In review

Jamie in the trip kept a daily list of things that stood out, made her laugh, general observations. They are outstanding. In that spirit, I offer my closing thoughts after a few days home. 

1. This trip is special. I have done many things in my 17+ years of ministry. Each trip is unique, each was great. This SummitServe thing is different. I have consistently noticed something happens in each group of students we take west - they grow and grow up a bit in front of us. They are asked to lead, to step up and out, and they do. 

2. They don't complain (much anyway). This is not a comfortable trip - church floor, a week of showers in public, sharing 2 small bathrooms, granola bars and water all time, up early and to bed late, dirt and bark and bumps and bruises. 12 hours each way in vans jammed together. We never get push back from them on any of it. 

3. They do hard things. Not many will use a shovel the rest of the summer. Or pick up rocks. Or logs. Or line trails. Or strip hotel beds. Or clean toilets (happily). Many criticize this generation for lack of motivation or for a sense of entitlement. Last week, there was none of it. Just good old fashioned elbow grease and determination.  

4. They wear out. See the above statement. They need a break too. When they got tired, we figured out how to give them rest. A big group helps, as they don't all wear out. But we got tired. We rested too. That is a holy thing. Maybe a little less is good at home, too. 

5. We play hard. Some love to shop. Some to hike. Some to eat. Lots. They all love to laugh. Loudly. Frequently. When you put them in this setting, away from pressures and pretense, they come out of their shell. You get a snapshot of who these kids are with no pressure to be a certain thing. They are still kids (so are your leaders it turns out!). It is a really good thing to play. We did.

6. They love well. This group had 8 or more different schools represented. 5 different grades. 3 different countries and native tounges. Different interests. Personalities. Needs. But for those few moments in the mountains, they were a family. It was fun to see 'bunk mates' reunite and sleep next to each other, just like they did in years past. In the same spots. And to see new friendships develop. They care about each other, regardless of where they go to school or where they are from. We are a family. 

7. Weird things follow us around. Odd pool house moments. Random horses on the trail that REALLY want to be part of our group. Small decisions that end up being really good ones in retrospect. Stuff that strikes you in the moment but you are not quite sure what to say about or do with, but you know that God is up to something. Maybe this is normal, we just need to slow down to see it. 

8. People notice us. In a good way. From our first stop at Ole's to the last bathroom break of the trip, people asked who we were and what we were doing. We told them. They smiled. And thanked. And encouraged. They were consistently impressed with how hard this group worked, and grateful for it. They expressed the need is still immense. Parent trip, anyone?

9. We have a home away from home - Shepherd of the Mountain could easily say no to housing us. We take over, the building and their service. The median age of their congregation is, well, not young. First gal in on Sunday looked around a gasped a little bit, maybe overwhelmed at the volume of students in their lobby. But they LOVE your kids. Love having us. Are so grateful that we come stay at their church, bring life with us. Have told us repeatedly how much they would like more 'youth' in their congregation. They pray for us. Appreciate our efforts. Rumor has it they are putting showers in as part of an expansion in part (or maybe in whole) because of us. That is pretty cool. And the kids feel like SMLC is home. They love being there. Same with the YMCA of the Rockies. Spider and Jeff's place. Wind River. Feels like home. Like we belong. 

10. They love Jesus. We prayed. We sang. We read and heard scripture. In church and on the mountainside. We worshipped with our voices and with our hands. They have faith that literally moved mountains, working hard because it needed doing and because they believe that by serving others, you follow the example of Jesus. Singing on the porch Wednesday night, lifting their voices to God in praise...it was real and heartfelt and how church ought to be. It was about Christ and who He is in their lives. Period. Nothing more, not concerned with self or want, but with making Jesus great. Amen. 

Some of this might make an appearance this Sunday in church. Forgive the repetition if that is the case. I do think a huge thanks is in order to Kate, Jamie, and the Bowmans for shepherding and serving. To Pastor Ron and SMLC for their hospitality. To Spider for her coordination, friendship, and leadership. And to you all - you made it possible, trusted us and your kids, and believe that good things happen when you put your children in service and mission opportunities. Good things did indeed happen. I hope you see it like we did. 

So until next year...#GO. 

Just one.

Love these kids. Love this trip. Love who they are. And are becoming. Thank you for sending them. For letting us bring them. Jesus is doing marvelous things in them. 

Wind River in pics.

A mudslide. Tons of rocks and trees. Sand. Dirt. Providence more wasn't ruined. In the midst beauty finds a way to be seen...

In advance.

We worked at Wind River Ranch yesterday. They are a Christian dude ranch that serves families looking for a mountain retreat where they connect with Christ and each other. The ranch sits at 9300' in the shadow of Longs Peak and Twin Sisters. Last September, after what some think was nearly 18" of rain in a few days time, the mountain (Twin Sisters) let loose and sent tons and tons of trees, rocks, and mud towards the ranch. At 11:15pm at night. 

The camp is a place that you can feel the goodness of God present. It is peaceful, beautiful, and a place where grace abounds. They believe, and after seeing the aftermath, that God's hand was on them that night keeping them from harm. They also believe  he had been working years in advance of the slide to keep it that way. The night of the slide, their entire herd of horses was in the pasture corral. Directly in the line of the slide. As the slide rolled down the mountain, it hit the trench that had been dug 3 years ago for a zip line. The flow filled the trench (probably 15-20' deep at its deepest), and was slowed and mostly stopped by the dirt berm created when the trench was dug. What was left ran into the corral. With the horses. They told us their head wrangler went out the next morning expecting to have to put most of their herd down when they saw what had happened. Not one horse was hurt. They had been buried, some up to their chest in mud. But not one was hurt. 

The slide missed the main camp, sparing them from damage there. They had guests on property that night, there for a retreat. A group of pastors. No one was hurt and there was a lot of praying going on that they believe was instrumental in the events of that night. They saw the hand of God at work, they believe He extended His blessing and favor that night to keep them safe. After seeing what I saw, doing what we did, I do too. They have mess to clean up still. One man said after 9 months of almost non-stop work, they have tackled 1% of what needs doing. It was intense to look around, to try to figure out where to start. So we did. We did what we could, and chose to be a blessing rather than walk away frustrated because the job was too big. Yesterday was hot in the sun, smelly from the horses, dusty because they are dry again, and taxing from the lifting (rocks and logs. Theme developing?). Your kids worked. HARD. 

I write this through teary eyes, because it is overwhelming to be a part of God's plan to bless others. The kids do it without consideration of comfort or cost, and give until they cannot anymore. They are instruments of God's favor in the lives of the people here, making a difference that we cannot truly comprehend. I speak for all the leaders when I tell you that these kids are world changers, doing it for the good of others, the glory of God, and because they heard Jesus call them to #GO and they did. 

A fuller picture...

I'd like to suggest taking a look at the Facebook page of both Jamie Stenger and Lori Bowman. They are posting pics and thoughts along the way. Do so and you will get a much fuller picture of the week. I am so grateful for our leaders and their example to the students this week. These adults are honest, straight forward, and hard working. The love Jesus and love your kids. I get emotional knowing my own daughter has people investing in her spiritual life like Kate, Jamie, Lori, and Brian. 

I'd like to write more but the motion makes my shoulders weep. Logs are heavy and I don't really carry them up hillsides often, or at all. More tonight after what is promising to be a full and physical day. Thanks for reading. Extra prayers for energy, attitudes, and health at altitude today!

Day 3.

Be sure to check your kids' Tweets for other pics. More to come tomorrow! We worked hard today. Ready for more...

More.

So the task for some was to carry freshly cut logs, pile them, and repeat. Said logs would be used to build a new cabin. Said logs were in the woods, lying where they had been cut and brushed (branches trimmed off). We had yokes - a 2x4 with a length of rope that went under the log, making a cradle to carry it, the 2x4 serving as the handles. 3 teams of 4 people....already way too much math this morning. We got to it. First log wasn't bad. By log 43, we were spent. The trick was to work together to navigate the log thru the underbrush, over rocks, around standing trees, and to the pile. The thing about these logs...still fresh. Little full. Lot of sap. No one got that reference (Christmas Vacation) when I dropped it mid-carry, by the way. I weep for this generation. 

This was a HARD two hours. I am sore this morning. Imagining they will be too. A task far from the norm, likely more challenging on many levels than what some had done in the past. Our other groups got to clean cabins - by all reports, equally as challenging in a different way, as kids don't clean up after themselves (bathroom included) when away at music camp. Surprise! The third crew was piling sticks and branches, scouting the woods and clearing trails. No rakes, wheelbarrows, just their own two hands. This all done at about 9000' elevation. We all slept pretty well. 

That said, we will be back at it shortly. Smiling the whole time. Cuz it feels good to do something beautifu for Jesus. 

Day 2 thoughts

This was a good one. Spent lunch at Copeland Lake, Wild Basin entrance of RMNP. 2 hours of work at Rocky Ridge Music Center - two taxing hours. We bear the scratches, bruises, and tired bodies to prove it. Some dinner downtown, then to Alberta Falls for a dusk hike to a gorgeous spot. Fun to see the kids loosen up and get comfortable. Speaking of, it's time to try and get that way cuz tomorrow is coming ands we've gor work to do! 

Be proud, people. Your kids are leading and loving well. They are making much of Jesus and the chance to speak of Him. I am blessed by their hearts and grateful for them each!!!

Night, all!

Day 2.

Day two. Church. Lakes. Rocks. Many rocks. Logs. Cabin cleaning. Waterfalls. Smiles. Laughs. We are loosening up and loving each other. And we are tired. More to come...

A worthy goal...

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” (Isaiah 12:2, 4-6 NIV)

From my early morning reading today. Sounds good to me. Pray this into our day! 

Day 1

Good evening! Long day. A long lunch made it so...but it was a needed break and we made it in good time after that. The kids are in good spirits, although the road has them weary. Fun to see a group this size (biggest SummitServe ever) start to bond. Greasy burgers, silly songs, and a whole lot of unknown will do that. Our older kids are leading already and the younger starting to loosen up. Gonna be a lot of fun this week. 

We drove up Big Thompson Canyon on the way, site of some of the most dramatic flooding last fall. It was sobering to see familiar spots wrecked or gone, to see what was a narrow river channel changes and flattened in spots. Boarded up homes, some in ruins, and some rebuilt with thank you signs posted for the world to see. It is a honor to come here and to serve this community, and I was most struck by the number of crosses I saw in yards as we came up canyon. Good reminder of where our help and our hope comes from...

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow...

Pics!

From day one...

Can You Feel It?

Hey all!!!

We are 23 hrs and 37 minutes from the road. Hope you are ready to roll! Some thoughts before we embark on a new chapter in this adventure we call SummitServe...

Here is the itinerary for our service work during the week. This can always change, but per Spider, this is our plan as of now...

Sun: @ Rocky Ridge Music Center 2 – 4. Helping clean cabins and prepare for newly arriving campers.

Mon: @ YMCA livery 9 – 3. Repairing vandalized breakfast ride site and trail work. (Lunch will be provided by the Y)

Tues: @ Wind River Ranch 9 – 3. Grounds work. (Lunch will be provided)

Wed: @ YMCA doing rock work 9-12 & staining chairs from 1-4pm. (Lunch will be provided by the Y)

Gonna be a good week of work, with some time to play as well! 

Forecast for Estes Park next week: 

Highs 65-74 degrees, lows in the low/mid 40’s. Colorado weather! Be prepared.

As always, we’d love you to follow along on here, Twitter, Facebook, etc. More than that, you are active as a participant when you pray for and with us while we are gone. Some things on my mind this morning...

- pray for wise choices - diet, sleep, personal interaction (being patient and engaging with everyone - to practice the fruit of the Spirit in all our relationships), to ‘make moments’ while being careful and cautious in the mountains.

- travel mercies - for the weather, drivers, vans

- for our overall health in the sun, altitude, and how we adjust to it.

- for us to engage this week, to leave behind the stuff that distracts and to be in the moment fully.

- to be ‘Moment Makers’ - long story, the title of a book I am somewhat intrigued by. The premise is that life is a series of opportunities to make moments, to make a difference, and that we have a choice to let those either pass or to embrace them and walk away with moments that stand in our minds and the lives of others. Pray this trip would be full of moments that we choose to engage and that will leave a lasting mark for the glory of Christ in the lives our students, leaders, and the Estes Park community!

Alright, that’s it. More to come tomorrow eve...

That was fast...

WOW! The registration filled up in less than 24 hours for SummitServe 2014! It is amazing to see so many eager students, excited to travel to Estes Park and serve Jesus by serving others. We have almost filled the 27 student spots, and are also excited about the wonderful chaperones that will be traveling with us. We are still looking for another driver or driving team, but God will provide! As of now, no further action is required, just start praying for a wonderful trip and encouraging your student to save money to assist with the cost of the trip! Praise the Lord for a great group of Sr. High kiddos!

Payment

Remember- there is no way to pay online for SummitServe 2014. You can simply write a check to Zion Lutheran Church, with your students name in the memo line. Payment 1 of $100 is due by April 21 and Payment 2 of $100 is due by June 1. Questions? Let us know!

The registration for SummitServe 2014 is live! Click the link (where it says ‘Register Here’) directly to the right of this post!