Winter Weekend

This weekend I was assigned to work as a server in pine tree, however we had over 1000 people on the hill and we needed a little more help in the kitchen. So I was able to cook and get to know what goes on behind the scenes at Hume. The weekend conferences only lasted till Saturday, as a result I only had to work on Friday and half of Saturday.
Saturday afternoon I was able to go snowshoeing with Jordan Stonerholm and a few of my other friends up here. It was a blast; we arrived at our destination: Buena Vista, at sunset and the reflection of the setting sun on the snow, and later the moon, was a spectacular view. There came a point on the hike when we were climbing nearly straight up and could see the Moon and all the stars in the sky. It was a spectacular view at the top, we could see 360 degrees around us at the moon soaked mountain ranges. I could not help but marvel at how amazing a God we have that could make something as beautiful as the sights we saw and as enormous as the stars and still care about us enough and love us enough to send His only Son to die for all of the atrocities we have committed so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.


I tried as hard as I could to get all the stars, but it just didnt work...
Sunday we were able to take a trip to the General Grant Tree in Kings canyon National Park, and were surprised to see the 85th annual Christmas celebration and Veterans Memorial service. We stayed to watch the old carol singers sing Christmas songs in many different genres including rock and rap, and watch the ROTC color guard present the colors and salute the veterans. It was a great time full of fond memories and fun people.

SUN-SHINE!

This last week we have been blessed with wonderful weather up here in Sequoia National Park.
My first weekend working support services went very well. It is surprising how much fun you can have cleaning toilets, mopping floors, and picking up after messy campers if you have the mindset that you are doing it to bring glory to God. It’s funny to think that something as insignificant as cleaning can be used to praise God.
This week we have been training on how to use the snowboard run, tube run, and referee broom hockey. So if any of you want to visit I can take you on any of those!
Our speaker this week was a man by the name of Dave Hanson, president of Student International. Student international is a ministry in developing countries, using college students who want to join a short term ministry team; we will be working with SI in the Dominican Republic. Dave discussed missions, and why we are called to do missions and reach out to the poor. Yet, what I enjoyed the most was how he said that not all missions is going oversees; granted some are called to go to foreign lands, however it is necessary that people remain in the states to support, get college degrees, and even use those college degrees for missions later on. God will use you where you are at, as long as you emulate Christ in everything you do. This encouraged me because I feel the desire to go oversees while I am still young and minister to those less fortunate than I; yet I still want to go to college and get the degree I want.
I have just applied to Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA, and San Diego Christian College to study aviation. Both have fairly prestigious aviation programs, however Moody doesn’t cost as much, and seems to be a little better schooling. I am leaving it up to God, and wherever I get accepted is most likely where I will go. All of your prayer would be really appreciated since this will be the second most important decision I have ever made.
Tonight we had another themed dinner: Joshua 50 year reunion. It was a very fun night, full of apple sauce, prune juice, and bunko. Needless to say, I felt very much like grandpa… Just look at the pictures…

Seasons greatings

Back at the building!

Well its been a fun couple of weeks. Mexico was amazing. I learned so much from the deaf children and the hearts of the people at the Ranch. It was truely amazing to see how happy they were with so little; I felt convicted because I have so much and take it for granted. Most of the week was spent working around the Ranch and playing with the children, however we were able to go into Ensenada and watch the Baja 1000: The biggest offroad race in America!

We had to leave mexico a day early because Hume was having a snow storm and we had to make it back in time to leave again for Thanksgiving break.

I finally made it home and had a great week with my family. I got to see mommy for the first time since July, and have a really great time with freinds and family on Thanksgiving day.

Back here at Joshua everything is white and cold. But that doesnt stop us from having a little fun. Being home for break was great, but I realized how attatched I have become to this place and the people here. Its still just as exciting and fun for me as the first day that I got here.



Well thats going to be all for now, all I heard back home was how long my post were and the rarity of them. So I will do my best to post frequent short blogs.
Missing you all!
-Eric