Finally, on Friday...

Hello LIFT 21 Followers!

Yes, I know. I have been slacking on the updating of this blog. Life has been crazy busy for the past week, but I will do my best to update you on everything that has been going on!

Tuesday, we had our backpack training class, which involved how to pack the overnight hiking backpack, how to pack the sleeping bag, and the proper way of carrying the bag. We had some excellent testimonies on Tuesday, and then we watched a short movie called Everest, which documented a group's travel to the summit of Mount Everest. This was to hopefully get our minds geared in the right direction the day before we headed for Avalanche Pass and Algonquin Peak!

Wednesday: Alpine start. We left Camp-of-the-Woods at 6 AM and headed to the High Peaks. We picked up one of Tim Trezise's friends named Kevin on the way to join us for the hike. After about an hour and a half we arrived in Lake Placid, where there was an ice castle. We all got out took some pictures, and got the opportunity to run around in the castle, and pose next to it. It was pretty cool! As we were leaving we saw the police taping off the area, which meant that we were the last ones in there for the season! Yes, the weather is getting warmer everyday up here.
So a few minutes later we reached the parking lot and the trail head for Algonquin and Avalanche Pass. We left at about 10 AM for the Pass and the Peak. About a quarter way to the peak, one of our fellow LIFT teammates passed out on the trail momentarily. We helped her to her feet, and one of our leaders of the day had to make a decision on what needed to be done. He told her that it would be best for her to return to the bottom, get some food and water in her, and relax. So, yes - it is true. I did not make it to Algonquin Peak that day. Instead, I headed back down the hill with two other LIFTers and our light-headed colleague. We got some beautiful pictures on the way back down, but it definitely did not stand against some of the pictures I saw people had taken from the top of Algonquin Peak or in the middle of Avalanche Pass.

So, once we reached the bottom, we took one of the LIFT vans and drove into Lake Placid to spend some time there. We did some shopping (EMS was having a sale!). We got to visit Mirror Lake, and we also got to see the Olympic Center and the ice rink where "Miracle on Ice" took place. They were actually setting up for Disney on Ice when we arrived.

So, although a few of us missed hiking through the Pass and hiking for the Peak, one of my colleagues said it perfectly: People are more important than peaks. And I will have another chance to go after a peak next week on our four day camping excursion in the high peaks.

Yesterday (Thursday): It was our free day of recuperation for many. My legs still hurt a little bit from the hike, but I'm sure others hurt a lot more. I got to go to the post office and Charlie John's in the morning and pick up and drop off what I needed at those places. Then in the afternoon, I drove Emory and Justyna to Schenectady, NY so they could get their immunizations done prior to the Brazil trip. When we returned, we had our dinner at the Norm and Carol Sonju's home. They are both the main supporters of Camp-of-the-Woods. After having some great conversation at their home, we stayed for a consecration service there. If you are wondering what that is, it is a worship service primarily focused on knowing who God is. We did this through worship, praise, scriptural readings, and prayer. It was a deep service, and I know lives were changed and transformed.

Today: Today is our first few classes with our next guest speaker: Kerby Anderson. I got the privilege to meet him and hear him speak at our annual Men's Advance for First Church of Christ last October.

We have a very busy weekend coming up ahead of us, because it is President's weekend, lots of people will be here with their families. I will be serving in the dish room during meals, and I will be doing some babysitting on Sunday afternoon.

That is the crazy, immense update! I hope to get back on here after the weekend is complete. Thank you all again for your support and your prayers. I can see my life transforming everyday, and I give you thanks! Praise God!

In Him,