(Each year Tallowood youth gather in small groups within the homes of willing adults to study God’s Word, and form lasting fellowships. It’s called SPARK. Usually, it is a wild time, given the make-up of the group: teenage girls and boys full of energy and life. It is an amazing experience for host families and for the students themselves. This year’s SPARK began Friday night, and will conclude Sunday morning when the students will join together at Tallowood worship services. In the following, hostess Karen Harrell reports how things are going at her house.)
What do pistachios, Airheads, Laffy Taffy, cookies, marshmallows, candy, and Cheetos have to do with SPARK? 
Well, these are the foods that describe qualities of the girls in our house, or so they shared.
The evening began slowly, with one child arriving at 6:20 and the last arriving around 6:50; a few moments of awkward silence before bedlam broke loose. Seven sixth grade girls with high pitched voices and energy were ready to roll.
We had just settled in to begin our Bible study when Micah and Laura dropped by with David 
and Katie Worrell ….a few moments building relationships….and then we were back in the Word. With stories and scriptures, the girls learned about friends, how to choose good friends and how to be good friends.
It seemed like only minutes had passed, yet the clock said 9:30; a few more minutes of “free time” was left before the lights would be out. The house has now settled, the girls are down, and we’re out for the night. 
However, I’m recalling what one of the a girls shared tonight; her reason for coming to SPARK was because her father had shared his stories with her about Discipleship Now weekends during his youth, and now she wants to make her own stories about SPARK weekend.
Just think of the stories these girls will take home with them; stories to share and stories to pass down!
