LDW Students Speak!

Listen to what students are taking away from their journey this summer on LDW!

Peter and Jamie on our summit attempt day.

Peter:
The most valuable thing from this summer was probably gaining confidence and competence in many of the skills that I learned on the trip. It was also extremely valuable for me to get away from the distractions of normal, everyday life. I wish I could replicate that more often. I find myself being pulled in many different directions all the time and I am often kept from focusing on what is really important. LDW really was good in helping me to not be distracted.

Casey

Casey:
Well, it's been a few weeks since my Wyoming backpacking trip and I'm still adapting back to the real world. Although my trip was full of physical and mental struggles it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Every day was filled with work but every day I learned something new about myself. Shortly after I set out on this trip the ten participants and I formed a very strong bond with each other (because we had to depend on each other for a lot of things constantly!). We pushed ourselves through tough times by encouraging each other and "carrying each other's weight". We also had lot of time for personal reflection. During this time I thought back back on times in my life where I've made poor decisions and why I made them. I also thought a lot about where my life is headed and I realized that God has a big plan for me. This trip was made possible by the gifts and support from my friends and family. Thank you for helping me grow up a little bit and learn important lessons.

Josh instructs Casey on map and compass techniques.

Thank You from LDW 2008!

Leadership and Discipleship in the Wilderness 2008 was a grand success! Thirteen people journeyed together for six weeks in the Wyoming wilderness for the purpose of developing character, competence, and confidence that will allow students to be Christ-centered, transformational leaders throughout the world. (Click here for more information on LDW.)


All this could not have happened without you! Your prayers, financial support, and encouragement provided staff to instruct the course, finances for students to participate, safety during the course, perseverance to prepare well and finish strong, and a transformational experience for many students. Words cannot not say how much we appreciate you, but here they are anyway: Thank you!

Please stay tuned over the next few weeks as I collect and post stories from LDW 2008 participants. They learned so much and I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing about it!

Below is a slideshow highlighting our journey this summer. You can simply watch, flip through at your own pace (click pause, then use the arrows), or click the lower right-hand corner to see the pictures all at once. Enjoy!

And here are a couple video clips for your viewing pleasure.

Panorama of the Couloir & Bomber Basin
(Not the best quality, but it will give you an idea of the location, and you can hear why it's called the Wind River Range!)

Snow School
Students are learning how to glissade (a controlled slide) and self-arrest with their ice axes.