesterday! He didn't get to go to any thing on Sunday and was really disappointed. Sunday is always a highlight so it was sad he had to miss it -they even had a live broadcast from the USA with Kenneth Cope.

Aaron keeps saying how different all the youth are to kids at school. He said there was not one of them who caused any trouble and the whole weekend just had a different feel to it. They would all put down their cameras and mobile phones down and have a dance and he said it was so nice to not hear all night 'someone took my phone' or 'someone texted me and is going to come and bash so and so'. Some of the things that he has to deal with at school is crazy and he said it was just so nice to get away from that and deal with great kids all weekend.

This morning he was feeling quite a bit better, and we were going out to see our friend Marlo, so on the way we called into the Riverside pool where they were having their last activity.

Of course President P. was in on the action with all the youth. He is just a big kid at heart which is why everyone loves him (but don't tell him I said that!).

When we arrived we could hear all this chanting. They were playing some game where you go around the circle and have to chant in order and if you say the wrong thing you are out. They were having heaps of fun with it.


The boys came for a look and had a little paddle while we were there. It wasn't really what I would consider a nice swimming day, but at least the sun was out. The days are definitely not as hot as they have been and have that autumn feel in the air.

The leaders were looking very relaxed and relieved today that it was almost over.


From everything we have heard it has been a great convention and the kids have all loved it. We are lucky to have such great youth in our stakes - except for these two of course! ;)


Supposedly there were a few people who went home not feeling so great. Aaron was so disappointed that he had to miss the last two days of convention, and is already looking forward to the next one in Hobart (notice Noah trying to look ultra cool to try to fit in with the youth!;).