NEW BEGINNINGS

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'Twas a cold, wintry night, and the snow didst come down in droves.

However, the Volvo coped quite well and we had the heating on. As we (myself, my mum and Richard, a friend) ventured along the roadways towards Uttoxeter, in mid-April, despite the weather, I don't mind admitting that there was a swarm of butterflies in my stomach, making their presence very felt.

For all I knew, I wouldn't get on with anybody and I'd hate the whole thing.

Our destination was Denstone College, Uttoxeter...

Our mission, after we chose to accept it, was to investigate an ecumenical youth weekend by the name of New Beginnings... Although I had received some literature (about three A4 sheets) they had that parental quality of giving lots of facts, but still leaving you unaware of what was going to happen to you.

Nevertheless, I was intrigued enough to go...

On arrival at the college, we went to get booked in, were given little plastic discs with our names on and were led off to our dorm. After flinging down our bags, we moved on to a common room in another dorm, where people were playing those "learn peoples' names whilst having fun" games, involving two sponge tennis balls.

Following this, we dined.

Well, everyone else dined, whilst we were still full from the Little Chef.

Then we moved on, and the event really began.

We were divided into small "Family Groups" and so the three of us went our separate ways, and I got to know my group.

For the most part, the weekend was hearing someone talk about some point, and then discussing this in our groups. This was punctuated with general relaxation time, some really good songs (with actions), sleeping and eating.

I have to say that this was a marvellous experience, and it helped my faith to see all of these other young Christians of my age, although there were only about six boys, and the other thirty-four were girls.

It was hard at first to share experiences with the group, but I got over it, and so did everyone else.

By the end of it, I had made lots of new friends, and my group felt almost like family, but without the arguments.

There were hundreds of chances to develop new friendships, from spending time in the groups to midnight pillow-fights in the dorm.

This definitely scores an eleven out of ten in my book, and anyone who is twelve to fourteen inclusive should go!

Simon Withers (age 14)

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