Three days, two nights, God, and a whole lot of friends. That’s what Kate Connors ‘18’s Martin Luther King Jr. weekend consisted of at her YoungLife retreat, Polar Bear Weekend.

475 people, including herself, all went to Bastrop, Texas to camp at Pine Cove Silverado. Their mission: find God and have fun with friends, all without technology.

“My experience was great,” Connors said. “I got closer to my friends and God, I learned a lot and had a great time with the all activities. We did obstacle courses, had a food fight, jumped into the cold lake, and had a lot of free time around camp. It was just amazing.”

The sight was definitely something to see. A clear lake and cabins full of teenagers expressing themselves, not being afraid of who they are, is something you don’t get to see everyday. Connors claims it was one of the best weekends of her life, that there is nothing quite like finding yourself in a place like that, surrounded by acceptance.

“There was a point where we had ten minutes to be by ourselves and we could explore the camp ground,” Connors said. “I went out on a bridge near by to and looked up at the stars. It was just so beautiful. The sky was clear and the stars were great.”

But this trip was more than just friends and a pretty view to her. She had been struggling with her faith recently, and having a hard time deciphering what is real and what isn’t. With so many people saying so many things, she felt corrupted. She needed some peace of mind and some kind of sign to restore her faith in God.

“My parents don’t go to church and many of my friends aren’t religious so it can be difficult sometimes,” Connors said. “I have been in a few situations where I feel pressured to do something that is considered sin in the Bible. I don’t always know how to handle situations like that and sometimes it’s almost tempting. I needed this retreat. I needed to be reminded that everything would be okay.”