The Miraculous Spring Break Trip

If you talked with me just a couple weeks before this year's spring break trip with Carnegie Mellon University, you would have heard hesitancy, little enthusiasm, and even doubt that the trip would run. There were perfectly logical reasons for this: I was tired and pouring energy into people that needed me, and I dreaded the potentially miserable weather of North Carolina in March. Not to mention that we only had two students signed up, and needed at least four.

BUT... from this side of the trip I am excited, awed, energized and amazed. So what happened? Frankly, I saw God's fingerprints all over the place! Here's a brief summary of some of the miraculous aspects of the trip.

1. Student recruitment. We needed at least four students to run the trip. At the cut-off (two weeks prior), we only had two and my co-leader Dave (campus staff at CMU) had recruited in every way he knew how. BUT...through encouragement from our supervisors, we decided to extend the deadline another week. On the last day, Dave called me and said that we had enough students! These were not the students Dave expected, but we trusted that they were the ones supposed to be there.

Yixin was invited by his lab partner who knew Dave.

2. My attitude. Honestly, I wasn't excited UNTIL... God gave me a dream! Yes, God can work in any way he chooses. Six days prior to the trip I dreamt that I was excited about the trip and could envision all these great things happening. I woke up and realized the truth of this dream. It would be fun. God would be working. So all the rest of that week I prepared with enthusiasm and eager anticipation for the trip! I wanted to lead this group!

Our first day on the trail.

3. An unexpected kink. So in one week we finished preparations, and headed out early Saturday morning for Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. However, as we drove that day, a lingering stomach and intestinal bug (symptoms like Giardia) that I had fought since Tuesday flared up. We arrived at the trail head in the early evening, but by that time I was in so much pain that I knew I would be of little use to the group and certainly couldn't hike into the wilderness in that state. I managed to give basic camp instructions to the group before heading back into town to the ER. After some IV fluids, tests and medication, I went back to camp and slept. If I wasn't well, the trip could not continue as planned because I was the only wilderness trained staff present. (No pressure!) BUT...when I woke up in the morning, I felt almost completely fine! I can't explain why (medication wouldn't have worked that quickly), but we continued with the trip as planned and I continued to experience good health. Praise God!

I could enjoy the amazing food on the trip, like this pizza!

4. SUN! If you've ever been to the mountain of NC in March, you know that the weather is a complete wildcard, usually including a healthy amount of cold rain, snow, clouds and wind. Ughhh...*shiver*. BUT... we had the best weather I've had on just about all the trips I've ever led! Perfect temperature (sweated when you hiked, but perfectly comfortable when you stopped) and sun 5 of the 6 days. In the evening it was refreshingly cool, but not cold. Challenging weather + beginner backpackers = not fun. But God allowed us to experience the potential kindness of NC mountains.

An absolutely gorgeous day to be on Pilot Mountain

5. Group life. The group consisted of four participants and three leaders - Dave, Mitch and I. It just so happened that all the participants were men, so needless to say, the trip was characterized by much playfulness, laughter and good-spirited joshing. At first I observed a hesitancy to get to know each other on a deeper level, but during a group conversation halfway through the trip, we acknowledged the value of allowing people to know us, and began to make a conscious effort to begin truly learning about the people in our group. I saw the interactions in the group change significantly from that point on, and observed a deeper and genuine camaraderie .

A break to play and explore at a beautiful little creek.

6. Trip theme. Dave & Mitch selected readings and facilitated conversations based around God's character and our identity. The progression was as follows: Day 1 - God's hugeness, awesomeness, power, holiness, etc. Day 2 - God's creativity, playfulness and extravagant love. Day 3 - Our sinfulness and hopelessness (without God). Day 4 - God solves the problem by giving us Christ's righteousness; our identity as sons and daughter of God; God rejoicing over us. It was simple, yet profound, creating a very real picture of the distinction between God and us, yet it demonstrated the incredible, extravagant measures God went to call us his own. I was particularly excited about this because not all the students were Christians, and this was one of the clearest presentations of the hope of the Gospel I've heard in a long time.

Instructors - Dave, Emily and Mitch

So God took a trip that nearly got canceled multiple times, and turned it into something wonderful! I am humbled because I know I should be expecting to see God do great things, and I am so forgetful. Yet I cannot help but to be amazed and excited to have been apart of these events!

Thanks for reading and sharing them with me! I hope that this sparks you to look around you and see God at work in your life.

Hawaii - That Sunny Place? The True Story of Wilderness Encounter

Yes, I did recently return from three weeks in Hawaii:

Yes, it was wonderful. (A great group of students!)

Yes, I saw incredibly scenery. (Breathtaking at times.)

Yes, it was warmer than single-digit and negative temperatures. (Sometimes we wore shorts!)

But wait! I didn't spend my days on sunny beaches.
(Sorry to disappoint you).

Keep scrolling down for images and stories that reveal the truth about life in Hawaii and what students learned.

Since most people think Hawaii only has beaches and sun, I'll address that aspect now. First, January is Hawaii's rainy season. Most days it rained at some point. We also weathered a huge storm, during which we spent two straight days under this small pavilion. Mud got everywhere. I think it could be added as the eleventh plague.

Kauai also has lots of forests and a huge canyon. We hiked through lots of thick foliage and vicious, prickly ferns that tore our skin and socks.

We tried to have some fun on the days we hiked drenched from the rain.


However, despite the frequent environmental challenges, we did have fun (most of the time) and more importantly, students learned and were changed! Here are snippets of what students learned and how they are continuing to wrestle with challenges back on campus:

Laura (picture above at center) - I had an awesome time on the Wilderness Encounter trip. I learned new things about camping, cooking, backpacking, and about myself. I found that I enjoyed the simplicity of life in the wilderness and how freeing it was. This is something that I have tried to incorporate into my life on campus by having quiet time and by turning off my computer and TV more often. I am trying to focus on relationships more and on myself less. These are things from the Wilderness Encounter that really impacted who I am, so I'm trying to live these lessons out on campus. I can't wait for my next backpacking trip!"

Chris - "During Wilderness Encounter I learned how much I enjoy being around people. After reading Practicing the Presence of People I've realized how important being around people is to my life. I've been trying to be intentional with spending more time with people than I used to, whether it's finding people to eat with or doing my homework in the student union center."

Steve, Dando, Chris and Ashley

Steve - "Living intentionally with a group of people whom I grew to know on a genuine level was a fantastic experience. Personally, the challenge comese when I'm back at school and I try to be intentional on the same level with the vast amount of people I encounter in one day. I want to know so much about them, but it's so easy to get wrapped up in my responsibilities and myself at school that often times I forget to take an interest in others' lives."

Ashley - "Hawaii helped me develop the relationship between myself and God through the solo camping experiences. Normally I am a person who would rather spend a day with people than alone...God showed me how beloved I am to Him in ways I had never experienced before. So now back at home I have a new trust and faith that He loves me and my prayers are being answered."

And finally...here's a quick look at one of my favorite places on the island - the Na Pali Coast!

To see more photos from the trip, click the link at the right.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more updates throughout the rest of the spring.

Why Hawaii?

In January I will be headed to Hawaii for a month. As I tell people, I get all sorts of reactions, which usually express some sentiment like "Oh, what a rough job." (I'm waiting for the time I'll need to dodge rotten tomatoes.) I suddenly also get many offers of help - even carrying my pack! - and I have been assured that my friends will easily fit into my luggage. Yes, Hawaii is a wonderful destination, but what is the purpose?
The purpose is for students from Messiah College to encounter God, others, self, and creation. It's about knowing God and therefore rooting our identity in what he says about us. It's about traveling together and seeing others as image bearers of God, even when your tentmate's socks fill your sleeping space with a terrible stench. It's about discovering firsthand the intricacies and majesty of God's creation and understanding our roles as caretakers.

So please pray for the instructors and students (and families back home) as we enter a time focused specifically on encountering God and his work in the world and in our lives. Hawaii is incredibly beautiful, but beauty does not remove the challenges of everyday life in the wilderness or the deserts of our inner lives that we must traverse. Thank you so much for your support!

The "Slow" Months

Whatever happened to the slow winter months? I would like be in a place where hibernating by the fireside during the dark, cold months is a reality. That is simply not the case now with my work and life. Although I have not been outside very much, I have kept plenty busy indoors. So what do I during the fall and winter months?

Well, if you look below, you'll see one thing I do - organize & maintain gear in our very chilly equipment room! Sara, Emily, and i met to inventory our winter camping gear. Since our equipment room is part of an old barn and has no heat, we decided to try out the parkas and mukluks. They work very well!

Occasionally a brave group (like the Chippewa Venture Crew) will want to go outside in the cold. I facilitated a climbing day for them on November 8th.

Otherwise I've mostly been at my desk doing various odds and ends which include updating this blog, planning for future events, support raising, supporter communication, data entry for the Outdoor Leadership Team, etc. I good portion of my fall has been spent working with newer OLT staff to help them connect with the OLT and create professional development plans for obtaining certification to lead outdoor activities. I also collected information about the 16 wilderness spring break trips to make sure location and equipment needs were not overlapping, and to find the best fit for apprentices to gain hands-on experience under a senior instructor.

If all those little details were not enough, I'm a organizing a Christmas coffeehouse event at the Cafe 'n' Creamery to give high school and college-aged folks an opportunity display their talents through music or spoken word. This will also provide the neighborhood with a family-friendly event while exposing the Cafe 'n' Creamery to a new audience.

That's some of what of what I've been doing recently. See, no slow months here!

Building Relationships for Hawaii

Sam belaying one of her classmates.

In October I had the opportunity to get to know 9 of the 16 participants who will be traveling with me to Hawaii in January for Messiah College's three-week Wilderness Encounter course. These students are mostly Adventure Education students who were on Fall Break with their Rock Climbing class.

Seneca Rocks in the distance on the left. 300 feet of vertical rock.

I was able to join them for two days at Seneca Rocks, WV. While facilitating the climbing sites, cooking and hiking we built rapport and friendships without the baggage that the title "instructor" can carry with it. I am very much looking forward to continuing and deepening these relationships in January.

I got to continue conversations with Matt that we had begun on LDW this past summer.

We witnessed a beautiful sunset.