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After months of fundraising and preparation, three teams representing four churches (3 Anglican, 1 Lutheran) travelled to Saskatoon from the Lower Mainland on August 20. Walls began to break down quickly as all 20 of us shared a meal at an Italian restaurant near our hotel in Saskatoon. We were even given an insightful glimpse of life on the prairies, as our phones repeatedly buzzed with a tornado warning in our area, and that night some of us witnessed (from a safe distance!) the most incredible lightning storm we'd ever seen. Between our arrival and the beginning of CLAY the next afternoon, we had great fun relaxing in the hotel pool, shopping at the local mall, and exploring downtown Saskatoon. 
On Thursday afternoon, we joined with 300+ youth and leaders from across the country at an urban location spread across 2 churches, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and Knox United. After orienting ourselves to the spaces we'd inhabit for the next few days, we ate dinner and launched into our first Large Group Gathering (LGG). We gathered for worship in St. John's, where our energetic, more contemporary music, with drums and electric guitar, blended so dynamically with the elegant woodwork, intricate stained glass, and traditional quality of the worship space. We were welcomed to the land by an Indigenous elder, prayed together, learned and danced to new songs, then listened as United Church minister Jordan Cantwell "dug into" the first of several of Jesus's agricultural parables we would explore together over the weekend.
Afterward, some of us enjoyed a rambunctious game of night tag, some called it a night, and a few of us even made it to the quieter evening prayer at 11:15!
On Friday, everyone took a field trip to Wanuskewin, where we explored the history and culture of Indigenous peoples in the area, walked on the land, played traditional games, and learned about the inspiring efforts to bring back bison to the region. It was an incredible privilege. Afterward, we went back to Zion Lutheran Church, where we ate dinner and joined in one of that night's buffet of activities - be it the dance party, making art, chilling, playing dodgeball or board games - until the night ended with a prayer walk back to St. John's.
By Saturday, it was encouraging to see how youth were starting to make friends with people from other teams. After morning worship, we gathered to listen and discuss what we feel the church has forgotten and needs to remember, and what gifts we think the church offers the world, culminating in a creative presentation to the rest of CLAY. In the afternoon, youth attended a workshop of their own choice, with topics like labyrinth meditation, creation care, reconciliation, and even a garbage clean-up by the river. We capped off the afternoon with a carnival at Kinsmen Park, where youth were free to play lawn games, make art, or just run and kick a ball around.
After 3+  intense days and late nights, Sunday saw a couple folks in our BC group feeling unwell and many of us moving a little more slowly...but as we finished with a final LGG and Eucharist, the energy, joy, and gratitude was palpable. We had shared an incredible few days, made new friends, shared new experiences, and met God in new ways. We had been reminded that we have an important place in the church, with all our energy, passion, doubts, and questions. And we left inspired and hopeful for what the church can be and for the ways that, rooted in faith, we can rise to God's calling for our lives and future.