Sunday, July 24, 2011

WILDERNESS TRAAAAAIIIILLLLLLLL

Just got home from yet another MOUNTAIN TRAVEL today because after all, i am a MONS VIATOR(MOUNTAIN TRAVELER) hahah but anyways

A few months ago me and the Family decided we wanted to backpack and coincidentally carrie's father was pushing for a backpacking trip with her youth group through a methodist organization called Wilderness Trail. last week end his idea materialized as we drove up 421 headed for Damascus, Virginia.

The mount Rogers area is spectacular, full of picturesque views of rolling ridges, grassy highlands and wild ponies:) When we reached the property we met our group leaders, who were both phenomenal leaders. Throughout the day we bonded on the Group Building Course and held conversation sitting in the front porch rockers. Worship followed a hot meal, we sandg songs of priase that i was unfamiliar with....but within seconds i was flapping my arms like a fool and singing at the top of my lungs because i realized, " this is God we are singing about, who cares if i stumble, as long as im singing loud fromt he bottom of my heart :) " The next day was prep time for the hike, we assembled our pack and tents ( i used a hammock, SCORE) and that night walked up the HILL to the outdoor chapel. Now this chapel was a place that carrie had spoken of with wonderful praise and to be honest i thought she must be exagerating. As we topped the hill and rounded the trees i just stopped in my tracks and gasped. Infront of me stood a towering cross, and whitetop mountain stood as a glorious backdrop, splashed by the fading rays of the setting sun. We held worship and communion and in the end were at the verge of tears, the glory of God was around us and most importantly in us.

Tuesday morning we woke to a cacaphony of noise, grabbed and packs and headed out. We started hiking on the iron mountian trail, once a part of the AT, it was removed due to lack of scenery and rightly so. Before lunch we pickeup two odd hitch hikers.... 2 dogs, waldo and wolfgang. After  anear fight to the death several hours later, we let them go their own way, glad to be rid of their bipolar behavior. haha That afternoon we stumbled across some treasure ina mountain meadow...surrounding a spring were the biggest blackberry vines ive ever seen. Naturally I grabbed my owl and filled 'er up.


Wednesday we continued on the iron mountain and found ourselves climbing a series of ridge tops. After lunch we descended into a nice valley, filled with laurel, and followed a creek. (crossed it 11 times) at the mouth of the valley we intercepted the A. T. and continued to follow it to our campsite, pirates paradise. The campsite butted up to  the virginina creeper multiuse trail and was a gorgeous place. Across the VCT was a big creek and our guide James led us to the swimming hole, fully equipped with a 15 foot jumping rock.( the highlight of the trip)

Thursday was tough.... we hiked up the backside of straigh mountain( i assume it's name comes from the fact that when you hike up it you are litterally going STRAIGHT up) 17 switchbacks later we made it to the top, excited to see some glorious views. NOPE, just TREES. After eating lunch in a swamp we descended straigh mountain and found our campsite ironically sitting next to the VCT, (probably an easy walk from the campsite from the nightbefore) We had a made a giant Horse shoe over mountains down them, for nada.

Friday i wake in my hammock, and look up at the splendid blue ske, spotted with nice puffy white clouds. It was a GREAT day to hike. All week me and carrie had been bummed about the lack of views and carrie just wanted to see rocck strewn fields in particular. The night before, our junior staff let it slip that we were headed to whitetop in the morning and we were all pumped, we were finally getting what we had been waiting for. Five hours later we were almost on whitetop, that is, with our packs on the ground, sopping wet as lightning crackled through the ir so close that the thunder almost preceded the flash. After an hour of that mass, it finally let up, with our moods diminsihed we made the final bound to buzzard rock. As i walked out of the shelter of the trees my spirits soared, i walke din awe as i saw 7 states unfold around me. I quickly sped past my fellow hikers and ascended buzzard rock. It was surreal, i felt like i was standing on the threshold of heaven and hell. To my left, the grayson highlands were dark and foreboding as arcs of pink lighting pounded the ridgetops relentlessly, and to my right, blue sky was revealed and the suns golden rays illuminated the receeding thunderheads. The peaks floated on a sea of low hanging clouds that drifted in their laurel valleys. It was magnificent. That night's campsite was subpar and the cold set in to our soaked skin. Overall it wasnt a pleasent eavening, although the mmood was lightened by the promise of dry clothess.


Saturday came with the encouragement of comfort waiting for us at the lodge. Once our final 2 mile hike was completed we loaded the van and headed back to the property. Our day of rest ended with another trip to the chapel where tears glistended on our cheeks like the stras of the sky. Praise God.

Sunday morning we left bright and early and now, this evening i sit here at home with my family, who i have dearly missed, already recounting the tales of the past week.

3rd in a Group :)

So, this is really behind but i felt like i could not ignore my last week at Camp Tekoa. My 4th week as a cit i was 3rd in a group, which means that i assisted two FGLs (family group Leaders) with a single group for the week's entirity. I was paired with two AMAZING counselors, Moises and Aislinn:) I feel like they need a little backgrounding themselves... Aislinn was a wonderful co-buddy. She was so reserved and laid back and i Learned from example not to sweat the small stuff, something that she has mastered. Moises, an international stafff form the Dominican Republic, spread the light of christ better than most anyone ive ever met. He was jovial 24/7, it was ridiculous how much patience he had! hahah i loved him for it though, and he made our group run smoothly. Now onto the Group...:))) I had middle school, and the were a true blessing. Consisiting of 9 girls and 6 boys the group had just about every social dynamic possible. There were the socialites, the introverts, the egocentrics, the perfectionist, the apparently deaf and distracted, the lizard hunter and one incredibly huge heart.
      At first, staying with the boys allt he time was hectic. I had o opportunity to withdraw, to save my sanity. But then through watching moises and how he dealt with the small issues that i had unknowingly transformed into mountains I began to relax, and understand how being an FGL worked. There is no clock work involved, the idealistic structure gives way when inconvienences arrive and through all the valleys you have to keep your head up.  The first two days i exhausted myself with petty things like "quit chasing that lizard" or " your bead isnt straight" and then i realized these kids are 11 years old. Yeah theyre gong into middle school and are approaching that change in maturity but they are STILL kids, who will ignore you, not hear you but in the end irrevocably love you. AND that if i build individual bonds with each of them they will respect me and i will respect them. So as the week progressed i formed with these campers and in turn they started listening, because they liked me and they wanted to make me happy. Its a beautiful cycle that just continues to grow as more love is added.

Leaving was difficult, saying goodbye to the campers was almost as hard as saying goodbye to the staff who i have formed unbelievable friendships with over the past 4 weeks. But somehow im comforted, knowing that next year without a doubt i will be driving up thomas road again, because camp tekoa has become home, my spiritual home, and this is just the begining.

Friday, July 8, 2011

A somber homecoming

You sit by her side as she sleeps
flawlessly unaware of the time that you keep
keep on waiting
not giving up
but as the hours turn to days
and the days turn to weeks
he remains by her side
and she remains asleep
prayers from a thousand
are the only comforts he knows
as time slows
A tear rolls down his cheek
as memories of her are pulled from the deep
and reality rushes down
like the weight of the world
he realizes he doesnt love anyone
more than this girl
but as the hours turn to days
and the days turn to weeks
he remains by her side
and she remains asleep
prayers from a thousand
are the only comforts he knows
as time slows
she held him as a child
cheered for him from the stands
for 16 years she held him close
and nows shes letting go
but he’s gonna stay a while
and not het go of her hand
he loves her more than anyone knows
more than anyone can understand.
As the sun rose
so did her soul
A new star in the night
an angel mid-flight
She let go
and found eternal life
Now and angel, a loving mother and a wife

Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Mixed Bag

So it's thursday July 7th, and i cant believe how fast time flies. I am almost 3/4ths of the way done with my CIT program and haveno inclination to leave. Although my home is in Belews Creek I  have come to realize that camp Tekoa is also my home, but its different, it's my spiritual home. It's like the boat, in the middle of the storm, untouched, because Jesus is here.
     Since i got back from Lake Nantahala Ive been doing support staff roles, all exciting and to make it even better it is barnabus week so i have had the wonderful oppurtunity to work with autisitc campers. They have taught me so much, and their happiness is contagious. Seeing the special friends giving up all of their time to be with one of these campers is amazing, and i admire them for their unbelievable service. Britton and I had a garden group yesterday and I really wasnt sure how receptive the kids were going to be. Yet again, I was amazed, they actually had to be told that time was up and were asked to leave with questions unanswered. It makes me smile knowing that we as a community and nation have a generation of environmentally conscious  people coming up. LOOK OUT WORLD :).
    As I mentioned earlier, I feel like im in the boat and the storm is raging. Although everything is great here, this week has brought bad news. A friend from home lost her boyfriend this weekend, and his younger brother, victims of a drunk boating accident. A camper took a wrong step and ended in a pool below a waterfall, thankfully she was quickly aided by Aaron and recieved no injuries although it still shook the camp a bit. One of my best friends, is by his Mom's side, as she remains in poor condidtion after suffering a stroke. I;m thankful im in this boat, safe from harm, but that cant and shouldnt stop me and anyone else from giving their all in prayer. Pray for them all, and i pray that anyone suffering in anyway realizes that whether they are in the boat or in the storm, safe or suffering, God is there. He never leaves, no matter what.
    I'm going to end by saying that this time at Tekoa is changing me, has changed me and is going to change me some more:) and im ok with that. Before i left for camp my Youth pastor Tom  gave me a challenge, I dont think he realized it but he did. he said to us one day, " pray to God, ask him to take control, let him turn your life upside down, take you in directions you never intended". When i heard that at first i brushed it off, a feat that i could not manage, control.... i cant give it up. But 3 weeks ago I found myseld sitting in my sanctuary alone, and it hit me, I was never in control and never will be, any time i spend trying to be is a futile attempt and any goal i have in life is subpar to what God has planned for me.

                     I'll try to post again soon, Chastan

P.S. Pray

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Halfway and Bittersweet

It is sunday july second, I'm halfway done with the Tekoa CIT program and I'm pretty sad, I dont want it to end so fast....This past week was AHMAZING! I love being support staff, and I feel like I've really connected with a lot of campers this past week and nothing makes me smile more than seeing them run up to me and beg me to come back next year cause they want me to be  their family group leader:) Its unbelievable the level of unconditional love and trust children have, but it pushes me t have those qualities too. By the end of these four weeks I have no Doubt that I will be as changed as any camper who leaves Tekoa. This week's talent show had some wonderful acts, the other CIT's and I decided at the last minute to do a funny skit from the little mermaid, a reenactment of "kiss the Girl". As Aaron and I were shooting hoops we decided that it would be 10 times better if we both were in the boat and one of us played Ariel. That night, when the boat rounded the corner and the crowd realized it was me they erupted in laughter. GREAT TIMES. The pastor of the week, Brad Cunningham, loved star wars and therefore the BB BOYS skit was themed to match. The kids absolutely loved it also:) Friday i got the chance to go with two groups to Dupont State Forest, I CANT BELIEVE IVE NEVER BEEN THERE. We went to high falls, triple falls and hooker falls. We slid down high falls and that was by far the high light of the trip. One of my god friends was in the cabin with a certain group that had taken a liking to me and Aaron so that definitely sparked some interesting conversations and jokes. Apparently i smell like flowers and pine needles???
     This Coming week we will be doing support staff again, I'm on another porch but i dont mind cause it's cooler and mostly quiet. Over the past two weeks I've struck up a friendship with the "Garden Man" Alex, and since this week is Barnabus week and he is being a special friend i got asked to be the GARDEN MAN. haha i know it doesn't sound like much but im super stoked:) IVe got a lot to live up too though, I guess ill need to know all about compost and plants and I'll have to talk in a british accent. (I think with a little practice I can have it covered:)) We'll I will try to post again by wednesday but we'll see.... I hope everyone is doing great, Go' Bye Mates!