Day One - Already Amazing

Beautiful blue skies - Positive attitudes - Hard work - Honest worship

Sometimes it takes students a few days to get into the "feel" of being on the 10:44 trip, but not this year. The students have jumped in all the way and are giving it their all. During our first few hours of work activities, the students finished several major projects, and tackled a few more with lots of energy. They took down tee pee tents, cleared brush, loaded and unloaded firewood, and raked a lot of leaves. The students had such wonderful attitudes that even the camp staff noticed that they came ready to work.

Around 5pm, we stopped for a wonderful dinner of pulled pork sandwiches - very delicious :) Everyone was cheerful, laughing and sharing fun stories at dinner. Then we headed to the "Upper Deck" for evening worship and devotions. Let me try to describe the Upper Deck to you -

It is one of the older buildings on the camp property with high ceilings, linoleum floors, folding chairs, and a wood burning stove. It has "character" to say the least. But there is also something very special about the Upper Deck. We began singing songs together, at first a little low-key, but soon singing with full spirit. Guitars, drums, piano and voices all joining together in worship. And God's heart was there, and was beautiful.

The students have amazed me already. They are honest, and they honestly love each other. They are challenging one another to reconcile past hurts, to forgive each other, and to bond as a class. (Usually it's my job to make those kind of challenges, but this class is doing it on their own!)

So after our first 8 hours, we already worked hard, eaten well, and cried a little. Who knows what the next 80 hours will bring?