Training Camp in Georgia

I really dont know how to express in words what God has done in my life in the last 2 weeks but ill try. Sept 12, i went to training camp in Georgia and i honestly think that if i would have come home after just going to camp i would already seem like a completely different person. It was the most challenging camp i have ever gone to. we had every type of speaker talk to us about various topics and God was definately at work there. but yea yada yada yada. . you dont want to hear about camp. I will post pictures and they will tell you more than i can. The following pics are from camp in ATL.

Departing

Part of the Group

yep..

Georgia is beautiful. Every day i would hike into the woods to do my devotions.

All of the various teams met in this tent to have a "chapel" time every morning, afternoon, evening, nite, basically all the time. This was the only light in camp.

Ice cold hose shower

Another picture in the woods at the crack of dawn

Appropriate

Nairobi

Habari!!
Unfortunately I do not have pics of Africa yet because I left one of the memory cards at my place...yea.. good one. Ill try to paint a picture. Yesterday we went to church and it was amazing. They had one guitar and it was the fullest sounding worship service i have ever been too. There was about 70 people in this church in Kibera and they were loud and sounded like angels. I cried many times through the hour long worship service. Some songs were in English and others in Swahili. They sing as if they are before the throne. I am learning how to worship. The service lasted about 3 hours and seemed to go by in no time. They brought two kids up in front of the church to have a verse off. These two kids were INCREDIBLE. they kept saying verses and wouldnt stop. They could literally go for 30 minutes without stopping. I was humbled. I am going to have a chance to lead worship in these churches so im am very excited about that. Im gonna have to drop the beat though otherwise they wont know what to do. ;)

After church we went to visit and orphanage in Kibera. These kids were schooled so they spoke english. I am not going to try to explain what happened, but will instead make you wait for the pictures in 2 weeks because i dont want to spoil it with words. Lets just say they loved us and i am getting good at futbol (soccer). I made a definate connection with a boy named Brad (english name) and he has taught me alot of swahili. He has been an angel sent from God because he helps me with anything i want. I also made a connection with a boy named Rodgers at the church we went to. He is an aspiring bass player and i tought him a song. He is 23. The Africans like my beats on the bass. I have an acoustic guitar that I brought and have been using it to teach bass. Rodgers learns VERY fast. I will be teaching him during this trip. God is going to use our team in so many ways. The people are so loving and take care of us as if we are their own. I am learning what Thankful really means and am also learning that I tear up rather quickly. I feel as if i am a lamb whose legs just got broken and now i am learning to stay close to my Shepard. I wish that you all could be experiencing this with me.

RANDOM FACTS

The food is AMAZZZZINGGG!!! I love mango juice. If you dont ever get to try it in Africa dont worry... im sure itll be on tap in Heaven. The weather is 80-90 day..60-70 at nite. its perfect. I have not seen another white person in Kibera. I played basketball with some kids. The rim was wire and the pole was a laundry line. There are palm trees all over. The slums dont smell that bad. I actually enjoy the smell because everyone is burning stuff and it smells like im camping all the time. Satan is not happy. ;)

Well I gotta go.. Thank you for your prayers and keep em coming. I need them and so does my group. Pray for Rodgers and Brad. They are believers but I hope to disciple them to be leaders in their community.

God bless...

Twin Sisters

Distance: 3.7 miles one-way
Summit elevation: 11,428 feet
Trailhead elevation: 9,000 feet
Net elevation gain: 2,428 feet
Twin Sisters Trailhead
Rocky Mountain National Park


We decided that we wanted to snag one more mountain before heading home. Our bodies were all a bit fatigued from the last two days of hiking, but our will was too strong to let us go home just yet. While looking for the next mountain we came across Twin Sisters and thought that an elevation gain of 2,428 feet in just 3.7 miles of hiking would be a nice challenge. 3.7 miles of course was one way.
The mountain had a nice incline the whole way up, but this did not keep us from owning this mountain in no time. After taking a few dozen pictures and a few water breaks, we made it to the top in just ____________ minutes.

One of my favz

The trail

A beautiful view of Longs Peak

Chasm Lake

Distance: 4.2 miles one-way
Lake Elevation: 11,760 feet
Trailhead elevation: 9,400 feet
Net Elevation gain: 2,360 feet
Longs Peak Trailhead
Rocky Mountain National Park
Junction of Chasm Lake and Longs Peak Trails (3.5 miles one-way from trailhead)



We began our hike at the Longs Peak trailhead. The air already seemed thin compared to our normal 900 feet above sea level air. The trail heads into the Goblin Forest which is covered in pines and aspens. The trail climbs very quickly in elevation for seven consecutive swithbacks.

Goblin Forest

View right before leaving the Goblin Forest

One of the many waterfalls

After the switchbacks, you will cross a beautiful waterfall and head above the tree line. Also...apparently if you see a horse, run from it because you will get struck by lightning.
The landscape will quickly change from your dirt path to a rocky path with alpine plants and underdeveloped pines. The trail is still very visible and easy to follow. At 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the Chasm Lake Trail splits left from the Longs Peak Trail. The Longs Peak Trail is yet another 3.5 miles after this split. At this point you will be able to see the infamous East Face of Longs Peak. The views up there are incredible and are very rewarding. The hardest part of this trek is now over. The trail continues along the side of a very large gorge in which lies Peacock Pond. The steep ledges that fall to Peacock Pond were some of my favorite views of the trip. Unfortunately, the weather decided to give us thick fog while we there as you will see in the pictures.

And no one thought we would catch fish...

Peacock Lake

Almost to Chasm Lake

The trail

Chasm Lake

Chasm Lake


Chef Zach

There's just something so good about Chef Boyardee and Ramen wrapped in tortilla in the mountains. Actually the tortilla's were the worst Ive ever had. Never get discounted tortillas!

schmeigel or tard?

Altitude sickness at its finest

Unknown Mt.

Estes Park has always been a place where my family has taken vacations. It is a beautiful park located 30 miles north of Boulder and is bordering the east skirt of the Rocky Mountain National Park. This year my brother and I, along with his wife Carissa and my friend Zach decided to go to Estes and make some memories of our own.

We headed up to Estes Park August 5, 2006. We set up camp at Mary's Lake Campground. Mary's Lake was a nice stay with good views, but at $30 a nite, it was a little expensive. We later discovered a more primitive camp site at the base of Long's Peak which I would highly recommend for a more secluded/primitive camping site.



After setting up camp we headed out to find our first "mountain" to conquer before the nite fell. Not to far from Mary's Lake we found this no name mountain to climb. We decided to climb this mountain straight up because it's more fun that way. The last time I climbed a mountain instead of using the trail was Mt. Lilly...enough said. The rain made this "easy" climb a bit harder than expected...the following are a few of the pictures of the climb.

Our warm up

Zach gets a stick in the butt... (not planned)

never turn back...even on wet rock

Justin and Carissa

The Crew

Typical...almost expected

We call this the technical shrubbery climb

Beautiful view from the top