Hello!
I've now been at Lake Powell for a week. It's strange to think that I left Oregon four weeks ago; it doesn't feel like I've been away this long already.
This week has been a lot of learning, training, and transition as I've been learning the tasks of my new position, wrapping up my school semester, and beginning to explore the Lake Powell Resort. It's been nice that the weather has been cool enough that I've been able to do a lot of walking around, whether along the shoreline, towards the town of Page, or around the resort complex...and of course, each of these walks have been spent reading homework; I'm enjoying the exercise, the learning, and the tan.
It is very exciting to be here, considering that this is the first summer A Christian Ministries in the National Park (ACMNP) is located here. During my free time, I've been getting to meet people and get to know about the area. On Sunday, I visited a local church in Page, where one of the congregants shared that the town's churches are generally diminishing and struggling. Only two months ago a different church only two blocks down the street closed down and sold its building. Listening to this church member share his love of the church and yet his concern helped me gain a better sense of the situation here as our team arrives and begins to prepare to minister.
In comparison, another day I walked to the boat rental marina at the resort (a complete marina filled with only rental boats!). Lake Powell is rightly labeled as one of "America's Playgrounds", as we cater to vacationers ready to spend large sums of money during their visit. Rental prices for a houseboat here start at $2,500 per day, and it's common for renters to spend a full week on these, while additional powerboats, wave runners, and jet skis are available for daily use starting around $300 for an 8-hour period. Unlike other national parks I have worked at where people come for serenity, this place is for recreation. Water recreation in particular. I know that I'll have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the water this summer to cool down or take a boat tour of the lake, but right now I am experiencing a lot of culture shock seeing the extent of affluence and luxury this resort affords.
Right now, Lake Powell's waterline is fairly low. Summer predictions aren't very promising as last year's drought near Denver affected the Colorado River flowing west, and there isn't much snowpack in the Rocky Mountain range of Colorado from the winter either. In a climate of receding water and churches, I get to serve visitors who have come to play and re-create. This strange juxtaposition brings me to pray for God's direction for the summer, as this will be a summer unlike any previous one. Just as the region is praying for rain to return, refill, and renew, so I am praying that this will happen in more ways than just physically. Yet this desperation brings great hope and expectation, praying that God reveals Himself in unexpected ways.
Photos from Zion and around Lake Powell are available in Photos of the Week. Photos from the last leg of my trip in Death Valley will be posted next week. In the upcoming weeks, I'll focus upon different sections of the resort, sharing about the people, the resort, and the experience of being here.
Blessings to you! Enjoy your week!
Pump Geyser
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Day 21: Wandering Amidst Storms
Hello!
I have arrived at my summer location at Lake Powell, where I have begun training for my job. I will have more details soon regarding my location and the experience here.
This past week has been filled with a wide variety of terrains, elevations, and climates. A week ago, I was at 8300' facing sub-zero temperatures and a snow storm, then 4500', 70 degrees and clear skies, followed a few days later at -190' and 95 degrees (in the shade), and now to 3800' with snow flurries, lightning storms, and strong wind. The change was so drastic that I could feel my body reeling from the change, fighting off a fever at one point along the trip.
After leaving the Grand Canyon, my buddy, John and I completed our journey with stops at Bryce Canyon and Zion before dropping him off at the airport. I continued on to Death Valley for the weekend before turning around and returning to Page, Arizona to report for work. What I found remarkable was how we saw God coordinate the weather to make for some incredible photography along the way. We had several snow storms blow over at Bryce Canyon, making for some amazing contrast amidst the low-angled light, red rock, and Ponderosa forest. While storms increase the chance for flash floods amidst Zion's slot canyons, we had perfect weather to hike in a canyon known as "The Subway". And when perfect weather threatened for unbearable temperatures in Death Valley, a cloud cover spread across the valley to keep it (relatively) cool, while at night the clouds would dissipate for spectacular starry nights and cool nights. Finally, the most threatening storm broke across the Colorado Plateau the same evening I arrived for work--sleeping in a warm bed while a storm raged outside. Looking back, I am filled with inspiration and astonishment at how God coordinated each of our locations so we got to experience the beauty of His creation while simultaneously seeing Him protect us along each segment of our adventure. I could not be more humbled at His goodness.
As I concluded my 3,000 mile roadtrip, my "Check Engine" light came on. After two weeks of hiking along canyon cliffs, through questionable weather and wind, and sometimes not even knowing where we would be camping at, I found myself filled with worry and concern. Driving along, I was constantly praying for protection over the car and the final leg of my travels, and it was then that God showed me an enormous contrast: surrounded by God's creation, even when they present precarious situations, I am free to cast my cares on Him and trust that He will take care of me, but when it comes to mechanics, I am not so confident the God of creation is able to take care of me and ensure that I can reach my destination. Here I had trusted Him to get me safely through all of these hikes and locations, and now I struggled to surrender my cares to Him, trusting that He will still take care of me.
After hours of driving--my anxiety spiking over any strange sound the engine eeked--I pulled over to check all my fluid levels and the engine once again. I was reminded that I hadn't eaten anything, nor was I taking care of myself in the midst of my concern over the car; so I took a break to enjoy some good orange juice and a granola bar. When I returned to the car to continue my journey, the "Check Engine" light was no longer blaring on my driver's panel. All of my worries and doubts I had wrestled with subsided, and I was again reminded that the same God who gave us such an incredible trip could also help ensure the completion of this trip--even when the problem is mechanical. How much more can I entrust the rest of my daily life to Him as well?
I hope you enjoy your week. More photos from the trip are coming up. Current photos are posted to Photos of the Week.
Blessings!
I have arrived at my summer location at Lake Powell, where I have begun training for my job. I will have more details soon regarding my location and the experience here.
This past week has been filled with a wide variety of terrains, elevations, and climates. A week ago, I was at 8300' facing sub-zero temperatures and a snow storm, then 4500', 70 degrees and clear skies, followed a few days later at -190' and 95 degrees (in the shade), and now to 3800' with snow flurries, lightning storms, and strong wind. The change was so drastic that I could feel my body reeling from the change, fighting off a fever at one point along the trip.
After leaving the Grand Canyon, my buddy, John and I completed our journey with stops at Bryce Canyon and Zion before dropping him off at the airport. I continued on to Death Valley for the weekend before turning around and returning to Page, Arizona to report for work. What I found remarkable was how we saw God coordinate the weather to make for some incredible photography along the way. We had several snow storms blow over at Bryce Canyon, making for some amazing contrast amidst the low-angled light, red rock, and Ponderosa forest. While storms increase the chance for flash floods amidst Zion's slot canyons, we had perfect weather to hike in a canyon known as "The Subway". And when perfect weather threatened for unbearable temperatures in Death Valley, a cloud cover spread across the valley to keep it (relatively) cool, while at night the clouds would dissipate for spectacular starry nights and cool nights. Finally, the most threatening storm broke across the Colorado Plateau the same evening I arrived for work--sleeping in a warm bed while a storm raged outside. Looking back, I am filled with inspiration and astonishment at how God coordinated each of our locations so we got to experience the beauty of His creation while simultaneously seeing Him protect us along each segment of our adventure. I could not be more humbled at His goodness.
As I concluded my 3,000 mile roadtrip, my "Check Engine" light came on. After two weeks of hiking along canyon cliffs, through questionable weather and wind, and sometimes not even knowing where we would be camping at, I found myself filled with worry and concern. Driving along, I was constantly praying for protection over the car and the final leg of my travels, and it was then that God showed me an enormous contrast: surrounded by God's creation, even when they present precarious situations, I am free to cast my cares on Him and trust that He will take care of me, but when it comes to mechanics, I am not so confident the God of creation is able to take care of me and ensure that I can reach my destination. Here I had trusted Him to get me safely through all of these hikes and locations, and now I struggled to surrender my cares to Him, trusting that He will still take care of me.
After hours of driving--my anxiety spiking over any strange sound the engine eeked--I pulled over to check all my fluid levels and the engine once again. I was reminded that I hadn't eaten anything, nor was I taking care of myself in the midst of my concern over the car; so I took a break to enjoy some good orange juice and a granola bar. When I returned to the car to continue my journey, the "Check Engine" light was no longer blaring on my driver's panel. All of my worries and doubts I had wrestled with subsided, and I was again reminded that the same God who gave us such an incredible trip could also help ensure the completion of this trip--even when the problem is mechanical. How much more can I entrust the rest of my daily life to Him as well?
I hope you enjoy your week. More photos from the trip are coming up. Current photos are posted to Photos of the Week.
Blessings!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Day 16: Resurrection Power
Hello!
What a full week! Over the past two weeks, my buddy, John, and I have been hiking and exploring five national parks and several further beautiful locations. John calculated that we hiked a total of 84 miles during our trip and experienced some magnificent places in God's creation!
While there are so many things to share...and photos will follow sometime soon, I wanted to share about our backcountry hike last weekend. We hiked 24 miles over 3 days descending into the Grand Canyon and back. This was my first time doing backcountry hiking in the Grand Canyon (I had never hiked beyond the rim before this trip), and we had to take extra measures to ensure we had enough water, warmth, and supplies. First and foremost was ensuring that our hikes were safe as we hiked along exposed cliffs and down loose rocks along the trail. By the time we finished our hike, we were sore from descending and climbing over 5,000 of vertical feet along the way, often with full packs.
Simply describing our hike in the Grand Canyon would fill this post, but the experience was as much a spiritual journey as a physical one: our trip corresponded with Easter weekend. We descended into the canyon on Good Friday, reaching the depths of the canyon on Saturday, and re-emerging from the canyon on Sunday morning. When hiking under full packs it is easy to consider themes of suffering, but when surrounded by the majesty of God's creation, something else gained prominence. In the middle of the desert, we were astounded to see the far reaches of life within the heat and formidable landscape of the canyon. In the midst of impossibilities, we saw small trees growing along vertical cliff faces, cacti leaning over ledges, bushes sprouting from stand-alone rocks, and small flowers popping out of sand. Where death was precariously close, life was abundant.
During the early hours of Resurrection Sunday, John and I hiked to the edge of our mesa to watch the sunrise and shared what this journey had meant to us. While hundreds were gathering at Mather Point on the rim for a sunrise service, John and I were alone upon our remote mesa. Growing up in churches, Jesus' resurrection was a powerful act of God, but did not bear the same extent of power that it took for Him to be crucified. In the Bible, others had been raised from the dead, so Jesus' resurrection wasn't anything new--it was expected. My three days in the canyon were spent considering the vast power of God to create such an enormous, yet intricately beautiful place, and here I sat on the edge of a mesa cliff in the middle of the Grand Canyon, surrounded by towering buttes and temples above with looming gorges beneath as sunlight began to illuminate the high ridges. To ponder that the power of resurrection surpassed the creative power that God put into forming such a grand canyon left me stunned. Resurrection power--not just making life exist, but bringing life out of death in places least expected--is what God demonstrated that Easter morning so long ago. That is the type of power we celebrate and give thanks for each year.
And to think that God has given this same resurrection power to each of us for our own healing and to bring healing to others; my eyes began to tear up. Sunlight reached our mesa, flooding me with warmth and ridding me of any residual sleepiness. I was able to make our final climb out of the canyon, re-emerging into a new perspective, one that I pray leaves me changed.
That was by far the best Easter Sunday service I had experienced ever! I am so grateful for such a remarkable gift.
Heading to my summer post this week. I'll have more photos and stories from this trip to share later.
Blessings on your week!
Photos are available on the "Photos of the Week" link.
What a full week! Over the past two weeks, my buddy, John, and I have been hiking and exploring five national parks and several further beautiful locations. John calculated that we hiked a total of 84 miles during our trip and experienced some magnificent places in God's creation!
While there are so many things to share...and photos will follow sometime soon, I wanted to share about our backcountry hike last weekend. We hiked 24 miles over 3 days descending into the Grand Canyon and back. This was my first time doing backcountry hiking in the Grand Canyon (I had never hiked beyond the rim before this trip), and we had to take extra measures to ensure we had enough water, warmth, and supplies. First and foremost was ensuring that our hikes were safe as we hiked along exposed cliffs and down loose rocks along the trail. By the time we finished our hike, we were sore from descending and climbing over 5,000 of vertical feet along the way, often with full packs.
Simply describing our hike in the Grand Canyon would fill this post, but the experience was as much a spiritual journey as a physical one: our trip corresponded with Easter weekend. We descended into the canyon on Good Friday, reaching the depths of the canyon on Saturday, and re-emerging from the canyon on Sunday morning. When hiking under full packs it is easy to consider themes of suffering, but when surrounded by the majesty of God's creation, something else gained prominence. In the middle of the desert, we were astounded to see the far reaches of life within the heat and formidable landscape of the canyon. In the midst of impossibilities, we saw small trees growing along vertical cliff faces, cacti leaning over ledges, bushes sprouting from stand-alone rocks, and small flowers popping out of sand. Where death was precariously close, life was abundant.
During the early hours of Resurrection Sunday, John and I hiked to the edge of our mesa to watch the sunrise and shared what this journey had meant to us. While hundreds were gathering at Mather Point on the rim for a sunrise service, John and I were alone upon our remote mesa. Growing up in churches, Jesus' resurrection was a powerful act of God, but did not bear the same extent of power that it took for Him to be crucified. In the Bible, others had been raised from the dead, so Jesus' resurrection wasn't anything new--it was expected. My three days in the canyon were spent considering the vast power of God to create such an enormous, yet intricately beautiful place, and here I sat on the edge of a mesa cliff in the middle of the Grand Canyon, surrounded by towering buttes and temples above with looming gorges beneath as sunlight began to illuminate the high ridges. To ponder that the power of resurrection surpassed the creative power that God put into forming such a grand canyon left me stunned. Resurrection power--not just making life exist, but bringing life out of death in places least expected--is what God demonstrated that Easter morning so long ago. That is the type of power we celebrate and give thanks for each year.
And to think that God has given this same resurrection power to each of us for our own healing and to bring healing to others; my eyes began to tear up. Sunlight reached our mesa, flooding me with warmth and ridding me of any residual sleepiness. I was able to make our final climb out of the canyon, re-emerging into a new perspective, one that I pray leaves me changed.
That was by far the best Easter Sunday service I had experienced ever! I am so grateful for such a remarkable gift.
Heading to my summer post this week. I'll have more photos and stories from this trip to share later.
Blessings on your week!
Photos are available on the "Photos of the Week" link.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Day 8: "Life Elevated"
Hello!
This is going to be a short update. One week has passed since I took off from Oregon on my roadtrip with my roommate, John. As we crossed the Idaho/Utah state line, a Utah welcome sign greeted us with a tag line: "Utah: life elevated". When considering that the lowest elevation of Utah is above 2,000 ft., this is definitely true. I've spent the majority of the week above 5,000 ft., and "life elevated" has certain characteristics.
For the first part, the weather has been cooler with a couple of early Spring storms passing by. Several nights have been below freezing, but we've been surrounded by mountain peaks that are covered in snow. We spent two days in Arches National Park hiking and doing extensive photography, followed by four days of backcountry hiking in Canyonlands, the Needles District. This has been John's first visit to any of this area, and he's been fully mesmerized with all the amazing rock formations we've been seeing. The location have had very little light pollution, making for some great night skies amidst the waxing full moon, then the sunrise appears across the red rock, giving us another day to appreciate God's creation here.
John is admittedly a mountains and forests guy. Having lived in the Willamette Valley for the past five years, I can appreciate those who prefer lush landscapes. Being back in the desert though, I have been experiencing a resurgence of excitement and energy as I am surrounded by rock spires, arches, rock strata, and canyons. In the midst of this, I began to think about simplicity. If you think about the different layers of elements to life, the desert is stripped to a bare minimum, while mountains and forests are near the opposite in fullness. Each summer I prepare to move out to the national parks, I go through a stripping process as I have to pare down my living to bare essentials to take with me, and then live content with that for several months. In the midst of the simplicity, I find a greater dependence upon God to supply my every need. In living at the edge, there are more opportunities to watch God work to fill when gaps and needs appear.
Being in a place where I have to recognize God's life working in mine; that's "life elevated".
I have a few photos available in the "Photos of the Week" in the column on the right.
Enjoy your week.
This is going to be a short update. One week has passed since I took off from Oregon on my roadtrip with my roommate, John. As we crossed the Idaho/Utah state line, a Utah welcome sign greeted us with a tag line: "Utah: life elevated". When considering that the lowest elevation of Utah is above 2,000 ft., this is definitely true. I've spent the majority of the week above 5,000 ft., and "life elevated" has certain characteristics.
For the first part, the weather has been cooler with a couple of early Spring storms passing by. Several nights have been below freezing, but we've been surrounded by mountain peaks that are covered in snow. We spent two days in Arches National Park hiking and doing extensive photography, followed by four days of backcountry hiking in Canyonlands, the Needles District. This has been John's first visit to any of this area, and he's been fully mesmerized with all the amazing rock formations we've been seeing. The location have had very little light pollution, making for some great night skies amidst the waxing full moon, then the sunrise appears across the red rock, giving us another day to appreciate God's creation here.
John is admittedly a mountains and forests guy. Having lived in the Willamette Valley for the past five years, I can appreciate those who prefer lush landscapes. Being back in the desert though, I have been experiencing a resurgence of excitement and energy as I am surrounded by rock spires, arches, rock strata, and canyons. In the midst of this, I began to think about simplicity. If you think about the different layers of elements to life, the desert is stripped to a bare minimum, while mountains and forests are near the opposite in fullness. Each summer I prepare to move out to the national parks, I go through a stripping process as I have to pare down my living to bare essentials to take with me, and then live content with that for several months. In the midst of the simplicity, I find a greater dependence upon God to supply my every need. In living at the edge, there are more opportunities to watch God work to fill when gaps and needs appear.
Being in a place where I have to recognize God's life working in mine; that's "life elevated".
I have a few photos available in the "Photos of the Week" in the column on the right.
Enjoy your week.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Day 1: Starting A New Adventure
Hello!
The day has finally arrived! I'm stepping away from my desk for a breath of fresh air, and shan't return for a while.
Of all posts I make throughout my summers, the first and final posts are the most difficult. The last because so much has happened that it is difficult to summarize it into a single post; the first because I get to talk about what hasn't happened yet.
This will be my sixth summer working with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. Having spent my last four years in mountainous, forested areas, I feel privileged to be returning to the desert. There is the awareness of summer heat, the arid landscape, and rocky terrain, but there is also a simplicity and beauty about that region that always gets me excited whenever I have the opportunity to be there. As I have been spending the past two years of seminary studying about the desert fathers and mothers who set out into the desert to spend time with God, it feels like I am about to join their quest.
For those wanting to know what my summer work entails, I will be working at Wahweap Resort on beautiful Lake Powell as a front desk worker. There is a team of three people (myself included) that will provide Sunday interdenominational worship services to interested visitors of the park as well as fellow employees. I don't have any clue where these will happen yet, but answers will come soon. In the midst of these commitments, I will continue to study online with George Fox University. I do not have a mailing address yet, and am to arrive for work on April 8th.
During the next two weeks, I'll be on the road and trails introducing my roommate, John, to the wonders of the Southwest. Please pray for safety on the trip and during our hikes. I am hoping for some great photography to pass along.
Stepping out. Twelve hours of driving ahead.
Blessings to you this week!
If you would like further information about A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP), visit their website: www.acmnp.com.
The day has finally arrived! I'm stepping away from my desk for a breath of fresh air, and shan't return for a while.
Of all posts I make throughout my summers, the first and final posts are the most difficult. The last because so much has happened that it is difficult to summarize it into a single post; the first because I get to talk about what hasn't happened yet.
This will be my sixth summer working with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. Having spent my last four years in mountainous, forested areas, I feel privileged to be returning to the desert. There is the awareness of summer heat, the arid landscape, and rocky terrain, but there is also a simplicity and beauty about that region that always gets me excited whenever I have the opportunity to be there. As I have been spending the past two years of seminary studying about the desert fathers and mothers who set out into the desert to spend time with God, it feels like I am about to join their quest.
For those wanting to know what my summer work entails, I will be working at Wahweap Resort on beautiful Lake Powell as a front desk worker. There is a team of three people (myself included) that will provide Sunday interdenominational worship services to interested visitors of the park as well as fellow employees. I don't have any clue where these will happen yet, but answers will come soon. In the midst of these commitments, I will continue to study online with George Fox University. I do not have a mailing address yet, and am to arrive for work on April 8th.
During the next two weeks, I'll be on the road and trails introducing my roommate, John, to the wonders of the Southwest. Please pray for safety on the trip and during our hikes. I am hoping for some great photography to pass along.
Stepping out. Twelve hours of driving ahead.
Blessings to you this week!
If you would like further information about A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP), visit their website: www.acmnp.com.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Restoring New Memories
Hello! It is just over one week until I begin this summer's adventures. The countdown has begun!
Many people read through my Facebook page that my backup drive crashed and deleted four years of national park photography. I was tremendously upset when this occurred--all the experiences and adventures, the hikes and early mornings, the wildlife and seasons, and photos of summer friends all wiped clean. They say it's no use crying over spilt milk, but whoever coined that phrase certainly didn't have a backup drive.
Two weekends ago, I had the opportunity to camp on the Olympic Coast in Washington. Though it was a time to enjoy the present, it offered the opportunity to begin rebuilding my photo collection. Within two and a half days, I had visited the Elwah Valley, Crescent Lake, the Hoh Rain Forest, and four separate beaches within this national park. The camera shutter was rapidly capturing each prospect and angle--each photo and location a reminder of my full summer there and subsequent visits.
Everything was different. Instead of summer sun, I worked amidst sporadic rain showers. My photos of Aldwell Lake are irreplaceable as the lake has been drained as part of the Elwah River Restoration Project, removing two dams from the river. Hurricane Ridge and the Sol Duc Valley were inaccessible due to snow, and drift logs on Kalaloch beach were repositioned from years of tide surges and storms.
It's not like I've lost photos before. I can remember when my camera broke in the midst of capturing a Monument Valley thunderstorm at sunset. The vibrant pinks, fuchsia, and purples were set against the deep red sandstone of the Mittens, and I sat and watched with a broken camera in-hand. I once accidentally reformatted my camera card in the midst of a backcountry hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, erasing over 300 photos from the previous day of hiking. And there were all of the beautiful vistas and moments only captured to memory because I forgot to bring my camera along (or lost my camera). Now another story is added to my journey of lost photos and photo blunders.
What I have learned through these years of lost photos and blunders is that each photo is a gift, a memento. They never replace the original experience. In returning to Olympic National Park with the purpose of restoring my photo stock, I had to recognize that this was God's gift of a new experience; otherwise I would miss the blessing of the moment while pining for a memory that can never be replicated. As I went about the park, God met me there--clouds would part in majestic sunbeams, or soft cloud cover would help with one of my high-contrast photos.
God's story is never ending. While we get to reminisce previous chapters, we still get to participate in what He writing now.
Photos from Olympic National Park are available in the "Photos of the Week" tab in the right column.
Many people read through my Facebook page that my backup drive crashed and deleted four years of national park photography. I was tremendously upset when this occurred--all the experiences and adventures, the hikes and early mornings, the wildlife and seasons, and photos of summer friends all wiped clean. They say it's no use crying over spilt milk, but whoever coined that phrase certainly didn't have a backup drive.
Two weekends ago, I had the opportunity to camp on the Olympic Coast in Washington. Though it was a time to enjoy the present, it offered the opportunity to begin rebuilding my photo collection. Within two and a half days, I had visited the Elwah Valley, Crescent Lake, the Hoh Rain Forest, and four separate beaches within this national park. The camera shutter was rapidly capturing each prospect and angle--each photo and location a reminder of my full summer there and subsequent visits.
Everything was different. Instead of summer sun, I worked amidst sporadic rain showers. My photos of Aldwell Lake are irreplaceable as the lake has been drained as part of the Elwah River Restoration Project, removing two dams from the river. Hurricane Ridge and the Sol Duc Valley were inaccessible due to snow, and drift logs on Kalaloch beach were repositioned from years of tide surges and storms.
It's not like I've lost photos before. I can remember when my camera broke in the midst of capturing a Monument Valley thunderstorm at sunset. The vibrant pinks, fuchsia, and purples were set against the deep red sandstone of the Mittens, and I sat and watched with a broken camera in-hand. I once accidentally reformatted my camera card in the midst of a backcountry hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, erasing over 300 photos from the previous day of hiking. And there were all of the beautiful vistas and moments only captured to memory because I forgot to bring my camera along (or lost my camera). Now another story is added to my journey of lost photos and photo blunders.
What I have learned through these years of lost photos and blunders is that each photo is a gift, a memento. They never replace the original experience. In returning to Olympic National Park with the purpose of restoring my photo stock, I had to recognize that this was God's gift of a new experience; otherwise I would miss the blessing of the moment while pining for a memory that can never be replicated. As I went about the park, God met me there--clouds would part in majestic sunbeams, or soft cloud cover would help with one of my high-contrast photos.
God's story is never ending. While we get to reminisce previous chapters, we still get to participate in what He writing now.
Photos from Olympic National Park are available in the "Photos of the Week" tab in the right column.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Starting A New Year
Hello! Winter is ebbing away from the Willamette Valley. Frost, fog, and rain-soaked are being replaced by warming sunshine and crocus blossoms carrying the promise of Spring. In the midst of school studies, the wind through newly budded boughs is bringing new anticipation for this year's adventures.
Though Spring has not fully subdued its frozen predecessor, my summer preparations cannot wait; things are happening too quickly. My summer has an early start, beginning in April. A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) is placing me in a new location this year. It is one that I am very excited for: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located primarily in Utah. This reserved expanse contains Lake Powell, an extensive reservoir fed primarily by the Colorado River before it descends into the Grand Canyon. I will be serving at Wahweap Resort, located on the Arizona/Utah border only 8 miles outside of Page, Arizona. This will be my sixth summer serving with this ministry and I am trying to contain my joy and excitement to return to Utah's canyon country.
Only two weeks remain before I leave Oregon; I am wrapping up final details before my expedition begins, and preparing to launch into what indicates to be a very promising ministry opportunity. After a five-month suspension, I get to start a new year in my travel journal. As a reader, I hope you will enjoy and benefit from the months of upcoming posts as I describe the adventures and ministry opportunities unfolding as the months pass by. I will continue to post each week--a goal I am fairly faithful to.
My true New Year (2013) began in Leavenworth, Washington...a Bavarian-styled town in the North Cascades, learning to cross-country ski and enjoying the Germanic cuisine and shops. It was here that my year began, and it seems appropriate that this year began with an adventure. Beyond the opportunity to see new places, I am afforded the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world God has placed us in, and discover His heart for us all as we continue to journey with Him throughout the year.
So as this year launches, it is my prayer that we will be encouraged to step out and meet God's adventures with willing anticipation and trusting hearts. Blessings to you!
Tobyn
Photos from my Leavenworth Trip are available on the "Photos of the Week" tag on the right column of the webpage.
Though Spring has not fully subdued its frozen predecessor, my summer preparations cannot wait; things are happening too quickly. My summer has an early start, beginning in April. A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) is placing me in a new location this year. It is one that I am very excited for: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located primarily in Utah. This reserved expanse contains Lake Powell, an extensive reservoir fed primarily by the Colorado River before it descends into the Grand Canyon. I will be serving at Wahweap Resort, located on the Arizona/Utah border only 8 miles outside of Page, Arizona. This will be my sixth summer serving with this ministry and I am trying to contain my joy and excitement to return to Utah's canyon country.
Only two weeks remain before I leave Oregon; I am wrapping up final details before my expedition begins, and preparing to launch into what indicates to be a very promising ministry opportunity. After a five-month suspension, I get to start a new year in my travel journal. As a reader, I hope you will enjoy and benefit from the months of upcoming posts as I describe the adventures and ministry opportunities unfolding as the months pass by. I will continue to post each week--a goal I am fairly faithful to.
My true New Year (2013) began in Leavenworth, Washington...a Bavarian-styled town in the North Cascades, learning to cross-country ski and enjoying the Germanic cuisine and shops. It was here that my year began, and it seems appropriate that this year began with an adventure. Beyond the opportunity to see new places, I am afforded the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world God has placed us in, and discover His heart for us all as we continue to journey with Him throughout the year.
So as this year launches, it is my prayer that we will be encouraged to step out and meet God's adventures with willing anticipation and trusting hearts. Blessings to you!
Tobyn
Photos from my Leavenworth Trip are available on the "Photos of the Week" tag on the right column of the webpage.
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