I woke up early the last day of camp to get ready for the bus ride home. We had to have everything out of our cabins by breakfast so I rushed around making sure I wasn't leaving anything behind. The last day of camp is always bitter-sweet; no one wants to go home because Fun in the Son is the best place in the world to be but we are all ready to make the changes at home that we have at camp.
The last service Pastor Rick preached was about the reliability of the Bible. It has been proven through the Bibliographical Test, which is what all documents are tested with to prove their accuracy. Reliability is determined by the number of surviving original manuscripts of a document, the time span between the original and earliest copy, and how much discrepancy there is between copies. The books of the Bible are the only documents that have been prepared with such extreme carefulness. Men called Talmudic and Masoretic Scribes copied the Bible letter by letter. When they were finished every letter was counted to ensure that it was accurate.
When the service was over we all walked to our cabins for the last time and dragged our luggage to the charter buses. We mentally prepared ourselves for the ten hour drive home and loaded onto the buses, making sure that our luggage was stored before we climbed aboard.
I can not believe that the week I have been looking forward to since March is already over. I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to Camp Table Rock every year and I am so grateful to the staff and youth leaders who make it possible. I hope that this school year I can remember what I learned at camp and apply it to my everyday life.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Seeing the Face of God
Thursday I decided to sleep in as long as I could. I was totally exhausted, as was everyone else. During the morning message I almost fell asleep. It was about how the Bible is different from any other book. It is unique in its continuity. The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years, over 40 generations, by 40 authors. The authors were kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, etc. and it was written in a variety of places including the wilderness, a dungeon, a palace, while traveling, and during military campaigns. It was written on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. And in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. There are 24,633 surviving, handwritten manuscripts of the New Testament. How is it possible that it doesn't contradict itself? It is the holy, inspired Word of God.
The rest of the morning was the same as any other. After lunch there is a dunk tank and the people who win the group games the day before get to chose a leader to dunk. It was my team's turn to dunk someone. You have to hit the target from quite a distance and most people aren't accurate enough. I am proud to say that I hit the target and successfully dunked a youth leader.
Our group game was the obstacle course. The obstacle course is a game we do every year, and it is one of the hardest things I do at camp. First you have to hop through tires, then balance on a long, thin pole without falling off. There is a chain link fence that you have to climb; the easy part is getting to the top but once I get up there I can't seem to find an easy way to swing my body to the other side. It was especially hard this year because all of the metal was so hot that it burnt my hands. Once you get off of the fence you do monkey bars and slide through a tunnel. In order to get ten seconds off your time you have to throw a football through a hole. I made the football and ran back to the beginning as fast as I could. Our team didn't win that game.
For boating activities I went cliff jumping. The biggest cliff is around thirty feet (depending on the water level). I decided I would wait until senior year to jump off of that cliff. I jumped off the small one however, which is about as tall as a high dive at a pool. When you get to the top of the cliff you are afraid to jump because it looks like you will hit the rocks. I was scared at first but I flung myself off anyway and soon after climbed the cliff again.
Thursday nights are always the most powerful nights at camp. This year the speaker was a college student from Kentucky Mountain Bible College. He held a revival at my church a few months before and my youth group was especially excited to hear him speak. When he was finished he gave everyone the opportunity to "nail" their sins to the cross. When everyone was seated again we broke up into our small groups and went out onto the field to have communion. The stars shine brighter at Camp Table Rock and when you look at them after a service like that it is as if you are looking up into the face of God.
I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17-18
The rest of the morning was the same as any other. After lunch there is a dunk tank and the people who win the group games the day before get to chose a leader to dunk. It was my team's turn to dunk someone. You have to hit the target from quite a distance and most people aren't accurate enough. I am proud to say that I hit the target and successfully dunked a youth leader.
Our group game was the obstacle course. The obstacle course is a game we do every year, and it is one of the hardest things I do at camp. First you have to hop through tires, then balance on a long, thin pole without falling off. There is a chain link fence that you have to climb; the easy part is getting to the top but once I get up there I can't seem to find an easy way to swing my body to the other side. It was especially hard this year because all of the metal was so hot that it burnt my hands. Once you get off of the fence you do monkey bars and slide through a tunnel. In order to get ten seconds off your time you have to throw a football through a hole. I made the football and ran back to the beginning as fast as I could. Our team didn't win that game.
For boating activities I went cliff jumping. The biggest cliff is around thirty feet (depending on the water level). I decided I would wait until senior year to jump off of that cliff. I jumped off the small one however, which is about as tall as a high dive at a pool. When you get to the top of the cliff you are afraid to jump because it looks like you will hit the rocks. I was scared at first but I flung myself off anyway and soon after climbed the cliff again.
Thursday nights are always the most powerful nights at camp. This year the speaker was a college student from Kentucky Mountain Bible College. He held a revival at my church a few months before and my youth group was especially excited to hear him speak. When he was finished he gave everyone the opportunity to "nail" their sins to the cross. When everyone was seated again we broke up into our small groups and went out onto the field to have communion. The stars shine brighter at Camp Table Rock and when you look at them after a service like that it is as if you are looking up into the face of God.
I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17-18
Proving the Truth
Camp has a pattern to it; even though no two days are alike we have the same schedule every day, every year. This is fine with me because I like routine. I like knowing what I will be doing every second of the day. So my Wednesday morning started out a lot like Tuesday. The only difference was I woke up an hour earlier to play some volleyball.
Before I knew it it was already time for service. Pastor Rick talked about how the Bible can be proven as scientific fact using the Legal Historical Method of Proof. He used examples of oral testimony, written testimony, and exhibits and artifacts. Oral testimony can be proven true because millions of people have tried what Jesus said and have found happiness, peace, joy, purpose, and fulfillment in life. Written testimony is also true; there are over sixty prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus and over 270 prophetic ramifications of Christ prophesied. For example: Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before the birth of Jesus. He told us that the scientific chances that 48 out of the 60 prophecies would be fulfilled perfectly was 1 in 10 with 157 zeros behind it. That is amazing! There are also many exhibits and artifacts that prove Christianity to be true. There have been many archeological discoveries that supported the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible is who He says He is!
Our group game that day was four square. I hadn't played that game since at least sixth grade. It was like a blast from the past and it was the only game our group won. We were so proud of ourselves.
That afternoon I went tubing again and again I thought, "Why do people enjoy this so much?" One of the girls on my boat said that tubing should be used as torture. That evening was the Camp Table Rock talent show and my youth group decided to do the Interlude dance with glow sticks. Everyone else was definitely jealous.
The service that night was rethink truth about violence. Pastor Rick showed us clips of different video games that enable you to violently kill people. He also showed us lyrics to hit songs that talked about violently murdering the innocent. I will tell you that after seeing that I am scared for my generation.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15
Before I knew it it was already time for service. Pastor Rick talked about how the Bible can be proven as scientific fact using the Legal Historical Method of Proof. He used examples of oral testimony, written testimony, and exhibits and artifacts. Oral testimony can be proven true because millions of people have tried what Jesus said and have found happiness, peace, joy, purpose, and fulfillment in life. Written testimony is also true; there are over sixty prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus and over 270 prophetic ramifications of Christ prophesied. For example: Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before the birth of Jesus. He told us that the scientific chances that 48 out of the 60 prophecies would be fulfilled perfectly was 1 in 10 with 157 zeros behind it. That is amazing! There are also many exhibits and artifacts that prove Christianity to be true. There have been many archeological discoveries that supported the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible is who He says He is!
Our group game that day was four square. I hadn't played that game since at least sixth grade. It was like a blast from the past and it was the only game our group won. We were so proud of ourselves.
That afternoon I went tubing again and again I thought, "Why do people enjoy this so much?" One of the girls on my boat said that tubing should be used as torture. That evening was the Camp Table Rock talent show and my youth group decided to do the Interlude dance with glow sticks. Everyone else was definitely jealous.
The service that night was rethink truth about violence. Pastor Rick showed us clips of different video games that enable you to violently kill people. He also showed us lyrics to hit songs that talked about violently murdering the innocent. I will tell you that after seeing that I am scared for my generation.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15
Knowing Your Faith
Camp Table Rock is located on Table Rock Lake, the cleanest lake I have ever seen. Every afternoon we pack three hours with boating activities, swimming, and cliff jumping. In order to get on a boat however, you have to wake up earlier than everyone else and push your way through a crowd of sweaty teenagers to sign up for a boat. It is total chaos. My favorite thing to do out on the lake is to ride along with my friends in a tubing boat. It gives you such a sense of freedom with the wind blowing through your hair and water splashing up in your face.
After we signed up for boat activities we ate breakfast, had our one on one time with God and before we knew it service had started. The morning messages this year were about Knowing Your Faith. "Do you really know what you say you believe? Is this your faith or your momma's faith?" The Christian faith is the most intelligent faith in the world because it has sufficient and reliable evidence. Pastor Rick talked about how faith isn't based on feeling or emotion but on fact. That really hit home for me. It is hard to continue to worship a God that you don't feel close to; however, just because you can't feel Him doesn't mean He isn't there.
We broke up into our small groups to discuss the sermon before breaking up into groups of two for accountability partner time. I must admit, I used to hate having an accountability partner but this year was awesome. I connected to my accountability partner and shared with her stuff that I haven't shared with anyone before. We both opened up to each other and it made for a great week.
It was already time for lunch and group games came afterwards. The game we played was a field game. I can't recall what the name of it was but someone thew a ball into the air and if your number was called you had to go after it and hit someone with it to get them out. It would have been fun except it was just so hot outside and I could feel my skin burning beneath the sun.
After group games it was lake time. To get on the dock you have to say a Bible verse that you memorized that morning. This is hard for me; I am horrible at memorization. With the help of my friends I got onto the dock and we went tubing. I tubed for the second time of my life; it was painful and I am still not sure why people love it so much but it did give you an adrenaline rush.
We got back to the dock without any incidents and floated around in the water for a while before going back to our cabins to shower and get ready for the evening. After dinner there are volleyball and basket ball tournaments. I don't usually participate and it was so hot that the girls in my cabin stayed inside and talked until evening service.
Each evening service is about a topic that everyone tries to avoid. That night the topic was on rethink truth about sex. Pastor Rick talked about how the media glorifies sex outside of marriage and how we should save ourselves for our spouse. Again, the alters were full after service and when we had cabin devotions everyone had something to share about their struggle.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Ephesians 5:3
Friday, July 29, 2011
Back to Missouri
I left for Camp Table Rock at five thirty this morning along with seventy other teens. I love waking up four in the morning and watching the sun rise over the city. The ten hour bus ride to Table Rock, Missouri is honestly one of the highlights of my camp experience. I can't adequately explain to you how riding on a charter bus is enjoyable; being on that bus with all my friends is one of the best moments of my life.
Ten hours later we pulled into the Camp Table Rock driveway and walked out into the humid Missouri air. Every year we sit through an orientation that is just so full of information you can't really remember anything. We were assigned our cabins and, as the camp counselors say, let our suitcases explode onto the floor. I was lucky enough to be put in a cabin with my good friends whom I love dearly. (I say that I love them dearly because it is sometimes hard to love someone who doesn't stop talking even though it's one in the morning and you have to wake up at six.)
We head off for our separate team games. The first game I played was a game called electric fence. You have to jump over a rope about three feet high and if you touch it you have to start over again. Your whole team has to get to the other side of the rope first to win. I was thrown over the rope this year. The feeling of flying is exhilarating.
Our first service started out with praise and worship, which is always my favorite part of camp. When the music starts to play everyone runs to the front of the chapel, trying to get as close to the stage as possible. We all start clapping and you can feel the Holy Spirit surrounding you. I was singing at the top of my lungs and was wishing I could sing louder.
Every evening service Pastor Rick brings a message about rethink truth. That night it was rethink truth about drugs. These services are so powerful they bring you to tears. In the past four years that I have been attending Camp Fun in the Son I have learned so much. Drugs are not something to mess around with; one day can ruin your life forever. Pastor Rick also talked about how the media influences our decisions about drugs; it glorifies drugs through music, television shows, and video games.
At the end of each service there is a time of prayer. Half of the chapel goes to the front to pray that God will forgive their sins. It is such a powerful moment.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
Ten hours later we pulled into the Camp Table Rock driveway and walked out into the humid Missouri air. Every year we sit through an orientation that is just so full of information you can't really remember anything. We were assigned our cabins and, as the camp counselors say, let our suitcases explode onto the floor. I was lucky enough to be put in a cabin with my good friends whom I love dearly. (I say that I love them dearly because it is sometimes hard to love someone who doesn't stop talking even though it's one in the morning and you have to wake up at six.)
We head off for our separate team games. The first game I played was a game called electric fence. You have to jump over a rope about three feet high and if you touch it you have to start over again. Your whole team has to get to the other side of the rope first to win. I was thrown over the rope this year. The feeling of flying is exhilarating.
Our first service started out with praise and worship, which is always my favorite part of camp. When the music starts to play everyone runs to the front of the chapel, trying to get as close to the stage as possible. We all start clapping and you can feel the Holy Spirit surrounding you. I was singing at the top of my lungs and was wishing I could sing louder.
Every evening service Pastor Rick brings a message about rethink truth. That night it was rethink truth about drugs. These services are so powerful they bring you to tears. In the past four years that I have been attending Camp Fun in the Son I have learned so much. Drugs are not something to mess around with; one day can ruin your life forever. Pastor Rick also talked about how the media influences our decisions about drugs; it glorifies drugs through music, television shows, and video games.
At the end of each service there is a time of prayer. Half of the chapel goes to the front to pray that God will forgive their sins. It is such a powerful moment.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Fun in the Son: Year Four
I leave for Camp Fun in the Son tomorrow at five thirty o'clock in the morning. It sounds horrendous to get up that early and drive ten hours to Camp Table Rock in Missouri but it leads to the best experience of my life. For four years Fun in the Son has been ministering to Iowa teens and I am so blessed to be one of them.
Even though the activities never change and the sermons are always based on the same subjects, every year is a new and exciting experience. I always take away some piece of information that I didn't know I was looking for. The last week in July is a week of spiritual renewal for my youth group, both teens and adult sponsors.
This year my mother and sister have the privilege of tagging along with me (even though my mom sees it more as torture). I have been packing all afternoon and jumping around from room to room while doing it. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in my life this week and the lives of my friends.
Something to pray for: One of my very good friends stopped attending church a while back. She is not coming to camp with us this week. I miss her so much and I just ask that somehow, someway God will work in her life this week and she will return to our youth group.
Even though the activities never change and the sermons are always based on the same subjects, every year is a new and exciting experience. I always take away some piece of information that I didn't know I was looking for. The last week in July is a week of spiritual renewal for my youth group, both teens and adult sponsors.
This year my mother and sister have the privilege of tagging along with me (even though my mom sees it more as torture). I have been packing all afternoon and jumping around from room to room while doing it. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in my life this week and the lives of my friends.
Something to pray for: One of my very good friends stopped attending church a while back. She is not coming to camp with us this week. I miss her so much and I just ask that somehow, someway God will work in her life this week and she will return to our youth group.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Advice to a Teenager, From a Teenager
Yesterday my baby sister turned thirteen. Officially a teenager. I like to think that turning thirteen will automatically make you more mature but I'm afraid this isn't the case. Since the teenage years have just begun you feel invincible and inevitably do stupid things. So, my dearest Sister, in order that you don't make the same dumb mistakes I did this is my advice to you.
In the fall you will be starting your eighth grade year. Your class will be the kings and queens of the school. However, your superiority gives you a greater chance of doing something stupid. I know that you are, of course, the most brilliant of your class but the stupidity bug has no exceptions and no warnings to who he is going to bite next. Play it smart. Don't fall behind in studying because eighth grade is like a test for high school. How ready are you?
This next year might be a challenge. Everyone is insecure and trying to be someone they are not. Petty drama will spring up overnight and it will be impossible not to get involved somehow. Handle each situation with dignity (and talk to you big sister, because she knows best). Everyone involved will come around eventually and be best friends again.
Now my dear Sister, you may think that you will never in a million years be interested in the idiotic boys around you. In time you will want them to pay attention to you. I know, you're thinking that will never happen, but it is the curse of a young girl to be distracted by that thing that is a boy. Don't fear! They are more afraid of you than you are of them.
When you start high school the other kids may seem to have so much more "street smarts." This is their downfall. Embrace your innocence. Like the saying goes, "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." If your teachers teach you information you don't agree with, learn it for the class and forget about it after the test. Simple logic. Try new things, get involved. Your high school years will be so much more exciting.
I know this advice might not seem valid coming from a girl who is only sixteen. Wisdom comes with age, something I do not have in abundance. However, I hope that you will take it to heart and come to me if you ever need anything.
From someone not much wiser than you,
Your Big Sister, Gracie Elizabeth
In the fall you will be starting your eighth grade year. Your class will be the kings and queens of the school. However, your superiority gives you a greater chance of doing something stupid. I know that you are, of course, the most brilliant of your class but the stupidity bug has no exceptions and no warnings to who he is going to bite next. Play it smart. Don't fall behind in studying because eighth grade is like a test for high school. How ready are you?
This next year might be a challenge. Everyone is insecure and trying to be someone they are not. Petty drama will spring up overnight and it will be impossible not to get involved somehow. Handle each situation with dignity (and talk to you big sister, because she knows best). Everyone involved will come around eventually and be best friends again.
Now my dear Sister, you may think that you will never in a million years be interested in the idiotic boys around you. In time you will want them to pay attention to you. I know, you're thinking that will never happen, but it is the curse of a young girl to be distracted by that thing that is a boy. Don't fear! They are more afraid of you than you are of them.
When you start high school the other kids may seem to have so much more "street smarts." This is their downfall. Embrace your innocence. Like the saying goes, "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." If your teachers teach you information you don't agree with, learn it for the class and forget about it after the test. Simple logic. Try new things, get involved. Your high school years will be so much more exciting.
I know this advice might not seem valid coming from a girl who is only sixteen. Wisdom comes with age, something I do not have in abundance. However, I hope that you will take it to heart and come to me if you ever need anything.
From someone not much wiser than you,
Your Big Sister, Gracie Elizabeth
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Joys of an AP Class
My sophomore year of high school I took (and passed) my first advanced placement class. AP World History was nothing like I thought it would be like. I walked into the classroom on the first day of school, shaking with anticipation and fear. I was lucky enough to be able to take the class with many of my super smart friends who helped me along the way. (I like to think that I helped them too, but I'm not sure if that is true.)
The first night I remember sitting in bed reading my first chapter in the AP World textbook. It took me three hours to finish reading twenty pages. Afterwards I had to write an essay on what I had learned. That took forever also. In that moment I only had one thought, "What am I doing taking a class for smart people?" My counselor advised me not to "drop" the class and I stuck with it. I made it through first term with a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Second term was a nightmare. Every test was harder than the last and I knew that I just knew I wasn't going to make it to the end. For some reason it is so much harder to study and stay on top of your school work during the winter months. All I wanted to do was come home from school and crawl into my warm bed and fall asleep. Before I knew it it was finals time, second term was over, and miraculously, I had passed.
I came into third term regretting my decision to take the AP exam. My teacher encouraged me to study more than I have for anything in my life. I threw myself into my books and worked so hard I thought my eyeballs were going to pop out of my head. When the AP exam finally came I was so nervous I thought I was going to see my breakfast in reverse. I walked into the testing room with little courage and a ton of butterflies. When the whole ordeal was over I realized that it wasn't as hard as I had anticipated, but I was still nervous for my results.
Three months after I stepped into the testing room I receive my AP exam results in the mail. Today, a letter from AP college board. I was so nervous my hands shook as I opened the envelope. I said a prayer as I unfolded the paper. I couldn't believe my eyes. A three, I had gotten a three! In this moment I found out that I had passed my first AP exam. Everything that I had undergone during the last year to receive this result was worth it.
The first night I remember sitting in bed reading my first chapter in the AP World textbook. It took me three hours to finish reading twenty pages. Afterwards I had to write an essay on what I had learned. That took forever also. In that moment I only had one thought, "What am I doing taking a class for smart people?" My counselor advised me not to "drop" the class and I stuck with it. I made it through first term with a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Second term was a nightmare. Every test was harder than the last and I knew that I just knew I wasn't going to make it to the end. For some reason it is so much harder to study and stay on top of your school work during the winter months. All I wanted to do was come home from school and crawl into my warm bed and fall asleep. Before I knew it it was finals time, second term was over, and miraculously, I had passed.
I came into third term regretting my decision to take the AP exam. My teacher encouraged me to study more than I have for anything in my life. I threw myself into my books and worked so hard I thought my eyeballs were going to pop out of my head. When the AP exam finally came I was so nervous I thought I was going to see my breakfast in reverse. I walked into the testing room with little courage and a ton of butterflies. When the whole ordeal was over I realized that it wasn't as hard as I had anticipated, but I was still nervous for my results.
Three months after I stepped into the testing room I receive my AP exam results in the mail. Today, a letter from AP college board. I was so nervous my hands shook as I opened the envelope. I said a prayer as I unfolded the paper. I couldn't believe my eyes. A three, I had gotten a three! In this moment I found out that I had passed my first AP exam. Everything that I had undergone during the last year to receive this result was worth it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Back to Reality
Yesterday was the final leg of our sabbatical, the plane ride home. My dad is staying for another two and a half weeks so my mother, sister, and I flew out of California and (miraculously) ended up in Des Moines. My grandmother picked us up at the airport and drove us home. Even though it was raining when we arrived, I was so happy to see my house again. I was so happy to sleep in my own bed, in my own room, in my own house.
Two hours after we got home I went to youth group. I couldn't stay away from my friends any longer and surprised them by showing up at church. I was soon caught up on everything that had happened while I was away. Even though I was dead tired we went to get ice cream after youth group and had a good time.
It is strange being home after being gone for over a month. Sometimes it seems that I was never really gone at all. I am so glad to be home, though, and since there are only six more weeks before school starts again I have to make every second count.
Two hours after we got home I went to youth group. I couldn't stay away from my friends any longer and surprised them by showing up at church. I was soon caught up on everything that had happened while I was away. Even though I was dead tired we went to get ice cream after youth group and had a good time.
It is strange being home after being gone for over a month. Sometimes it seems that I was never really gone at all. I am so glad to be home, though, and since there are only six more weeks before school starts again I have to make every second count.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sabbatical Day 32/Last Day at the Beach
I woke up to a cloudy morning. We had planned to leave for the beach after breakfast but decided to wait for the clouds to disperse before putting on our swimsuits. It was just before noon when we finally decided to just go with it and headed out to the beach for the last time together (at least for now). When we got there we were dazzled by warm sunshine! We had lunch on the beach and played in the surf all afternoon. The water was clear here but full of seaweed. I went to wave jump and was suprised by the seaweed that wraped itself around my legs. Yuck!
We met a pastor from Point Loma University for dinner so we had to leave the warmth of the beach and hurry to get ready for our last meal as a family during sabbatical. After a delicious dinner and great conversation we headed our separate ways. We are sitting in our Point Loma apartment and my mom, sister, and I are finishing our packing for our plane ride home.
It is sad to think that what we have been talking about for over six months has finally come and gone. We have had a good time together and as I sit here typing I realize that there aren't many family vacations left. I am so grateful that we have had this opportunity, no matter how homesick we have felt at times.
We met a pastor from Point Loma University for dinner so we had to leave the warmth of the beach and hurry to get ready for our last meal as a family during sabbatical. After a delicious dinner and great conversation we headed our separate ways. We are sitting in our Point Loma apartment and my mom, sister, and I are finishing our packing for our plane ride home.
It is sad to think that what we have been talking about for over six months has finally come and gone. We have had a good time together and as I sit here typing I realize that there aren't many family vacations left. I am so grateful that we have had this opportunity, no matter how homesick we have felt at times.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sabbatical Day 31/Village Pier
We attended First Church of the Nazarene on the Point Loma campus today. It was the first Nazarene church we have been to while on sabbatical and it was nothing like ours. After service we went to the Village Pier where we ate lunch and shopped all afternoon. There were a gazillion little shops and I am pretty sure we at least set foot in every single one of them. When we were sure we hadn't missed anything we left and came back to our little apartment to eat dinner.
That was the extent of our day. My mother, sister and I are starting to think about packing for our flight on Tuesday (but we are just thinking about it at this point). I can't believe that our sabbatical is almost over! Sometimes I feel like we have just begun; but I am excited to come home.
That was the extent of our day. My mother, sister and I are starting to think about packing for our flight on Tuesday (but we are just thinking about it at this point). I can't believe that our sabbatical is almost over! Sometimes I feel like we have just begun; but I am excited to come home.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sabbatical Day 30/Zoo!
I can't believe it is day thirty already! We have been gone for a whole month; it is amazing how time flies. Today we spent all day at the San Diego Zoo. I don't particularly enjoy walking around zoos but today was an exception. We saw so many animals today that I couldn't even begin to tell you about all of them so I will talk about my three favorites!
The first animal we saw was the Koala Bear. The Koala Bear isn't technically a bear, it is a marsupial because it carries its young in a pouch. I also learned that they sleep over twenty hours a day because their food, eucalyptus leaves, take so much energy to digest. There were so many Koalas and they were so ugly that they were cute. I loved their big ears and their big black nose and the way they looked at you with their beady little eyes; it was endearing.
The next animal that we saw that I immediately fell in love with was the Red Panda. It looks a little like a raccoon except is red, white, and black. I saw its raccoon like tail first and tried to get a glimpse of his face before he disappeared. This Red Panda turned to look at me and it had the most beautiful white face; he looked so innocent sitting on a tree branch, I just wanted to hug him.
One of the last animals that we saw was the New Guinea Singing Dog. It was the most beautiful dog I have ever seen; and it was so fearless. I wanted to take him home with me. These dogs are named "singing dogs" because when they howl it sounds like they are singing.
The first animal we saw was the Koala Bear. The Koala Bear isn't technically a bear, it is a marsupial because it carries its young in a pouch. I also learned that they sleep over twenty hours a day because their food, eucalyptus leaves, take so much energy to digest. There were so many Koalas and they were so ugly that they were cute. I loved their big ears and their big black nose and the way they looked at you with their beady little eyes; it was endearing.
The next animal that we saw that I immediately fell in love with was the Red Panda. It looks a little like a raccoon except is red, white, and black. I saw its raccoon like tail first and tried to get a glimpse of his face before he disappeared. This Red Panda turned to look at me and it had the most beautiful white face; he looked so innocent sitting on a tree branch, I just wanted to hug him.
One of the last animals that we saw was the New Guinea Singing Dog. It was the most beautiful dog I have ever seen; and it was so fearless. I wanted to take him home with me. These dogs are named "singing dogs" because when they howl it sounds like they are singing.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Sabbatical Day 29/San Diego
We left Oceanside this morning and an hour later arrived in our final destination, San Diego. We walked along the pier and looked up at navy ships. After spending some time by the water we went to Little Italy and ate the best pizza in the world. It was seriously good pizza. After we had stuffed ourselfs to the limit we headed out for Point Loma Nazarene University. We are staying in an apartment on campus; the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. There are palm trees all over and the whole thing overlooks the ocean. It it weren't so much money and you didn't have to have an incredibly high grade point average to be accepted, I would totally choose to come here for college.
We toured the campus for a few minutes and checked into our apartment before crashing on the couch. We were all so tired; I took a nap, it was wonderful. When we woke up we decided that it was time to eat again and explored a little more of San Diego. We went to another pier where we ate yummy Mexican food and walked along a cement pier. There were people everywhere fishing over the side of the pier. We saw one guy catch a baby shark! It was so beautiful on the pier.
We toured the campus for a few minutes and checked into our apartment before crashing on the couch. We were all so tired; I took a nap, it was wonderful. When we woke up we decided that it was time to eat again and explored a little more of San Diego. We went to another pier where we ate yummy Mexican food and walked along a cement pier. There were people everywhere fishing over the side of the pier. We saw one guy catch a baby shark! It was so beautiful on the pier.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sabbatical Day 28/Market Time
We spent the day at the beach again. It was even warmer than yesterday. We drove to a different beach that wasn't as busy and "wave jumped" all morning. We ate our lunch on the warm sand and soaked up the sun for a few more hours. After we were sufficiently sunburnt we returned to our condo and ate dinner.
Since it is our last night here we didn't want to sit, rotting in our condo so we headed out. We ended up at the local city market. It isn't as big as the one back home but it was more diverse: the food, the items, the people. The smells were amazing and the music was even better. It was a perfect night - not too hot, not too cold. If I was a local I would be at the city market every Thursday.
Since it is our last night here we didn't want to sit, rotting in our condo so we headed out. We ended up at the local city market. It isn't as big as the one back home but it was more diverse: the food, the items, the people. The smells were amazing and the music was even better. It was a perfect night - not too hot, not too cold. If I was a local I would be at the city market every Thursday.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sabbatical Day 27/Relaxation
We woke up late this morning and headed straight for the water. It was so warm and relaxing. I was thrilled with the summery weather. We laid out on the beach all morning and returned to our condo for lunch. After we ate we went back to a more crowded beach and "wave jumped." If you have ever been to the ocean you have wave jumped. You go out into the water as far as you can and wait for a wave to come crashing down; as it hits, you jump in order to stay above the wave. It's exhilerating. I could see the salt particles sparkling in the sun. It was a very relaxing day. We ate dinner in the condo and (deciding to be rebelious) drank sparkling cider.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Sabbatical Day 26/Oceanside
To my great dismay we left San Fransisco this morning. We left early in order to drive through Los Angeles before traffic rush. We arrived in Oceanside around three and checked into our condo. Oceanside isn't the small town I thought it would be. There are people everywhere! This is the warmest city we have been in so far; today was the high of eighty. Our condo is even better than the one in San Fransisco. For starters, my sister and I have our own room and don't have to sleep on a pull out sofa. I can step out onto the deck and see the ocean. We also have a full kitchen, which we are all excited about because we are getting sick of eating out. Too bad we are only going to be here for three days.
The ocean here is different than in Fort Bragg, it is more calm and a lot warmer. We walked along the pier where at least a hundred people were fishing; it smelled like dead fish. What I love about this place is when you look into the horizon, blue meets blue, and you can't tell ocean from sky. We plan on spending the next two days at the beach, only returning to the condo when necessary.
The ocean here is different than in Fort Bragg, it is more calm and a lot warmer. We walked along the pier where at least a hundred people were fishing; it smelled like dead fish. What I love about this place is when you look into the horizon, blue meets blue, and you can't tell ocean from sky. We plan on spending the next two days at the beach, only returning to the condo when necessary.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sabbatical Day 25/Independence Day
On this Independence Day in San Fransisco we went down to the wharf, along with the rest of the city. We took the street car again to the last stop on the wharf where we toured ships from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The oldest ship we boarded was the Balclucha; it was a ship built in Scotland in the 1880s used for grain trade. The wife of the captain had lived on the ship; she had decorated rooms in Victorian style as if it were a housen. A seaman named John Masefield said, "I saw those sailing seamen cotton-clad, housed in wet kennels, worm-fed, cheated, driven, three pounds a month, and small delight they had, save the bright water and the winds of heaven."
The next ship we climbed on was the Eureka! (I put an exclamation point at the end of the sentence because you can't say Eureka without being excited.) The Eureka! was one of the last steam ships to sail. It was so tiny; I couldn't imagine living on a ship for months. The steam ship is still run about three times a year so they know it still runs. In 1905 the secretary of sailers, said, "In jail my bunk would be no narrower, my food no worse nor I more lonely than in the forecastle."
We went to Ghirardelli Square to find a place to stop for lunch and ended up with free chocolate. Afterwards we visited a World War Two ship and submarine built by Rosie the Riveter. We took a tour of the submarine; it was so small. I had to walk sideways to get past some of the machinery. I learned that during the war eighty men called that submarine home for up to seventy days. The submarine mostly moved on the surface of the water because it was ten times faster than going underwater.
The World War Two ship was built out of mass produced materials in sixty days; it is colossal. It is a survivor of Normandy and after fifty years returned to Normandy for a sort of "reunion." We were able to go down four levels to the engine. The engine still runs and the ship goes out to sea every so often. It was such a great experience to be able to absorb that history.
We were so crazed after seeing an actual World War Two battle ship that we had ice cream before dinner. It was delicious. We sat on the curb and listened to live music while finishing our waffle cones. We finally decided to return to our condo and walked through the crowded Independence Day streets. We walked through China Town and stopped at the Fortune Cookie Factory. (We got free fortune cookies!) They were making the cookies by hand and one of the workers were taking them off the cookie press and folding them to look like fortune cookies; it took all of a second and was way cool.
It is our last night in San Fransisco. We have to get up very early tomorrow in order to get through LA. Tomorrow night we will be at Oceanside.
The oldest ship we boarded was the Balclucha; it was a ship built in Scotland in the 1880s used for grain trade. The wife of the captain had lived on the ship; she had decorated rooms in Victorian style as if it were a housen. A seaman named John Masefield said, "I saw those sailing seamen cotton-clad, housed in wet kennels, worm-fed, cheated, driven, three pounds a month, and small delight they had, save the bright water and the winds of heaven."
The next ship we climbed on was the Eureka! (I put an exclamation point at the end of the sentence because you can't say Eureka without being excited.) The Eureka! was one of the last steam ships to sail. It was so tiny; I couldn't imagine living on a ship for months. The steam ship is still run about three times a year so they know it still runs. In 1905 the secretary of sailers, said, "In jail my bunk would be no narrower, my food no worse nor I more lonely than in the forecastle."
We went to Ghirardelli Square to find a place to stop for lunch and ended up with free chocolate. Afterwards we visited a World War Two ship and submarine built by Rosie the Riveter. We took a tour of the submarine; it was so small. I had to walk sideways to get past some of the machinery. I learned that during the war eighty men called that submarine home for up to seventy days. The submarine mostly moved on the surface of the water because it was ten times faster than going underwater.
The World War Two ship was built out of mass produced materials in sixty days; it is colossal. It is a survivor of Normandy and after fifty years returned to Normandy for a sort of "reunion." We were able to go down four levels to the engine. The engine still runs and the ship goes out to sea every so often. It was such a great experience to be able to absorb that history.
We were so crazed after seeing an actual World War Two battle ship that we had ice cream before dinner. It was delicious. We sat on the curb and listened to live music while finishing our waffle cones. We finally decided to return to our condo and walked through the crowded Independence Day streets. We walked through China Town and stopped at the Fortune Cookie Factory. (We got free fortune cookies!) They were making the cookies by hand and one of the workers were taking them off the cookie press and folding them to look like fortune cookies; it took all of a second and was way cool.
It is our last night in San Fransisco. We have to get up very early tomorrow in order to get through LA. Tomorrow night we will be at Oceanside.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sabbatical Day 24/San Fransisco
This morning we went to church in the city. This is the fourth church we have gone to while on Sabbatical and definitely the best. The music was unbelievable; the singers were astounding. If I lived in San Fransisco I would attend that church. After the service we went out to this great Italian restaurant and window shopped for a couple hours.
We made our way to the Lombard which is known for being the crookedest street in San Fransisco. It was so crowded that we just decided to park our vehicle and walk up the street to look down on the traffic. It was more like climbing the street however, because it was so steep. In order to walk up the street I had to walk parallel with the ground. The crookedest street was a one way brick road; it literally was s-shaped all the way down and had the most beautiful gardens along the side of the street. We walked down the other side of Lombard street and looked up at the cars that were slowly making there way down the crookedest street. It was kind of beautiful, actually, standing at the bottom of the hill looking up at cars and gardens.
We climbed out way back up to our car and found the cable car line. The cable cars are old street cars that run on cables right down the middle of the street. They were built because horses and buggies weren't able to make it up San Fransisco's hilly streets. We took a round trip on the cable car. Sometimes they are so full that people hang out the side in order to make room for others.
We made our way to the Lombard which is known for being the crookedest street in San Fransisco. It was so crowded that we just decided to park our vehicle and walk up the street to look down on the traffic. It was more like climbing the street however, because it was so steep. In order to walk up the street I had to walk parallel with the ground. The crookedest street was a one way brick road; it literally was s-shaped all the way down and had the most beautiful gardens along the side of the street. We walked down the other side of Lombard street and looked up at the cars that were slowly making there way down the crookedest street. It was kind of beautiful, actually, standing at the bottom of the hill looking up at cars and gardens.
We climbed out way back up to our car and found the cable car line. The cable cars are old street cars that run on cables right down the middle of the street. They were built because horses and buggies weren't able to make it up San Fransisco's hilly streets. We took a round trip on the cable car. Sometimes they are so full that people hang out the side in order to make room for others.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Sabbatical Day 23/Alcatraz
It is official. I am in love with San Fransisco. We rode vintage street cars to the Fisherman's Warf and spent the morning at Pier 39. There were so many little shops that lined the pier and each one was more unique than the last. After a couple of hours of shopping we decided to find some food. I don't normally talk about about my meals but today my lunch was exceptional. We found a crepe cafe and I ordered a turkey pesto crepe. It was delicious.
After lunch we made our way to the Alcatraz loading dock. We climbed onto a ship that took us to the island a mile and a half away. The first thing you notice about the island is the smell - dead fish and salt water. Before touring Alcatraz I had preconceived notions but now I know so much more about the lifestyle of not only the prisoneres but also the wardens and their families. Alcatraz as an island has a lot of history. It started out as a military fortress during the Civil War; then it was turned into an army prison. The prison was built by the cons themselves. In 1930 it was too costly for maintenance but was saved by the cons like Al Capone and The Bird Man. It was made into a Federal Bureau of Prisons or a penitentury. There were thirty six cons on "The Rock" that tried to escape. Seventy employees and their families lived on the island. The prison was closed in 1963 because of deterioration and lack of funds. In 1969 American Indians claimed the island as their home and lived there for 19 months; during that time the Indians regained their independence and reminded the America who was here first. The National Park service took over Alcatraz in 1972 and has been a tourist attraction ever since.
"Break the rules you go to prison. Break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz." Alcatraz was a feared place; prisoners dreaded the day they were told they were being moved to "The Rock." The last prisoner to leave Alcatraz, Frank Weatherman, said, "Alcatraz was never no good for nobody." The convicts were numbers not individuals. Being a prison guard at Alcatraz could be a dangerous job, especially when there were riots. The bureau of prisons said in 1946, "When men of courage and steadfastness lose their lives in the faithful performance of duty, there is little that need be said by those of us who did not face the danger. Their deeds speak far more eloquently." The history of Alcatraz is both sad and inspiring. The cons who ruined their lives give us grief yet the Native Americans who re-created their past in order to give themselves a better future give us hope.
Leaving Alcatraz was like lifting a weight off our shoulders. We returned to the pier and ate a delicious dinner at Bubba Gumps and returned to our condo, ready for a good nights sleep. Like I said, I am in love with San Fransisco and I can't wait for tomorrow's adventures.
After lunch we made our way to the Alcatraz loading dock. We climbed onto a ship that took us to the island a mile and a half away. The first thing you notice about the island is the smell - dead fish and salt water. Before touring Alcatraz I had preconceived notions but now I know so much more about the lifestyle of not only the prisoneres but also the wardens and their families. Alcatraz as an island has a lot of history. It started out as a military fortress during the Civil War; then it was turned into an army prison. The prison was built by the cons themselves. In 1930 it was too costly for maintenance but was saved by the cons like Al Capone and The Bird Man. It was made into a Federal Bureau of Prisons or a penitentury. There were thirty six cons on "The Rock" that tried to escape. Seventy employees and their families lived on the island. The prison was closed in 1963 because of deterioration and lack of funds. In 1969 American Indians claimed the island as their home and lived there for 19 months; during that time the Indians regained their independence and reminded the America who was here first. The National Park service took over Alcatraz in 1972 and has been a tourist attraction ever since.
"Break the rules you go to prison. Break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz." Alcatraz was a feared place; prisoners dreaded the day they were told they were being moved to "The Rock." The last prisoner to leave Alcatraz, Frank Weatherman, said, "Alcatraz was never no good for nobody." The convicts were numbers not individuals. Being a prison guard at Alcatraz could be a dangerous job, especially when there were riots. The bureau of prisons said in 1946, "When men of courage and steadfastness lose their lives in the faithful performance of duty, there is little that need be said by those of us who did not face the danger. Their deeds speak far more eloquently." The history of Alcatraz is both sad and inspiring. The cons who ruined their lives give us grief yet the Native Americans who re-created their past in order to give themselves a better future give us hope.
Leaving Alcatraz was like lifting a weight off our shoulders. We returned to the pier and ate a delicious dinner at Bubba Gumps and returned to our condo, ready for a good nights sleep. Like I said, I am in love with San Fransisco and I can't wait for tomorrow's adventures.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sabbatical Day 22/Golden Gate Bridge
I am sitting in a condo in San Fransisco! We left early this morning and didn't arrive until lunch. We stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge and were able to walk across it. When I first set foot on the bridge I was caught up in all the noise and the people. Once I looked out across the water everything stopped, the wind and view took my breath away. We were able to see the whole city from the bridge along with the island of Alcatraz. There were people everywhere; bikers, runners, businessmen. The ironic part of the bridge was that there were telephones all over; they were there for people to call help if they think they are going to jump. The bridge is over a mile long and we walked the whole length of it and back.
Reluctantly, we left the wonders of the Golden Gate Bridge and checked in to our condo. This city is amazing to me because the land isn't flat by any means. It is amazing how all these buildings could be built when it is so hilly there. We are staying in a Wyndham Vacation Resort near Chinatown. All Wyndham's are beautiful but this one seems exceptionally so. What I love about these condos is that no matter who you are they treat you like royalty. After we had settled in, we walked to Chinatown.
Chinatown is huge and we walked around for about an hour before finding a restaurant we were satisfied with. It is strange when you are in Chinatown because there are so few caucasians. While we were walking through the streets there was a band of elderly Chinese men. They were playing the most unusual instruments and when I smiled at one of the men he let me try to play it; it was kind of like a banjo. I got my picture taken with them.
Reluctantly, we left the wonders of the Golden Gate Bridge and checked in to our condo. This city is amazing to me because the land isn't flat by any means. It is amazing how all these buildings could be built when it is so hilly there. We are staying in a Wyndham Vacation Resort near Chinatown. All Wyndham's are beautiful but this one seems exceptionally so. What I love about these condos is that no matter who you are they treat you like royalty. After we had settled in, we walked to Chinatown.
Chinatown is huge and we walked around for about an hour before finding a restaurant we were satisfied with. It is strange when you are in Chinatown because there are so few caucasians. While we were walking through the streets there was a band of elderly Chinese men. They were playing the most unusual instruments and when I smiled at one of the men he let me try to play it; it was kind of like a banjo. I got my picture taken with them.
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