Week of New Things

Last week I finally got started into school and had a week of a bunch of new exciting things. I got to move into my basement apartment, which is the first time living away from home for me outside of dorms. It was really weird. For the first week or so I felt as if I was sneaking up on somebody else’s house. I’m still trying to unpack.

I spent more money than I ever have at the grocery store at one time. I went on 10% Tuesday and I think almost everything I bought was also on sale before the 10%. I was feeling pretty good, it took me a couple of hours to get to the checkout to hear the total $110….dang! Then looking at the number of bags it suddenly hit me, I have no car and I live about a mile and a half away from the grocery store. Luckily it’s a small town because I was left with no option but to walk to shopping cart to my house on the side of the road. After about an hour, and a bunch of laughs from neighbors later, I made it.

Last but not least I got to go up on my first flight here at Prairie. I get along with my instructor really well and am learning a lot already. I usually spend 8 hours a day at the airport doing some kind of work, its super crazy but really rewarding already. My second flight was exciting because we had carb ice before we took off and frost on the wings so we had to pull the plane into the hangar and crank up the heat. When we finally got up the sky was clear so I got a clear view of the beautiful snow covered Rockies as I looked out over the prairies flying 2000 feet above the ground. It was awesome.

Dang I Wish I had a Picture

I was wondering what to read from the bible two days ago so I asked God, What do you want me to read. I hear Job 37 in my head and think uh oh was that just me saying that, I dont know if there is even 37 chapters in Job. So I turn there and read this: ( actually starting in chapter 36)

26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. 27 He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain. 28 The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits. 29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven? 30 See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea. 31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance. 32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target. 33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.
It continues on in chapter 37 and says, 13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.

I thought man that is awesome I sure would love to see a good lightning storm up here in the Prairies. Last year we saw the very end of one at the beggining of the year and then nothing. So then last night rolls around and this is were I wish I had a picture but hopefully I can paint it for you. The volleyball game stops suddenly when we hear thunder and a blur of lightning. We stop not swo we wont get struck but so we can go watch the action. So its down to the train tracks we go to watch and hope and on the way there we can see the most beautiful sunset. On top of the layer of colors sat a layer of dark. The thunder continued to rumble in the distance as our eyes stay peeled looking for bolts of lightning. YEAHH I yelled out when I saw the first one split the sky, and then another and another. Pretty soon we had a good seat on top of a pile of railroad ties with an incredible panoramic view of a lightning-set, sunsetting over the prairies with lightning bolting in almost 360 degrees. Man, God is huge, and what an awesome gift He gave us that night. Id say definately one of the top 10 sights ive ever seen

Float Plane Landing

I'm back now in Three Hills, Alberta at Prairie Bible College. I had a very unexpected, yet very awesome summer this year. I cannot thank Vanessa's family enough for everything they have done and did while I got to visit. I had such an awesome time there and will miss the place and the people there alot. Ive tried to post some pics of the beautiful country surrounding Vanessa's house so have a look.

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/27314/8kyxs9jmn0ezug2

Ontario

I left Georgia a little early for school so i could visit the great state of Ontario and see where Vanessa lives ( I mean province). My time here has been amazing so far. To my excitement she lives away from everything where i can hear cows while i sleep and look out the window laying in my bed to see a ton of bright stars. And by my bed i mean her room because i took it over when i came her and now she shares a room with her sister just like when they were growing up ( thanks Alex).

Sense Vanessa has to work everyday during the week I had a list of things to do around their house to keep me busy and earn my keep. I dont want to make it sound too bad though because sometimes that included going into town to catch fish untill Vanessa got off work and then bring her home. So far weve got alot of smaller bluegill, bass, and perch off of docks, shores and in rivers. There is water everywhere here it awesome. This seems like the kinda place that would be so easy to take for granted living here but coming from the outside I cant get enough of it. I wish I had much more time and much less to day besides exploring corn fields, old barns, rivers that lead to lakes, and beaches that no one knows about.

Sense Vanessa has to work everyday during the week I had a list of things to do around their house to keep me busy and earn my keep. I dont want to make it sound too bad though because sometimes that included going into town to catch fish untill Vanessa got off work and then bring her home. So far weve got alot of smaller bluegill, bass, and perch off of docks, shores and in rivers. There is water everywhere here it awesome. This seems like the kinda place that would be so easy to take for granted living here but coming from the outside I cant get enough of it. I wish I had much more time and much less to day besides exploring corn fields, old barns, rivers that lead to lakes, and beaches that no one knows about.

One day her mom surprised us by taking us to the local float plant airport. Ideally i would really really like ending up flying at float plane on the mission filed someday. Up untill that day I had never even seen one. Im not sure how it all happened but somehow, thanks to her mom, me and Vanessa got to go up in the plane and I got to fly it. I was so cool watching the water splash up beside the plane on the take off. We went to two remote fishing lakes that could only be reached by air. My eyes stayed huge with excitement the whole time. We touched down in the first lake and after a while we took back off again and sharply turned around and flew about 20 feet off the ground through a narrow marsh land surrounded by tall trees untill it opened up to a another big lake. After practically skimming the water for a while we headed back.

The landing back at the airport was awesome. We came down over some trees and then into another narrow passageway. Below us some water started to appear under some tall grasses but the lake itself was still a little ways ahead of us as we got lower and lower. We finally touched down on top of the grasses and then floated into the lake and over to the dock to tie up the plane. The pilot said once you fly on floats you never go back. I hope he is right.

Last week I decided I would become a well driller. Actually one of her moms good friends owns a drilling company and was short one guy for a couple of weeks and wanted to know if i would be interested. Wood eye! So I show up monday morning at 7:00 at his farm and we go over to the shop where the fun begins. The day is filled with huge trucks, oversized tools, and everything covered in either grease or mud- or both ( including me). On the way to the first job the owner warned me about this and I was thinking - bring it on! I am not the biggest guy in the world and luggin around the tools and machines and just doing this work has been challenging. Its one of those situations where you ask yourself, do I have what it takes? Without giving up even when I suck at welding, or cant figure out how to move a pipe, or smash my toe, God keeps telling me at the end of the day, yes you have what it takes. Everyday I come home tired and take a hose shower in time for dinner. The owner Dave has gave me this opportunity in a heartbeat without really knowing me and offered to pay me by donating directly to the school. He is an awesome guy to work for. Tomorrow its back out to the Georgian bay to try and find water. After 180 feet down today nothing yet so we are crossing our fingers.

SummerTimeSummerTimeSummeTimeSummerTime

This summer has been great. This is the first time in a long time when I dont have a full time job or school which makes me available for just about anything. Its been the best being able to hang out and spend time with friends and family and be there to help out when anything comes up around the house, or at church with the college class or youth group.
We got to float down the Chattahoochee I dont know how many times with several first timers, my buddies, sisters, and even one of those inflatable killer whales for Cinco De Mayo. Our family managed to all be together in one place at the same time a couple of times. One day we camped out in North Georgia before heading out to the lake the next day for alot of tubing and wakeboarding. We also all ended up together for the fourth of July in Pine Mountain Georgia for fishing and fireworks. Years and years have gone by with bread balls and cane poles fishing for bluegill, which I still really like doing. This was the time for one of the elusive Lake Innsbruck bass to find itself on the end of my line...and then under the knife...and then fried headed towards my stomach...delectable. It has been awesome spending time with my family doing new things and old things once again.
Being home also gave Vanessa a chance to come and check out the south for a week. So much to see and so little time. We stuck pretty close to home and did things that I love doing. We checked out stone mountain and the super partiotic lazer show which did not disappoint with the usual song like Dixie, Devil Went Down to Georgia, and other favorites. Of course we went to the Hooch and did a little fishin and tubing. One of my favorite days was probably Sunday. We wake up get to go to church and meet everyone there and she got to see some good southern Gospel singin. After churhc we ate lunch and relaxed on the couch while we watched the Braves game on TV. After that we hopped on the John Deere and rode to the end of the creek up for a little back yard fishin. I guess it had been a while for her so I got to kinda re-teach her how and we both caught fish while wading in the water cold water under the Hot Gerogia Sun. That night we went to the fox theatre to catch a summer movie and get a chilli dog from the Varsity. Thats a good day.
One week I got to go be a counselor for the youth group in the North Carolina mountains for a week which. It was so much better than I expected. I had several revelations in my own life as well as really getting to connect with the kids there. The last night there I was asked by Chad, the sepaker, if I would mind speaking about what I was doing, the whole mission aviation thing. So I was like what no way thats tonight What am I gonna say. Then instantly several ideas come into my head of what it would be. I didnt have much time to work on it with the busy schedule which turned out to be good. I got to see God big ways there. That Sunday night when I got home I had the night service to give my testimony of what has been going on in my life. I found it most hard to narrow it down enough to fit in the time period. It was awesome to see alot of people show up and to know I have there support. I feel lucky to have an incredible home church like that as well as awesome friends and family here.
PS when shootin the Hooch, River Rats or tractor tires work much better than those pool floats from walmart or the killer whale. Ask Mario if you dont believe me.

Graduation

We made it through the first year!!! I wasnt really excited about walking in graduation when I heard about it. After all we were only doing a one year bible program in Wilderness Leadership and we where walking beside other people who were completing their 4 year degrees. As time grew nearer and We fought to finish the year well, something that is especially hard for me, I began to look forward to the closing time and the ceremony. I realized that yeah, this was a stinkin hard year and alot of amazing things have happened and it was indeed something to celebrate. 

I was super excited that my mom got to come up and experience those times and see the places behind some of the stories and pictures. We had an awesome time checking everything out. She got to experience some Canadian "flurries" which usually mean like 3 or 4 inches of snow - not like our flurries down here in the south. She stayed with my impact family and Ulrich had to help her scrape and brush off the car. Little did she know that those brushes come stnadard in rental cars in canada. We even got to check out the airport that hopefully ill be getting to spend alot of time in. 

Im home for atleast the rest of this week. Everything that I thought I was going to be doing this summer hasn't been working out so far. Even after searching and praying and thinking it was so right. God only knows what is going to happen. Right now I am seeing if I can get a work permit in Canada and we'll see if that goes through.

 In my devotions I read 1 Corinthians 15:58 which I had previously underlined and it says " Therefore , my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give your selves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I remember that I liked that verse before because it encouraged me to work hard, which i like to do but it is hard sometimes. The part that really hit me in the face this time which i never noticed before is when it says" you know that you labor in the Lord is not in vain." This hit me all over the place on so many different levels. Im still trying to figure out His will and get to spend time with all yall here, Ive been loving it! As we watched the last sunset for that year at Prairie I praise God for it all. 

Big long post - Pics are Here

Skills have long been over and what and the world have I been doing all this time in Montana still? Well...
After skills we jumped right into a class called Adventure Business and Management. I thought it was going to be a breeze and similar to other management classes I have taken but boy was I wrong. Our teacher said the real class title was God what do you want me to do with my life? Adventure was the unknown outcome of anything, business was how that thing operated, and management was keeping those things in line – sort of. It was really an intense and amazing class that I learned a lot about both my life and how to run it, and also creating a vision, mission, and values for a company and how to run that. There was so many connections between the two such as who the “customers” are, and following the values that are pre set, and customer service and non of it was that lame Christian, how is this connected, kind feeling. It helped process experiences in my life this far and challenged me to examine where I am now and what lies ahead.

That next weekend we had our first practicum that we planned for every moment between skills and the time the youth group got to camp. We set up a three day camp for a youth group that came in from Washington. We were given the opportunity to plan everything from meals, to activities, to chapels, and debriefs, and everything in between. The staff was here but they became invisible unless we needed some extra helping hands. We were so sick of planning and having meetings and during the first day we thought to ourselves why in the world did we set bed times so late, we wanted to go to bed because we were beat. Man was it ever worth it. I made several connections to the kids and the events seemed to be very impact and beneficial for them. It was hard to see them leave so soon after spending all day and all night with them but Ill never forget that time.From there we had our Wilderness First Aid class which I was really looking forward to. We went through three days of intense training and scenarios to prepare us to handle a broad base of things we may encounter in the backcountry. It was a ton of fun and I learned a lot from it. The last scenario included a wrecked jeep with a fire beside it and people scattered all over with blood, burns, wounds, and hypothermia. As we went on they became more and more realistic and were very helpful to know how to react in real life.Then came practicum number two which was on the other end of the spectrum. No planning but lots of manual labor. To me and my buddy Jason delight the town of Plains Montana’s fire wood supply had been stolen and we were faced with 2 splitters, a lot of mauls and axes, an older town men with chainsaw to cut rounds for us. Two days straight of swinging all day and my muscles were tired and we were loving it. I love chopping wood but we have had no wood to chop at camp this semester so I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. One of the local church’s supplies wood to the people in the area and it was all stolen so we built a fence and chopped wood to replenish the supply. After it was over they needed a couple of volunteers for the next day to go logging up in the woods and so my hand went up. This was a day full of 4 wheelin through dirt and ice, felling trees, and a little more chopping. We had the chance to chop some for the pastor who looked absolutely burnt out. He explained how every year this minister just drains him because he has to chop wood for 150 people each year and then himself to. The town was just overwhelmed with our service and it was awesome to be able to give back to the town that we go to church in. We also got to go to Anaconda Montana to a juvenile center to play basketball with the guys there. It was a lot of fun and but challenging to connect with them. They were pretty shy and we had limited time. It helped making fun of ourselves sense we lost 12 to 97 or some ridiculous number like that both games.Next was our search and rescue class. We got to use a lot of our wilderness first aid skills in different searching operations that were set up for us. We even had a retired survival instructor from the air force come in and teach us for one day about surviving. Everyone was forced to make a fire that night without a lighter in the windy or snowing conditions or nobody was gonna be eatin supper. The last day was an amazing day and it started out with a search and rescue helicopter landing at camp and then a surprise rescue operation right when we sat down for dinner that lasted till one in the morning and had to 5 different people carried out on litters, broken femurs, gun shot wounds, drunk guys with guns that were hypothermic in the creek, and the plains community ambulance talking to us on the radio and waiting for the patients. It took many hours to organize and search this dense section of marshy creek woods with headlamps. At the end of it we got to ride in the ambulance and finally eat dinner at one oclock that morning – best pizza ever.The next weekend we had our orienteering challenge. We car camped out in a wilderness area and woke up at 6 to have a good Friday service around the campfire next to the river before we went out. We split up into groups of three with a compass ans a map and got clues at each checkpoint of how to navigate to the next point. It was long day of hiking that you hoped you didn’t shoot a wrong bearing or that would mean backtracking and not finding how to get back. In the end it was a ton of fun and it helped solidify the skills of orienteering for me.At the end of March we had another practicum opportunity back in Anaconda. Our group was actually able to go back and play basketball again before heading off to a roofing project. It was amazing. We were warming up and our back was turned to the door when one of the guys came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and he was smiling and his hand was stretched out towards mine. Man it was so awesome, my heart was tugging that day as I really got to connect more with those two groups of guys and hear the chaplain speak of how God has opened up his ministry there. As he would always pray for us “praise God and kick the devil, Amen!” The roofing was a lot of fun and hard work. It was really cold and windy there and usually started snowing for the last part of each day. It was an old Victorian house that they had turned into a kids home that couldn’t find foster parents. The roof was so steep that we roped in with climbing harnesses to finish it. Any day hangin from a chimney and shootin nail guns through shingles is a good day. We also got to stay with a local family that had a cabin out in the woods with Moose tracks in front of their house in the 3 feet of snow, 3 wood burning stoves, amazing food and conversations, and a basset hound named Harvey to wake us up. It was a good trip.We got back and its time to pack and leave for tema challenge trip. Our last horay trip of the year that the junior interns plan for us. We actually decided to hike as one big explore team which was so much fun. It was filled with incredible sometimes sunny snowshoe hikes through beautiful woods and over frozen lakes and up a peak called Baldy. Every night we set up camp with a fire pit dug into the snow. On the last night we camped beside the frozen lake and dug out a couple of feet of snow on top of the lake to have a fire on top of the frozen lake. It was amazing with beautiful stars.Its Sunday today and everyone is packing up to head back to Three Hills Canada to go back to Prairie. It’s a very confusing and intense time of leaving this beautiful place this time for good, and then getting back to Prairie for a couple weeks of an intense theology class and seeing friends that we have been missing for a long time. And then leaving all that for good. Several people are coming back for a second year but they will be gone a lot of the time. Its been an amazing year that is such an awesome gift from God that I never ever expected. This whole time I was kinda thinking I cant wait to get through this first year of bible school so I can start flying next year at Prairie, that is until I signed up for the explore program and I have made more best friends, had the best and most valuable experiences, and learned and growed more than I ever hoped for.
Yall have been an incredible support for me back home and I love it. Apparently Im not getting much better at keeping this up to date but im still workin on it. Im not sure whats in store for the summer but Im excited to see whats next.