Training!

Piling into the SUV, the six of us were soon off to Calvin College in Grand Rapids. After a long week of school it wasn't the greatest thing to look forward to, but we had high spirits all the same. While I only knew the diver personally, I was able to get to know the others at least on a small basis. While our GPS guide decided to led us down every back road possible, we still got there in just a little under two hours. Promptly after arriving we were introduced the common food of the masses; pizza. By no means am I complaining because after eating DC food for the majority of the year Papa John's is almost heavenly. After filling our stomachs and greeting the others, then we proceeded outside to the plaza for worship. After about a 40 minute service we dove right into flipping through the 70 some page booklet, explaining all the do's and don't of working in a National Park, while at the same time representing ACMNP. We went till about nine and called it a night. Out of the large group, two other guys and I were taken home by a nice older woman. It was a cozy home that sat upon the hill, surrounded by small lush Forrest. While the house was back in the woods, it was only a short fifteen minutes away from Calvin College.
By the time we got settled in it was about ten, and we were just about ready to turn in. After singing a few worship songs with the guys (one of them brought his guitar) we headed to bed. We were lucky enough to have comfy beds.
Saturday morning we woke bright and early at eight. After climbing into cloths we headed out shortly there after. Once again we were welcomed to some great food. Panera bagels, with assorted cream cheeses, plus various fruits. Shortly after breakfast we got back to turning page by page in the booklet. After a grueling three hours, we took a short break. After coming back we powered through another hour and then took our lunch break. Lunch consisted of delicious subs and crunchy cookies from a what must have been a local place because I hadn't ever head of the store before. Before lunch began we were put into several groups to plan a typical service in the park. Whiling stuffing ourselves full, our group quickly assigned parts and completed planning. After coming back from lunch we had about another hour of page turning, but after finishing the booklet we grouped up to run through the four fulling planned services. Having four services planned back to back we did cut them quite a bit, but it was just to get us use to planning and executing after all. We ended about three in the afternoon, gaped a cookie for the road and headed back to SAU.
All in all it wasn't too bad. While it was kind of boring to sit through several hours of boring rules I was able to befriend two of the individuals that I will be working with this summer. The food was even great. Lastly, after coming away from the training conference, I am even more pumped for an exciting summer to be. So once again, thank you so much for all your support and prayers.         
     

A full summer schedule...

I booked my flights last night and the reality of just how crammed my schedule is going to be has settled in. The cost of flying was also a cold reminder. I'm not exactly sure how I plan to continue to pay for college expenses after already spending 1/3 of my pay on getting out to California, but I have faith in God that it will all work out. Anyways, let me lay out this crazy schedule for you.

• May 12th, I will preform in the concert band for the graduating Seniors that wish to be gone just as much the rest of us after a long and grueling school year. Once my duty is served in the band, I will out of SAU as fast as humanly possible. Having to stay an extra day on campus is not ideal by any means. 
• Arriving in Pentwater, I have four days until my flight for California departs, May 16th. In that short period of time I must go shopping for summer work cloths and hopefully finish packing up my room.
• Once I arrive in California at 3:32PM on May 16th, as my itinerary claims, I will then slump into a car for a two hour drive to California City. 
• The desert rays will be enjoyed with family and friends not seen for far to long. On May 20th I get back into the car for a four hour drive to Sequoia National Forrest and will be promptly dropped off with people I don't know and a job that will start the next day.
• Work at Sequoia will continue until August 27th.
• After enjoying several months working, making new friends, and exploring a National Forrest, I will then be picked up once again by my father, step mother, and little sister on August 28th or the 27th depending on the circumstances.
• After spending a few more precious days in California City, I will be dropped back off at LAX on September 1st in order to fly back to Grand Rapids Michigan. 
• On September 5th I will move into Village D for another year at SAU and will start classes the next day.  

So there it is, my summer schedule. Crazy, crammed, and exciting summer. Also, summer training begins tonight at 6, so be expecting another post soon! Thank you for being interested in this exciting adventure God is taking me on. One other note, once I am settled in Sequoia I hope to write at least every week and will hopefully have pictures to share with you all.