September

The school year is going by, September was full of events that took all our time - but they were very rewarding! :)

Event #1: The Hiking trip! This was an overnight camping experience at the foot of the mountains! All students that are participating in the extreme sports course were required to hike out to a remote area and enjoy God's creation! It was frigid cold! But we survived and the time was made all the better when we had our own little 'yoyo' experience (you're on your own time) to reflect on what God has been doing in our lives.

Event #2: Student Retreat...All of the highschool came together at Camp Caroline - more like a resort then a campground. We stayed in dorm rooms instead of cabins...but still the atmosphere was open to the Lord's leading. Thursday night the students opened their hearts to each other and were honest about where they stood with the Lord...very emotional! Friday the sessions caused the students to move

forward with where they needed to be and how they could follow after God...again, very emotional! They opened up again at a firepit on Friday night in ways that I would not have hoped for from a weekend retreat, but how they prayed for each other was a beautiful sight! Saturday, the students made right the relationships between each other - yes...more emotion! In amongst all that serious soul-seeking, I was yet again thrown into a pool! What is with that happening all the time?! On the left is a picture of the Senior girls taking in a relaxing moment.

Event #3: Western Day...last week the senior students put together a western day that allowed all of the older students to bond with all the younger students by playing games and team sports. They organized stations that had activities for all of the different groups. It was well-done and things went smoothly for the most part! At the end of the day, the students had asked me and 2 other teachers to participate in a candy-run. We wore work clothes that had candy taped all over them...then different sections of the school were supposed to chase after us to tackle us and get the candy...yes, I agree, it seems unfair! I had all of the highschool girls chasing after me. But before I went out I hired two grade 9 girls to protect me with pool noodles! Well, before I was even out of the door of the school the field was full of girls running towards me...there was a hill in the middle of the field and they were running around one side of it, so, obviously, I ran around the other side! I ended up being alone for a VERY long time...the girls were way behind and couldn't catch me! I ended up having to slow down for them to reach me, then they tackled me down quite quickly...needless to say, I'm considered fast now. The picture is of Shea and Erik at their station.

Other then that I've had to get used to living in a little basement apartment and taking on a 7 course-load work day. I've enjoyed getting to know a few people in the community, I've had a chance to check out a Spanish church and get to know a girl from Columbia.