This past Friday night, the Stapleton Salvation Squad met once again.  This time though, we were VERY small in number.  The weather was beautiful outside on Friday night, and I think the thought of spending the evening inside for Youth Group was a bit much for some of the teens.

Little did they know what was coming though!

So, at 7:00, we began - with only 4 teens in attendance.  Bianca, Sterling, Aaron McKoy and one new teen, came into the Chapel, where we gave them their Youth Group instructions.

"Leave."

Yes.  We told them to leave.  We had planned a youth group that would take them outdoors, so they could enjoy the great evening.  Too bad the others hadn't showed up for it.

Well, what we had planned was a Treasure Hunt.  First, Wanessa and I had gone all around the Stapleton area, taping small manilla envelopes with big "X's" on them in certain locations.  Inside each envelope was a piece to a map.  Each piece gave you your next destination, until finally the teens would end up back at the Corps for their prize.

So off they went.  The first stop: the Clifton Train Station.  Now, while they were gone, Wanessa and I took a walk down the street to pick up their "prize" for finishing the treasure hunt.  It was a good prize too, though it took a few minutes to track down and get ready and then bring back to the Corps.  So, around maybe 8:00 or so, thinking that the teens would be half way, or even 3/4 of the way done with their hunt, we ventured back to the Corps.  And there were the 4 teens.  Waiting for us.

My first thought was, "Wow, they did that fast!".  But then the truth came out: "We couldn't find any clue at the Clifton stop".

WHAT?!?!

I know I had placed the clue there myself.  So, now my thoughts were, "Oh great, someone is going around stealing our clues, and maybe even doing OUR TEENS TREASURE HUNT!"

So, now knowing that time was running out, we loaded the 4 teens into the van, and began the Van Treasure Hunt.  First, we headed back to Clifton train stop, where the teens insisted over and over "We looked everywhere!  It's not there!"

I hopped out of the van, and lo-and-behold, there was the clue, right on the stairs, right where I left it.  Silly teenagers.

So, we hopped back into the van, I gave the clue to the teens, and told them they had to direct me the rest of the way, based on the map.

Stop 2: Mobil Gas Station on Bay.  Stop 3: Ballfield on Tompkins.  Stop 4: Dunkin Donuts on Targee.  Stop 5: Library on Clark.  Stop 6: Stapleton Train Station.  Stop 7: Subway on Bay.  Stop 8: Corps (or as they called it, the Corpse).

So, finally, we're back at the Corps.  With the 4 faithful teens from Friday night.  (say THAT 10x fast!)  And, because these 4 teens came out and had a fun time with the Stapleton Salvation Squad, we came in to find that their prize was a large pizza pie!  (Half cheese and half pepperoni!)

Overall, even though our numbers were small, we had a great time!

Just goes to show that life isn't always what it seems.  Sometimes, the world outside looks more inviting that Christianity at times, but if we stick through, our prize will be much greater than a large pizza pie!