Seems that the Iowa summer is doing the best it can to burn the Colorado out of us! Short today -- where are you seeing Him? Remember -- this was less about Estes Park, more about your heart. Are you as 'open' to His guiding, leading, showing up? Are you turning to prayer first rather than as an afterthought? How are you seeking to bless those around you? Are you seeing Jesus' presence around you here, like we did last week? I pray you are...

Last post tomorrow, along with a few pics.

Keep looking...keep praying...be a blessing.

A wise man today talked to me about continuing on what we have begun. His advice, taken from what He saw Jesus doing:

Do what you see the Lord doing. Read the Scriptures, seek what it was that Jesus did, and do the same things. We did that -- sought God's face, served others, prayed like crazy, and acted in a way to bless those around us.

Simple, right?

an idea

Reading today from an amazing book. Thinking about what has happened, and what is yet to come. The reading was on prayer, and how to put that to work. Here is the author's thoughts, in a nutshell:

We access the prayer of our hearts, we become open to God's call, when we do these things:

1) take the holy scriptures and read them. Dig in, wherever. Read with open ears, heart, and mind.

2) quiet time in God's presence. Still your mind and heart, empty them of the 'noise'. Be still and reflect on what you have read.

3) seek guidance. talk to someone else you trust, who is walking in the Way of Jesus with you. Tell them what you are praying for, about, what you hear and see God asking and calling you to do. Run it through their lens.

I like this. A LOT. I think we can be this for each other, and for others in our lives. Are you willing to take that next step?

Now what?

When you part from your friend, you grieve not: For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

- Kahlil Gibran

One thing I've heard since coming home is that many of us on the trip are already missing each other, wishing we could go back, wondering what to do next. That is a normal thing for sure; after an experience like we had -- particularly, a spiritually intense one -- the heart longs to return to where it all happened, to experience those same feelings. Here is where it turns for us -- I spoke to the kids about the tide turning, that they would come home and if that same Holy Spirit freakiness came along, things would be different. It was not Colorado, not the YMCA, not the mountains, not even the remarkable Ricky Hawks that made this trip so amazing. It was the presence of Christ, manifest in each one of us to the world around us and to each other, that made the Summit trip what it was. That Spirit lives in you, here and now. My challenge is to turn it loose -- on your family, your friends, the people you meet. Turn to prayer first! Open your Bible, read it nightly. Ask, when you hear a great Godly truth -- "So What?" Buckle up, friends. This is the beginning of the trip up to the mountain, not the end.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...Looking back, now over 24hrs after leaving the mountains, I am still a little overwhelmed by all that took place. I'll be posting some daily thoughts at this site for the next week or so, along with some selected pictures. As I think back on all we saw, reading Ps 148 this afternoon brought a huge grin to my face. As you read, think of the peaks, the valleys, the streams, the great green expanses of Nebraska, the elk, chipmunks, mountain bluebirds, storm clouds and sunrises. Each of these things and untold more exist because of His doing, because of His providence, and are a blessing to us as His most beloved creation.

Praise God indeed.

Psalm 148 -- grab your Bible and read this.

I've got a peaceful, easy feelin'

To quote the Eagles, we are home and I am feeling peaceful and easy -- to sleep that is! What an amazing trip, and even the day on the road was pretty stellar. Here are some pics from yesterday (Thursday) on the summit of Twin Sisters. Elevation 11,500 ft (roughly), we all made it above treeline or to the summit. What a day. Sprague Lake that night for some fishing, amazing elk encounter, and communion on the mountain. I'll post more when my head is clear, but I gotta say -- God was truly blessing each of us through this entire journey. I am anxious to see what will happen next...all praise and glory to Jesus for it all. Amen.

Are you ready...

I hope so. I hope you are ready for some freaky, Holy Spirit stuff. Answered prayers. Miracles. Jesus showing up and hanging out and changing hearts. We have seen and experienced all these things (and believe me, this is coming from one of the more skeptical people you know!) and I am convinced. The tide may be turning...

We'll see you tomorrow night. Please, please pray us home. We'll be coming down Highway 34, up to Wyoming on I-25, and through the whole state of Nebraska on I-80. I am a glutton for punishment. Maybe Nebraska and I will make peace with one another. We shall see.

Leaving around 6 am Mtn Time.

Love y'all. See you then.

Wednesday dawns brightly...

We had our last full day of service work today. More staining; the kids did an entire bridge over a small glacial stream. Then it was up to Wind River Ranch -- a Christian ranch up near Long's Peak, where we did a few hours of grounds work, and then had the chance to fish thier trout pond. Bryce caught 2, Brandon 1, Chanlea 1/2, and Toni and the Allisons learned to fly cast. We drove up Trail Ridge Road, to 12,000+ feet in the park. We played in the snow, saw and insane amount of scenery, and were led in prayer at the top of the mountain by the kids themselves. These crazy kids are asking to pray, to read scripture in the van on the way down the mountain, and are loving each other and the community around them like the Bible tells us to do. Without reservation, with abandon, without fear. I cannot begin to express how profound the spiritual desire and depth these young people are showing, and how amazing it has been to do this trip with Patrick. He has grown up before my eyes, and is truly leading. I hope and pray that you all will see the difference in these kids when they get back; actually, that you will see the depth, maturity, and spiritual leadership that these kids possess; it has always been there, and to see it emerging is inexpressible. Tomorrow, it is up Twin Sisters; I'm afraid that it will be anti-climatic after the week we've had thus far...

Quote of today -- "you have made a difference. It sounds clique, but you have made a difference here. Truly." today, The librarian @ the Y camp after the staining was done and now ready for dedication on the weekend.

Tuesday...

So the pictures don't want to upload!!! Today was astounding -- they keep getting better it seems. These kids worked like wild people today; we stained 2 decks, 4 chairs, 18 benches at the Mountainview Outdoor Chapel; painted 4 more benches and a picnic table, and blessed everyone around them with crazy exuberance and joy. We went into the park tonight, driving up Fall River Road to the Alluvial Fan -- a place that in 1982 was washed out by a high mountain lake breaking a dam; it send house sized boulders, trees, and flooded the entire valley; Estes Park ended up with 6 feet of water through the downtown. The remains are a beautiful waterfall, and a path of rubble that is mind blowing. We saw more huge bull elk, and bighorn sheep high on a hillside that a few of our boys got 'familiar' with. We watched the sun set in the Endo Valley, and were blessed by Jesus' presence so powerfully it was almost touchable. These kids are praying out loud together, offering up tremendous prayers of faith; they are leading morning devotions, sharing their hearts. They are loving each other, encouraging each other, and doing so by the power of the Spirit. I cannot express the growth and maturity, the joy and insanity, the blessing they have been to me and Patrick on this adventure. They are getting sad that we just passed the halfway point, and that tomorrow is our last 'work' day! What an honor, and I thank God for this every morning, to be a part of their lives, their growth in faith, and to see them becoming who God desires them to be.

Here are my two favorite pictures from today; Patrick has a TON at his Facebook and Flickr account -- find that here: http://www.flickr.com/pathawks/

Day 3, I think?

Pics from today...

So I think it is day 3...we have all asked that question today at various times! Great day -- coffee at a great little spot on the way to the Y camp...cool day w/ lots of clouds and a furious rain squall around 3:30. We did some grounds cleanup -- moving salt sand off the sidewalks and steps from the last big snow, then the afternoon serving the livery (horse stables) doing trail maintenance. The girls used rocks to outline the trails; the boys used shovels to knock down ridges and level out spots that are prone to erosion. Then it was into RMNP, up to Glacier Gorge and to see Alberta Falls. One word -- stunning. We took a fork, walked uphill for 1/2 mile to Bear Lake -- breathtaking! We were blessed by snow, cool wind, a great shuttle ride, elk everywhere, 2 coyotes in the Beaver Meadows Valley, and the largest amounts of barbequed meat any human should eat as a reward for dinner. Chapel was great; Holy Spirit doing awesome stuff with these kids. Thanks for letting me bring them here and for supporting us on this adventure...

Day 2!

Today was a good day! Early run with Drew Jackson and a sunrise on Long's Peak, church at Shepherd of the Mountains, Service at Rocky Ridge Music Camp, some time in Rocky Mountain National Park, dinner in downtown Estes Park, fun, fishing, and showers at YMCA/Estes Park, nearly collecting a cow elk with the Red Rocket (the elk are like squirrels back home -- EVERYWHERE!), and now off to bed. Some highlights -- great attitudes; these kids are anxious to serve and do great things! They are hungry for chapel, eager to pray, and quick to smile and laugh and speak to others on the street. The weather went from sunny and beautiful to cold and rainy back to sunny back to cold and back to a beautiful sunset. We ate some REAL good pizza at Bob and Tony's downtown, enjoyed the scenery, and had a ball working and playing hard today. The pics as follows...in reverse order (blogger is messing with me!)

sunset from the Y camp

flowers in the Moraine Park valley

gals in the valley

Jackson boys in the valley

the work crew @ Rocky Ridge

proof it does exist and that we are not just screwing around!

sunrise over Long's Peak

Thanks for praying, thanks for reading!

Nebraska's the longest damn state in the union...

Storyhill is right. Holy cow what a long day! 12+ hours on the road, counting a few stops with 9 kids and an hour at lunch, a fierce crosswind the last half of NE and the first part of CO; some rough roads, and some foreboding storm clouds to the west. What a great day, though -- these kids are amazing!!! We have laughed much; no mumblings or mutterings about the drive, just smiles and craziness. We had a phenomenal lunch at Ole's in Paxton, NE; the pics speak for themselves. Mountains appeared shortly after leaving I-76 west on 34; the kids were giddy; driving thru Big Thomsen Canyon was stunning (we found out there were Bighorn Sheep in the canyon all day!), and hit Estes Park around 7 pm Mtn time. Long day, but well worth it. The view speaks for itself....

Here is the proof that we made it, etc.!

There!!

I have talked with Brent and they are in Estes- saw some beautiful sites along the way with wild life already- will let him post details but they are there safe and sound and there is already rumors that they will make a return visit next year already!! Maybe I should go along then huh?
Kari

West on 34

Hey all-
Brent called about 15 min ago and they are heading west on Highway 34---stopping to gas up and will be to Estes in a little less than an hour- Finally!
They have been fighting the wind in the "Red Rocket" and tornadoes all around them- hopefully driving into some "Sonshine" now!!
Keep checking for more posts.....

The night before

Twas the night before leaving, and all through the house...

nah. Not poetic at the moment.

The stuff coming along:


Me after packing said stuff:


The trusty steed:



I truly, truly am excited to be a part of this adventure. 9 great kids, one great chaperone, the mountains, working hard, playing harder, and doing it all for the sake and glory of Jesus. You cannot beat that. I still laugh that I get paid to do this!

Look for updates from the road tomorrow!

As of Thursday, this is what we'll be working on:

Sunday -- grounds work @ Rocky Ridge Music Center (a camp for youth)

So far I have your group helping with the following items at the YMCA:

Trail maintenance for the livery

Cleaning up sand/sand mix off the sidewalks and edges of the roads from the last heavy snow

Staining fences, benches, and maybe a small bridge

Grounds clean-up

Possible fence building

I have also put in calls to a local Therapeutic Horse Riding Facility that works with disabled people, to the Rocky Ridge Music Center that helps scholarship students develop their musical talents in a camp setting and to Wind River Ranch which is a local Christian Dude Ranch. We will see what pans out.

Looks like we'll be busy!

All the updates here!

Hey

You found this...here is the place where you'll find daily updates and pics from our Sr. High 2009 Summit trip to Estes Park. Check frequently; I'll update as much as possible with highlights, lowlights, and fun stuff from our adventure.