The 2009 National Staff Conference ended tonight. Whew.

While our time here had a more relaxed feel than everyday life, we find ourselves mentally exhausted. I feel as if I have been drinking through a firehose the past 8 days. We had the privilege to hear three gut-wrenching, heart-checking, face-melting talks from Dr. Tim Keller. We received challenges from our president Steve Douglass, and from U.S. Campus Staff Director, Steve Sellers. We were blown away by two seminars featuring sensitive material taught by Josh McDowell. We received teaching throughout the conference in various other seminars. We met with leaders of Agape Europe, and had the chance to hear what God is doing throughout Europe. We laughed with Tim Hawkins. We worshipped God with Tenth Avenue North and Lecrae. And finally, we experienced great fellowship with the thousands of other Campus Crusade staff throughout the world.

We feel as if we could spend the next month digesting and decompressing everything we learned. But our time here has been what we had hoped. We feel encouraged and re-energized to return home to Orlando to continue to involve people in God’s work in Italy. I know that we both connected with the Lord in a real way, as He once again displayed Himself as our loving Father who is working all things together for our good.

Below is a short video and some pictures documenting our time at CSU. Enjoy!