The CFC Staff and students led the escape in Austin, Texas. Some of you reading this post will recognize this for what it is. Communicators For Christ trains Christian youth to speak for Christ in every arena, to be able to explain what they believe and why they believe it. Truth-talk that can be given no matter where the student is, no matter who the audience is. CFC teaches them to take the platform and be confident while doing so.
I've been away from the blogworld for two weeks now, so Kali and I could travel to Austin for the Masters Conference entitled Lead the Escape. That meant getting onto an airplane, which for me meant prescription medication. (Kali said I couldn't call them "great drugs" because people might get the wrong idea.)
Don't you know it had to be raining.
And we arrived in Austin to learn how to "Lead the Escape" in our everyday life.
Above, Wendell Moon welcoming us.Below, Mrs. Teresa Moon, the founder of Communicators For Christ, now a part of the Institute for Cultural Communicators.
The first part of the conference was dedicated to speech classes, critiques, and a tournament. Some of the various majors offered were apologetics, interpretation, impromptu, and virtual communication. The students were able to practice their skills in front of judges and receive ballots with valuable comments and suggestions. They will use this information to refine their speeches before competition.
They learned to work as a team to survive and be victorious. The game was called IPIA (Idealism and Pragmatism in India and America. Don't ask, I still don't understand it all myself.)
The second portion of the conference was dedicated to honing debate skills. There was team policy debating, value debating done one-on-one, teen court (below photo), and a security council.
Below, some photos from IPIA. The CFC Interns ran the game. The ones in costumes are the Interns. Those in suits are the students - always in professional, business attire. (Just as a reminder, I don't use names of students on my blog - for safety reasons. The only names you'll see posted on my blog are of my own two children.)
She was a ninja-fairy. (The students will understand.)
Team policy this year revolved around policy issues between the United States and India. During IPIA, Kali spent a bit of time with this intern answering trivia questions about India and learning how to wear a sari. Aren't they both beautiful?
Ah, the IPIA Hippies. Don't talk with the hippies or some of your country's capital or resources may go missing. Sorry, Hippies :O).
I'm not sure what her role was in IPIA, but she was awesome! Her post-it-notes say, "So what? I'm still a rock star." Love it!* * * * * * *
One night we had a dinner theatre. The interns learned this entire play in 10 days. It lasted almost an hour and a half. It was written by a previous intern. It was entitled, "She Stoops to Conquer" and it was awesome!
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* * * * * * We started at 9 AM and ran until 8-9 PM, every day. Our days were filled, literally, with very little down-time. I can remember two times when there were a few minutes and the students headed to the playground and the parking lot. I don't think I've ever seen 20 young men in dress pants, long-sleeved dress shirts and ties, and dress shoes playing football in a parking lot before. Many of the young ladies spent time on the slides - lots of suits there also. This one shot of Kali doing a one-hander was on registration night before the "professional attire" went into effect.
We also had two awesome banquets. The food was wonderful all week. Here is a shot of our first banquet meal. All the meals for the conference were prepared by Mrs. Maggie and the Recommended Staff Assistants. Wonderful!!!
Kali at our See You At the Awards banquet.
Two of my favorite Interns announcing awards.
During the first week we had a special ladies luncheon. The decorations were beautiful.
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We also had two awesome banquets. The food was wonderful all week. Here is a shot of our first banquet meal. All the meals for the conference were prepared by Mrs. Maggie and the Recommended Staff Assistants. Wonderful!!!
Kali at our See You At the Awards banquet.
Two of my favorite Interns announcing awards.
During the first week we had a special ladies luncheon. The decorations were beautiful.* * * * * * *
Of course, lots of friends were made, email addresses exchanged, lists made of people with facebook, addresses and phone numbers were obtained.
Our friends shown in the photo weren't able to attend Masters. So, this was how we included them. See, they made it to Masters after all - lol.
The ladies from our chapter with their leadership ribbons. They were so proud of them!
And, of course, being in Texas we had to get a little touch of Texas to take home with us. Isn't she beautiful in her new Texas stetson?
It wouldn't be CFC without marvelous worship time...
... and the girls doing announcements...whoot! whoot!
The music before worship was awesome also. Sometimes it even had the students "dancing in the aisles" :O). 
Proof that I survived the air flight! I had an awesome, wonderful time at Masters. I learned a lot! My primary interest was in the mixed media classes that were taught by my favorite interns. My favorite memory is going to be how the students - all of them - accepted me as one of their own.
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This duo performed a "debate-oriented" ballad set to the tune Dust in the Wind.
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Our friends shown in the photo weren't able to attend Masters. So, this was how we included them. See, they made it to Masters after all - lol.
The ladies from our chapter with their leadership ribbons. They were so proud of them!
And, of course, being in Texas we had to get a little touch of Texas to take home with us. Isn't she beautiful in her new Texas stetson?
It wouldn't be CFC without marvelous worship time...
... and the girls doing announcements...whoot! whoot!
The music before worship was awesome also. Sometimes it even had the students "dancing in the aisles" :O). An interesting side note - this young man plans to run for President of the United States in 2032. After listening to him speak - he's got my vote!
Proof that I survived the air flight! I had an awesome, wonderful time at Masters. I learned a lot! My primary interest was in the mixed media classes that were taught by my favorite interns. My favorite memory is going to be how the students - all of them - accepted me as one of their own.* * * * * * *
Keeping with the theme Lead the Escape, we had a Great Escapes banquet where the students dressed up as a character who led the escape. Lots of great costumes! Below is my daughter with one awesome intern! Miss you!!! Love you!!
Kali and Mrs. Moon. Kali was Mulan.
Kali and Mrs. Moon. Kali was Mulan. Mrs. Moon was Queen Scheherazade.
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There was also a talent show.
This duo performed a "debate-oriented" ballad set to the tune Dust in the Wind.* * * * * *
I borrowed this photo of Kali from a facebook friend. I was videoing and didn't get a single shot. She was singing "Why?" by Nicole Nordemann. Beautiful!
Closing ceremony. Light your candle and go light your world.
Love you guys!
This was taken shortly after the Olive Garden dinner.
Closing ceremony. Light your candle and go light your world.
Love you guys!* * * * * * *
Then, we took a group of 34 students and a few moms to Olive Garden for a dinner out on the town before we all started making our ways back home. Lots of tears were shed - by everyone - it's hard having to leave your friends behind!
A group shot of the debaters. We had 20 more students in the speech portion of the conference.
A group shot of the debaters. We had 20 more students in the speech portion of the conference.
This was taken shortly after the Olive Garden dinner. Simply exhausted!
We had a wonderful time in Texas. I will be posting more photos soon. So many of you asked what our trip was about, so I thought this overview of our two weeks would answer your questions and give you a feel for what we did.
We had a wonderful time in Texas. I will be posting more photos soon. So many of you asked what our trip was about, so I thought this overview of our two weeks would answer your questions and give you a feel for what we did.For so many people, we are the only ones who can tell them how they can escape from their everyday turmoil, stress, helplessness, and strife. As Christians, we MUST be ready to stand and Lead the Escape. We MUST be equipped and ready to speak with anyone, anywhere, at anytime on the behalf of Christ. God bless you!
Interns, we MISS YOU :(.
