I just got back from my first big trip. We left on Thursday 6/17 and got back on 6/19. This was a unique trip because the kids on the trip were not Christians. The trip was put on by an organization called Canby Center which is a educational ministry to youth who have been expelled from school. 10 kids were signed up to go and only 4 showed about. At first i was bummed, as well as concerned because the ratios of adults to kids was 2:1. However, God wasn't surprised; in fact I'm certain this was His plan to impact the 4 boys that went on the trip. In 3 days we went from a group that was some what disconnected to a group hugging and laughing good byes.
Before the trip began we were told that the kids coming were resistant to the gospel and so we need to be careful not to shut them off. However God gave ample opportunity to talk with the boys about our faith in Jesus. They asked questions which open to doors to conversations. I am convinced that God wanted these 4 boys to see adults live out a life of Christ before them. Be praying for these 4 boys and the seeds that were planted. Also pray for an opportunity for me to possible meet up with one of the boys and start a 6 week discipleship program with him.
And now i am leaving again today backt to wasco fair grounds near Maupin. Tomorrow is a training day in inflatable kayaks and then a group is coming that night. On Wednesday we are taking the group out rafting and some are going kayaking. I believe I'll be shuttling which means i follow the trip down the river with the van and trailer. Please pray for the group and for us to impact their lives for Christ (many of them will be Christians but it is very likely some will not be saved). I need prayer for being a shuttler because I've never really driven with a trailer before or backed up with one and I'm a little nervous. ( i did get a little training but it's still scary for me.)
Thank you all for your love and support
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Last 2 weeks
Thank you for your prayers. I have finished out my preschool job and my Spanish class. Now it is YD Adventures! Ho! There is so much to say but first i want to apologize for not writing sooner. Over memorial weekend i was gone for Rock Assistant training then a day and a half later i was headed out again for our 2ND raft guide training. I just got back from that on Sunday night.
Rock training weekend was a stretching for me. I'm not a big fan of heights but i had to learn to repel and climb so i can teach the groups we will be taking on these trips. I don't know if i will ever be comfortable with backing up to the edge of a cliff and walking over it but at least i know i can do it. I am looking forward to see the life changing affects this can have on youth. Rock climbing and repelling have some powerful analogies that can be drawn out to point towards Christ. The weekend went by pretty quickly. I missed the Friday training, Saturday was repelling, and Sunday we got checked off on competencies. The staff were surprised at how quickly i caught on for missing a whole day of training. Praise the Lord for the wisdom He gives us.
2 days after returning to the valley I was headed back out to Wasco County Fairgrounds to begin training on the Deschuttes. It was definitely warmer than being out on the McKenzie but still a little wet. The water level was much higher than anticipated and by the last day the river was running at almost twice the level it usually runs during the summer. This means a few things: We trained on the river when it is much more powerful than it will be, how the river looked at training will not be how it looks when we get out on trips( because water levels will drop and rocks will be exposed), and we may need to do another short training on the river to be prepared for new exposed dangers. The biggest issue was Oak Springs which is a class IV rapid because of how technical it is. Usually there are rocks exposed that need to be maneuvered around but right now so much water is flowing that it is all covered and instead there is a huge wave that tries to flip boats.
In fact probably to most intense part of the trip was the last day (that was when the river was the strongest) when i was in the lead boat and had just passed through Oaks Springs( i didn't guide, our trainers did). We had just got our boat into and eddy (an upstream current behind a large rock) to wait for the other boats. The next thing i know i hear whistle blasts and look upstream to see 5 swimmers (people who have fallen out of a boat) and a flipped raft. Instantly our guide had us back out in the main current to rescue the others from our group. I pulled in a couple people as they drifted by and at one point i help guide our raft so our trainer could focus on getting the other boat flipped and throwing a bag to the last swimmer. It was quite a moment probably not one i will quickly forget. Our God is very good a looking out for us. The only injuries were some bruised knees.
I am really excited to see what God is going to do this summer. I know i have said that before but it is really true. This is an incredible ministry to be a part of. Our certification day is next Monday. That is when they will decide if anyone of us first year staff can be certified as river guides and rock assistants. Please pray for us that no matter if we are certified or not God would use us all greatly this summer to impact youth for His Kingdom. Also this Saturday is my first group event. Its a group doing a high ropes challenge course. Pray that God would use me and also help me to learn quickly how to facilitate because i missed some of the training for ropes courses.
Thank you all for you prays and support.
Rock training weekend was a stretching for me. I'm not a big fan of heights but i had to learn to repel and climb so i can teach the groups we will be taking on these trips. I don't know if i will ever be comfortable with backing up to the edge of a cliff and walking over it but at least i know i can do it. I am looking forward to see the life changing affects this can have on youth. Rock climbing and repelling have some powerful analogies that can be drawn out to point towards Christ. The weekend went by pretty quickly. I missed the Friday training, Saturday was repelling, and Sunday we got checked off on competencies. The staff were surprised at how quickly i caught on for missing a whole day of training. Praise the Lord for the wisdom He gives us.
2 days after returning to the valley I was headed back out to Wasco County Fairgrounds to begin training on the Deschuttes. It was definitely warmer than being out on the McKenzie but still a little wet. The water level was much higher than anticipated and by the last day the river was running at almost twice the level it usually runs during the summer. This means a few things: We trained on the river when it is much more powerful than it will be, how the river looked at training will not be how it looks when we get out on trips( because water levels will drop and rocks will be exposed), and we may need to do another short training on the river to be prepared for new exposed dangers. The biggest issue was Oak Springs which is a class IV rapid because of how technical it is. Usually there are rocks exposed that need to be maneuvered around but right now so much water is flowing that it is all covered and instead there is a huge wave that tries to flip boats.
In fact probably to most intense part of the trip was the last day (that was when the river was the strongest) when i was in the lead boat and had just passed through Oaks Springs( i didn't guide, our trainers did). We had just got our boat into and eddy (an upstream current behind a large rock) to wait for the other boats. The next thing i know i hear whistle blasts and look upstream to see 5 swimmers (people who have fallen out of a boat) and a flipped raft. Instantly our guide had us back out in the main current to rescue the others from our group. I pulled in a couple people as they drifted by and at one point i help guide our raft so our trainer could focus on getting the other boat flipped and throwing a bag to the last swimmer. It was quite a moment probably not one i will quickly forget. Our God is very good a looking out for us. The only injuries were some bruised knees.
I am really excited to see what God is going to do this summer. I know i have said that before but it is really true. This is an incredible ministry to be a part of. Our certification day is next Monday. That is when they will decide if anyone of us first year staff can be certified as river guides and rock assistants. Please pray for us that no matter if we are certified or not God would use us all greatly this summer to impact youth for His Kingdom. Also this Saturday is my first group event. Its a group doing a high ropes challenge course. Pray that God would use me and also help me to learn quickly how to facilitate because i missed some of the training for ropes courses.
Thank you all for you prays and support.
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