The Trip

It wasn't exactly the camping trip to end all camping trips - thank goodness - but it was a great camping trip. You know, I find it funny. Every year that we have gone to Tumalo State Park our emphasis has been on Frisbee and swimming. This year though, I only went swimming on one day and we only played frisbee twice. Unfortunately, I injured my foot on the first game and then ended up playing on the injured foot for the second game. But this camping trip I had a new focus, one that is more and more beginning to define me as I explore it and it's possibilities: Climbing.

After Church, Sunday morning, we came home and made the final preparations to leave for Central Oregon. Adam drove all the way and when we arrived we began setup. Anna, who normally leads the trailer setup, was AWAL at another campsite so Adam and I set it up with intermittent help from a few others. With that completed I made my way over to the Nutter's site where Anna was. She inquired if we were ready to set up the trailer yet; I informed her it was done. That night after dinner at Cibelli's pizza with Grandpa and Grandma a couple of us played Texas Hold 'Em until 1 o'clock in the morning. The following morning, after breakfast, Adam, Luke, James, and I walked across the bridge spanning the Deschutes River to the cliffs (rim rock) on the other side of the river. There we began to climb. Probably an hour or so later we finally headed back to camp after making our way along the cliff alternating climbing and down-climbing to try another route. Back at camp we found the others getting ready to head to the rapids. Adam and I didn't feel like swimming so we climbed the rim rock on the edge the canyon through which the river flowed. On the top of the ledge we snuck around some guys house in an attempt to find Alex's sandal that he had lost while climbing there the previous day. We were unsuccessful, but Adam did catch a lizard. Later that day Adam Luke, Anna, James, and I went to play Disc Golf at Central Oregon Community College. The course was rough on my disc but we all had a good time. While we waited to be picked after completing the course we all stood around on the soccer field and practiced our driving. That night we played our first Frisbee game. After dinner all of us youngsters made our way across the road to the day-use area. The game went mostly well until during a course of inexplicable events I stepped on a irrigation device and cut my foot. I hurt only momentarily so we all kept playing. A few minutes later my foot began to ache and I knew it was worse than I thought. But, being the trooper that I am, I kept playing a little longer. It all ended when I made one wrong turn guarding Evan. At that point, with the pain filling my foot, I knew that I was done for the night. Adam assisted me over to a picnic table nearby where I attempted to see it by taking a picture with Sara's camera. After putting my sandals back on I rode James's bike back to camp. With Dr. Bower and Nurse Mom present I was fixed up in no time. The next day Mr. Nutter took Luke, Sara, and Me into Bend. We spent a little time wandering around the mall area there before stopping at Starbucks for some drinks. Before Mr. Nutter picked us up Luke and I played a little hackie out in front of the Starbucks. The moves were wild and the outside furniture was flying everywhere, sent there by my high-flying feet. That evening we played another game of Frisbee. I got there a little late and the score was already 3 to 2. I joined the side with 2 points and James moved to the side with 3. I played with my injured foot but it didn't give me much trouble. We ended up winning 15 to 6. That was a happy game. The following day, Wednesday, half of us were to head out for Canby to make it to the Westgate Family Camp. The drive was very nice, we took old highways from Aumsville through Silverton and Marquam to Canby. My post is already too long so I will abbreviate these upcoming days. I played in the ping-pong tournament and was knocked out in the first round. The MarWeBowNezevichKins did very well at the frisbee golf competition and won second place. I took home both of the prizes. The preaching by Scott Dean was very good and was designed to make one t.h.i.n.k. Board games are a staple of family camp and I ended up playing a few. When we played Pirate's Cove I started off very bad, being beaten twice in a row, but ended up in second place. Yes I know, first place loser. All in all family camp was great. Friday night I drove the three hours back to Central Oregon ending at just after 11 o'clock. The drive was great, I like to pass people in the rain and in the the dark. We finished up our week of camping back at Tumalo. On Saturday I finally went tubing on the river. I had my towel with me and I was trying not to let it get soaked. All my attempts were vanity. I was sucked under at one particular rapid and at that point I was barely more soaked than my towel. It was then that I realized that I had lost James's shirt. Leaving my now soaked towel and my inner tube on a rock, I ran back up the path the the point where I had first tipped over, coincidentally losing the t-shirt. I wasn't really sure if I could find it but I had faith that God does care about such seemingly little things as lost t-shirts so I made my way down the river, partly swimming, partly scrambling over rocks. I took a break for one moment and stood one a rock. I scanned the scene and noticed something dusty red underneath the surface of the water across the river's flow. At that moment I knew that I had found it. Jumping off a rock I plunged into the rover and swam violently to get across the flow without being taken downstream too far. I reached the other side and reached under the water. I pulled up the missing t-shirt in my hands. Now victorious I made my way back down the river on the opposite side making my own way through the sagebrush and rocky ground. I finished off my river float at the private bridge spanning the river. I tossed my towel and inner tube up onto the bridge and climb up after. Anna and I walked along the road back to the day use area where the adults were. On the way Anna noticed a shirt next to the road. I picked it up, hey free shirt. It was a little large for me but that the way it was supposed to be worn. After I got to the day use area and laid out my towel to dry, and with my new shirt on, I decided it was time to try some more climbing. I waded across the river and found a little trail through the bushes on the bank of the river to the cliffs beyond. I scrambled a little ways until I found the place that I wanted to start then I took off my sandals and started climbing. Anna took a few pictures of me from across the river and Mr. Meigs said I was going to kill myself. I didn't care, then it was just the rock and me. Thinking, rethinking, a little strength and technique all in one fluid thought and I was at the top of the crag in no time. I down climbed to another area and started again only to be baffled by a difficult crack. No problem though. I just moved around the outcropping of a big boulder and found another way up. After that ascent Mr. Meigs suggested that I be done for now, mostly for their sakes. I complied willing, seeing as how I had just had my fun. I ended up getting to bed early that night and we had to pack up camp the next day. Packing up was work but didn't take very long considering what it used to take to get us going. We finally hit the road and I was looking forward to stopping at Cibelli's one last time before heading home. I wasn't even thinking; when we got to Cibelli's it was closed because it was Sunday and they don't open until 3. Bummer. It turned out to be okay anyway though. After stopping for gas in Sisters we made up our collective mind to stop at the Marion Forks Restaurant with the Nutters, the Meigs, and the Starks. Finally, after a few more hours, heavy traffic on I-5, and some long hauls with the trailer we had made it home with only thirty minutes to get ready for Evening church. Uber Camping Trip successful. Body - Energized. Spirit - Uplifted. Mind - Enlightened.

John

P.S. Tim is an amazing guy, and he did a great job on the paintballing at Family Camp.

Another Day, Another Dollar

Frisbee today was great; we played a four on four game to 13. My team didn't win, but the final score was 13-12. I don't mind since our team out played the other team. Earlier today I drove over to South East Portland to pick up some Quickdraws for rock climbing. I can't wait to go camping. I really want to climb the cliffs across the river at the day use area. I also can't wait to play games with Scott Dean at family camp. I'll definitely have some stories to tell when I get back.

John

Ultimate Saturday

Hey everyone! Come to Ultimate frisbee on the baseball field at Southridge at 2:00-2:30 tomorrow. If you don't come, then you sniff glue!

John

Looking Up

Whaddaya think of my new looks? I decided I'd try something new for a change.

On the way back from Sacramento, instead of coming straight home, we changed our plans a little bit. Some friends of Anna's, and now ours, invited us visit them at their house just north of Sacramento. We had breakfast at their house and played a game of Dutch Blitz. We also got a tour of their new house that they are building. While we were there I gave myself a 'crash' course one riding a unicycle. We finally left their house and were back on the road again. Instead of getting right back on I-5, we took the scenic route along old highways to Red Bluff. As we normally do on our way back from California, we stopped at the In-N-Out in Redding. It was over a hundred degrees outside and the place was crowded. After lunch we stopped at Starbucks then hit the road again. After seven more hours on the road we finally reached home at Eleven o'clock.

At home, I'm back to work again. Today we went to see Ratatouille; what a hilarious movie! I recommend it to everyone. Now I have to do some plumbing repairs in the kitchen.

John

Wallaby Football

The last full day of the conference has ended. Tomorrow we will end the final session with the student choir singing before dinner. Then I'll be on my way home again, and I'll get to see all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless.

John

The Fourth

Yesterday was the first full day of sessions. In the morning, after signing Laura into her childrens program, I headed across the street from convention center to the Sheraton Grand hotel were the Pre-Excel program was being held. Evan was going to be helping with skits and Bethany had asked me if I would help also. For the first Pre-Excel large group we did a skit in which Evan was a game show host and I was an auctioneer. As soon as the skit was done I headed back over to the general sessions in the convention center. They didn't need my help with the second skit which was to take place right before lunch. For lunch Mom, Adam, and I headed back to our hotel. I wanted to be at choir by 12:45 so I had to eat on the way back to the convention center. Choir was great even though I didn't know any of the songs that we practiced and something about my voice was acting funky. The student sessions were next after choir. Mr. Gothard came and spoke to the all the students, but before he got to that he had two people give their testimony and one video of another student give his testimony. The testimonies were really good but after that I had to keep my commitment to help with skits for Pre-Excel. For the skit I was a king that told a story to his princess daughter. To be more kingly one of the helpers for Pre-Excel used mascara to draw a beard, mustache, sideburns, and big earbrows on my face. It was great and everyone had a lot of fun. I've got to split now, I'll talk to you all later.

John

Independence

That is interesting. I hadn't intended to post that last post. I started it last night and I was going to write something about how much fun we had while playing disc golf. Then I was going to write about how we went to REI and Costco in the afternoon. That was right after I had been swimming for over an hour and a half. But last night I couldn't get the creative juices flowing quick enough and while I was composing in my head Evan asked for his computer. Since I wasn't writing at that moment and I had nothing coming any time soon, I acquiesced to him. I had nothing written down except for a title, I was not intending to save it, or even post it for that matter. The thing is, it is really hot here this week, and it's supposed to keep gettig hotter as the week goes on. I spend all day in an air-conditioned building.

John

It's so hot I'm gonna have a heat stroke.

Road Trip

After traveling all day, we are finally at our hotel. We left home at about 9 and arrived here just before 8. On the way down we made only a couple of stops. Our first stop was at the South Umpqua rest area for lunch. When we reached Redding we stopped for gas, as is our custom. Since we had stopped someone came up with the idea that we should stop at Starbucks for drinks. I was in line and ready to order when Sara informed me that Mom was going to buy all the drinks; we used Evan's partner discount. 200 miles later we were finally in sight of the city. One last stop at the grocery store and another quick jaunt on the freeway and we were pulling into the parking lot at the hotel. While we unloaded the van(and cleared the building), Mom started making dinner. The Asian chicken salad was the perfect summer dinner after spending all day on the road. While enjoyed dinner at the poolside we watched as dusk fell without a whisper. A lone owl flies over the city while a single star shines brightly in the falling light.

Tomorrow we have registration and then we are going to play disc golf. The weather here is incredibly nice and sunny without being too hot. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.

John

A Soul Overflowing

We're heading off to California tomorrow. I just came off of some kind of high after NBT; a spiritual plateau, of sorts. Last week was incredible. Jesus promised that if we ask anything in his name we will receive, that our joy may be full. Last week I cashed in that promise. If you weren't there I couldn't explain to you all that made amazing, encouraging, decisive, and wonderful. I was a team captain again this year with Taylor as my co-captain and Kevin and Sara as our opposing captains. We started the whole week off on Saturday with games skits and food in the evening. The Evangelists arrived on Thursday giving us a lot of time ahead NBT to get to know them and to go out on special blitzing opportunities that we generally don't get. On Sunday morning the evangelists were integrated with our Sunday School class. Before that we had some scoreing and points going on but everything previous to Sunday night, was inconsequential; this was when the real fun started. At this point I can no longing tie particular events to days but I will try and remember most of the crazy NBT games that we all got to participate in this summer. Big Ball Basketball, Big Ball Shot Put, Bottle Soccer, Four-way tug-of-war, Sumo Tube, Tube Tug, Waterballoon Dodgeball, Waterballoon toss, Big Ball Volleyball, Human Foosball, Volleyball, Blind Volleyball, Flag Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Stack-it, Spell-it, Switch-it, Tug-of-war, Kickbox, Big Ball Football, and many others. Every night Kevin and I had some kind of miniature skit that we would preform for the teens called The Impressions. We would come in wearing sunglass and, with a straight face, introduce ourselves as "The Impressions." Then we would do impressions. Again, I can't remember the order but we had so much fun. The impressions that we did included, rain drop, the number 11, a booger, a pimple, locomotive, cupid, mosquito, bug-zapper, snowflake, bacon, fieldgoal, and others. Throughout the week we also had little challenges that the teams would compete eachother in. Many of them were jokes, such as the blindfolded banana eating contest that everyone was in on except one guy. He thought that he was racing three others but it turned out that he was just shoving bananas in his face blindfolded while everyone else watched. Along side all the fun and games was a more serious tone. After we had been outside for the beginning of the evening, and been thorough enteretained by The Impressions and the games and challenges, Mr. Joel, the best NBT Evangelist ever, would come and teach us all a lesson from the Bible. What he said every night throughout the week really had a big impact on all of us, team captains, teens, as well as visitors. The only reason someone could come away from all of that and not be changed for the better would be by their own choice. Above all else, the best, most encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and by far my favorite times this past week were the team captains meeting with Mr. Joel after NBT every night. I cannot express to you, the reader, all that that meant to us and all that we got from those times with Brother Joel; it was enough to make one high. This week Jesus really filled me up to overflowing and I did not come away unchanged. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD (Psalm 150:6).

John