Our PYT2016 delegation. Not pictured: Charlie and Joseph Reisner who are meeting our delegation in Indiana.
Dear Albany Presbytery,
Thank you for your aid in sending me to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2016. Throughout the trip, I have grown closer to God. I have also grown closer to myself and the direction I am being called in. During Triennium I found out about the Young Adult Volunteer Program. I will be pursuing this in the future, so this opportunity to go to Triennium is invaluable.
Caitlin Snyder, Broadalbin First Presbyterian Church
I wanted to say thank you. I had an amazing experience and made tons of new friends from all over the country and many in our delegation. I will have to look into going there again for work crew.
Madyson Mulyca, Christ Church of the Hills
Dear Albany Presbytery,
I just wanted to thank you so so much for letting me be able to go on this trip to triennium, it was truly an amazing experience. Not only this trip but ALL. The church camps/ retreats I’ve ever been on ever since I was little, which is a lot. These trips have molded me into the person I am today, and the activities and memories will always be apart of me. Thank you.
Lauren Kuo, First Presbyterian Church in Albany
I am so grateful for this trip. I met so many wonderful people and friends and discussed so many important topics, I feel just so filled. I feel so full of God. Thank you so much for helping me experience this.
Katie Lamar, First Presbyterian Church in Albany
Thank you for making this trip possible with all of the expenses because it was a blast!
Jordan Scarlett, First Presbyterian Church in Albany
Thank you for this opportunity to go to PYT. I went three years ago and could not wait to go again. This one was better than the last, my small group was fantastic, the sermons we amazing, and I love getting closer with my youth group. Thanks again.
Mia Robinson, First Presbyterian Church in Albany
I’ve been at First Pres since I was a baby. I was actually baptized there and I’ve been a part of the youth group for about maybe a little over four years now. When they told me about Triennium I thought it was just going to be another youth trip that I went on all the time, but it wasn’t. Going to Triennium was so different from any trip I’ve ever been on. When you get to the worship services, all the energy you feel is just amazing. Being able to see how such a big number of people can come together to share in their faith is just mind-blowing. The sermons are not only entertaining but also hold a real meaning behind them which can be a real eye-opener. I just wanted to say thanks for giving us the opportunity to be apart of something like that.
Imani Elad, First Presbyterian Church in Albany
This past week we went to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, we had an absolute blast, being able to worship and be around so many fellow Christians my age is amazing, to be able to openly talk about faith is just so, we had a blast and thought it would be great to give you a thanks for helping pay for this amazing trip, the experience will surely go with me throughout my life.
Rhett and Blaine Parsons, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Thank you to everyone for helping out in Triennium and for making sure we’re safe.
Joseph Reisner, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Thanks for making triennium possible. It was a very fun experience for me and gave me a better understanding of other areas of the country. I hope I will return in three years, and this whole thing wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you.
Charlie Reisner, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Thank you. We have lot of fun. I wish we go there again.
Salomon Hassan, Westminster Presbyterian Church
I would just like to extend my gratitude and say thank you so very much allowing us to have this opportunity. This is my second time attending Triennium and it has once again changed my life. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to have this experience were it not for you and your continued faith in the youth of today. Our lives were greatly affected by the activities we participated in and will continue to change as a result of. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. Words are not enough to describe my thanks and gratitude.
Anni-Maxine Quaye, Westminster Presbyterian Church
I just wanted to thank the Albany Presbytery and Westminster Presbyterian Church for giving me this amazing opportunity. I went to Triennium 3 years ago and i wanted to go again so i really appreciate all the help that everyone has given me.
Andy Scaptura, Work Crew – Westminster Presbyterian Church
I wanted to say thank you so much for taking us to Triennium, I’m so grateful to have this experience. It’s sad that this was the first AND last time coming to Triennium. It was soo much fun and I hope that future youth would have the amazing opportunity to go in the years to come.
Nannono Zirimu, Westminster Presbyterian Church
This was an amazing trip all in all. We prayed, sang, ate a lot, and got experience God in a whole new way. Our delegation was okay but one downside is that the churches were so divided. First Presbyterian’s hung out together. Westminster Presbyterian’s hung out together at first. We all saw God in Some way but it was different for everyone. I wasn’t expecting so much love in one room, worship was truly inspirational. The preachers were amazing. To many songs though. Our delegation at the end all were friends. We came here strangers and came back friends which is what counts. This trip was for church but everybody made it their own trip in the end.
Sofia Ocampo-Vance, Westminster Presbyterian Church
I’m eternally thankful and grateful for the opportunity I got to go to Triennium. This was perhaps the best experience of my life. I’ve learned so much about my faith and myself this week. I made many new friends and reconnected with some old ones. I had lots and lots of fun and I grew closer to God, which were my 3 goals when I went into the week at Triennium. This experience was fantastic and I won’t trade it for the world. Thank you all so much!
Robert Quaye, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Triennium 2016 was honestly the most rewarding experience of my life and I couldn’t thank the presbytery enough. Being on work crew opened my eyes to so many new things. I was able to experience the incredible amount of work that is put into Triennium. I was constantly exhausted and sweaty, but it was so worth it. I met the most amazing people that God could have blessed me with. I’ve made lifelong friends this week; we’re already planning multiple reunions. My work crew team wrangler introduced me to the YAV program and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be applying for the 2017-2018 year. This week also helped me on my path to eventually going to seminary. I’ve grown so much in my faith in such a short time. Thank you so much for giving me this incredible, beautiful experience. May God bless you.
Emma Catherine Holly, Work Crew, Northville
This trip to Triennium has been such an amazing blessing. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience this gathering, even though I’m an adult! Seeing 5,000 youth excited and ready to serve God was one of the most inspirational things I’ve ever experienced. I’m thankful that they got to have this experience because I know from my conversations with them how much it enriched their faith.
Rev. Rebecca Putman, Northville Chaperone
This was my first time attending the Presbyterian Youth Triennium. It was a great experience–for both the youth and adults. From the bus ride to Lafayette to the energetic worship services to the opportunities to talk with our youth in Delegation Meetings, the experience of Triennium helped us all deepen our faith and our commitment to serving Jesus Christ. I am very grateful for this opportunity and for the support provided by the Presbytery and Synod.
Rev. Jerry McKinney, Chaperone – Granville
Musings On The Bus Home From Triennium 2016
David Haas, Chaperone – First Presbyterian Church in Albany
Triennium is a wonderful experience, and not just for the youth. It is an enriching week filled with love and fellowship: Love for each other and for God; Fellowship involving laughter and tears; exasperation and amazement.
I am thankful to my church, the Presbytery, and the Synod for the opportunity to shepherd these wonderful youth in the company of my extraordinary fellow chaperones.
Christy D’Ambrosio, Albany Registrar and Chaperone – First Presbyterian Church in Albany
The purpose of the Albany Presbytery Blog is to share information, tell stories, and promote the mission and ministry of the presbytery, synod and beyond. While the breadth of this medium is intentionally broad, it is not a platform for opinion pieces related to business coming before the presbytery unless designed as part of an initiative to provide a diversity of viewpoints at the direction of the presbytery council. Exceptions to this policy may be brought to the presbytery officers who will determine appropriateness of submissions.
