A few years ago the IA-NE PF group lost a member. Emily Nelson died of a brain tumor when she was 16. A bunch of us traveled to Clear Lake, Iowa for her funeral service. We sang the song Sanctuary at her graveside. Ever since, that song has held a special place in my heart and the others that were there. They say that time heels all wounds. And sometimes it does, but some wounds take a lot longer to fade. Being around everyone at NAPF made me open my heart wide to receive more friends and to learn a lot. This made me a little more vulnerable than I normally am. NAPF is always really close to the anniversary of Emily’s death. The night we sang Sanctuary was only a few days before the anniversary. Some of my friends and I couldn’t help but cry. We left the room so we wouldn’t be a bother. I was amazed by the amount of care everyone showed. I was sure I just wanted to walk back to the dorms by myself, well I was wrong. What I needed is just what I got…tons of hugs and encouraging words. I wish I could personally thank each one of you but that would take all year. So please consider this my thank you.

I heard many people say the next day that that particular vespers time was very special to them and they felt God’s presence with them. I would have to second that emotion. That is not the only time that was absolutely fantastic at this past conference. In fact there are probably too many to mention, but I pray that you will feel God’s love around yourself all year not just at NAPF.

Paul talks about how important acceptance and tolerance of each other is: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7). It makes me smile to think that in the simple act of thinking positive and tolerating the negative, our small group was able to praise God in a way we might never had thought of before. More than singing worship songs, or reading His word, we took a step forward. One that brings the praise of the Lord out of the church and into our everyday lives.

I have been involved in PF as an advisor on the local (Royal Oak) and state (Michigan) levels for over ten years. The hundreds of adults and thousands of PF’rs I have met have had such an impact on my life. To see and know that GOD is working in so many lives and to be a small part of that work has been overwhelming at times. My faith in GOD and my belief in the youth of this great nation have been strengthened by my association with PF. There are so many fine young people across the country that struggle with problems and making choices, but still want to make their spiritual growth a priority in their lives.

I also want to share a personal (fun) part off my life. This year I started playing vintage base ball on a team I started with Pastor John Miller. Vintage base ball is played with the rules and attitude of the 1860’s America. The play of the game is a little slower, more gentlemanly, and for the pure pleasure of the game itself. It is not about huge salaries, individual statistics and egos.

When John Miller moved to the Royal Oak area a couple of years ago, he began to investigate the local opportunities for participating in vintage base ball. As a former member of the Berrien County Cranberry Boggers on the West side of Michigan, he wanted to continue with his interest in the sport.

In late summer of 2003, Pastor John and I were invited to play in an exhibition base ball match at the Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit against a Civil War re-enactment troop. History reports that many soldiers played base ball matches between battles. I had so much fun playing that day that I was hooked.

John’s research determined that there had been no established teams in the rural farming community of Royal Oak in mid-1800. Finding a list of teams that actually did exist in Michigan, he selected the name WAHOO Base Ball Club.

The team colors are "Civil War" Grey and "Union" Navy. The players come from various walks of life and include: a fire chief, dentist, teacher, engineers, students and a minister. Nicknames are important and include: Preacher, Flash, Stone Hands, Rebel, Wheelhouse, Smokey, Outlaw, Smoke Signal, Treetrunk, Scout and Doc.

There are some obvious differences to the game that has evolved into the modern game of baseball. Baseball mitts were not yet invented so we play barehanded. The ball is basically the same as today with the exception that it is made from a single piece of leather shaped like a four petal flower and stitched up on four sides. The "striker" (batter) is not allowed to overrun first base. Any struck ball caught on the first bound (bounce) is an out as well as caught fly balls. The matches are almost as much fun to watch, as they are to play in. There is a unique vocabulary including the terms "hurler", "striker", "behind", "crank", "sacks", "hands dead" and more.

I have re-learned the joy of playing for "fun" that I knew when I was young and how that feeling carries over into all areas of my life. It is important for all of us to remember that Jesus made time to enjoy His life and often brought joy to those around Him. We need to have fun, and be filled with joy, and do those things that bring us joy. The Lord resides in a happy heart.

Can you count on your fingers and toes the number of people it takes to get a conference like this organized? Not just the Co-Directors and officers, who spend an entire year working on making the next conference the best it can possibly be, but the people behind the scenes — employees at the NACCC National Office, the NACCC Commission on Youth Ministries, and the college representatives, including housing people, dining hall workers, and even the janitors who make sure the bathrooms are clean. There are numerous forms to be typed and copied to be included in registration packets. There is someone who takes the information from your registration forms and puts it into a database so we know who you are and how to find you once you get to the conference.

Can you count on your fingers and toes (and maybe put a name and face on them) the number of adult counselors and CITs attending the conference? Without these volunteers, some of whom use their personal vacation time or take time away from jobs without pay and may even have to pay their own expenses to go, there would be no conference. Some counselors have been to NA for more than 20 years

running and leave each year looking forward to the next.

Finally, can you count on your fingers and toes the number of new friends made, new experiences shared, laughs shared, or tears shed at an NA conference? And how about all those hugs (my personal favorite)?

I ran out of fingers and toes long before I got to the end of my list of people who helped me this past year, new friends made, hugs I received. I’m not sure I could complete my list even if I started using the strands of hair on my head. I’m hoping you will take time to think about all the people it took for you to attend NA. And then I’m hoping you will take the time to say a special thanks to a few of them (if you haven’t already).

Understanding Christianity - Samantha (Sammi) Ladd, Secretary

Whenever I ask most of my friends if they think they’re a Christian their answer is, "Yes." When I ask them why, their answers follow normal protocol, "Because I go to church and I believe in God and Jesus." Whenever I hear these answers it gives me this feeling like what have these people been taught in church, and then it hits me. Just because they go to church it doesn’t mean they pay attention or care. It’s so hard for me not to reach out and shake these people and ask them why they haven‘t tried harder.

If I were to tell these people that just because they go to church and pray and believe doesn’t make them Christians most would get angry or look at me dumbfounded. What most people don’t understand is that in order to become a true Christian you have to embrace Jesus into your heart and have FAITH. That’s the key word, Faith, you can’t just believe. You have to put trust in Jesus before you can advance any farther in your relationship with him.

Once you establish a good faith in Jesus you will be able to ask, tell, and give him your whole life. There will be no secrets between you and him because he knows everything that you’re going to do before you even do it, and some of it may make him sad but he’ll always forgive you if you ask. One of my favorite songs best describes this in the second verse. It simply states, "Jesus loves me when I’m good, when I do the things I should. Jesus love me when I’m bad, though it makes him very sad." To me it’s the best way of saying I can make bad decisions from time to time but I’m always loved by him.