Blizzard or 08

It is 4 days before Christmas, and I am in Portland, where it has been snowing for 3 days straight. I was suppose to fly out to Minneapolis on Sunday, but my flight was canceled, and I am praying that I get to leave on Christmas Eve. I feel like I live in South Dakota again. I thought this was why I moved away, at least people in SD know what to do in weather like this. Lucky, I have a awesome friend, Patty, who is letting me stay at her house, while I wait to get out. The Portland area has gotten a foot of snow. People on the news said this is the worse they seen snow in years. I was supposed to drive down to Iowa with Megan today. The good thing is that I was suppose to fly out to Minniapolis, but when my flight got canceled, Patty called the airline, and by the grace of God, I am flying straight to Des Moines. So now I am just sitting in a warm house, thanking God, that I'm not stuck at the airport or anywhere else. A lot of people are stuck at the airport and the train stations.

All Saints Day

Bri, Rich, Autumn after our baptism

"All Saints Day!" November 1, 2008

This is the day that me and my roommate Autumn, chose to share in the day of announcing our relationship with Jesus to our community at Wildhorse Canyon, and to the Lord. Before coming to WHC I wanted to be baptized at Countryside Community Church in SD. The weekend that they where doing baptism, was the same day I was moving to Iowa. So it just didn't work out.

In the book of Matthew, John the Bapitst tell the crowd, "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life." Matt 4:11 Christ has really changed my old life into a new life. Ever since going to counseling back in college, God has really changed my life. Yes, I'm still a worrier, but during those years of being in counseling I learned that I can truly trust in the Lord, and He has a plan for my life. I would not be in Oregon if it was not for the work of the Lord. One major thing I learned during those years, was that the Lord gave me CP. Today, I'm still leaning the truth of that, and how deep God's love was in that, and His plan for my life in that.

So back to "All Saints Day." Autumn told us (our staff) that she was going to get baptized, and was going to see if anybody else in the community would like to do it with her. I spoke up right away. I asked Mandy, our other staff member, last year, about being bapitzed. So when Autumn said this I told her I would do it with her. The next couple days I was getting cold feet, and told Autumn I wasn't sure I was supposed to b/c I didn't have a definite answer from the Lord. So we prayed together. That night I was listening to my Daily Audio Bible podcast, which goes through the bible in a year. Then it came, Brian, the reader, read "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name. Acts 22:16 That was all I needed!

So now my old life has been changed into a kingdom life, in the John Day River, here at Wildhorse. When I left SD that day, I had no idea God had a bigger plan for my life, let alone my baptism into His kingdom. I couldn't of asked for a better plan in that day.

Some of the community members watching

Autumn and me get baptised

Rich, our property manager, praying over

me


The water was very cold, but we wore wetsuits!

Rich said that was cheating, I didn't care.

November in a river is cold!!!

Rich reading Romans Me and Autunm before the dunk into cold water

Apple Pie Al'mode

This weekend I took on the task of baking a Asian pear-apple pie. (All from scratch.) Our neighbors came back from Washington and brought back tons of Asian pears for the whole community. We decided we need to use them up, so I took on the task of making a pie. It wasn't that bad until I had to peal 8 pears, (well 9 b/c one fell into the garbage.) and 2 apples. I should of used 3 apples but I was so sick of peeling, not my foray. I think I started at noon, and didn't get done tell 6:00. It was a long day, I didn't know baking a pie could wear me out so much. Another hard part was trying to figure out how to get the dough it the pie pan. Not till after the fact, did I learn, from my mom that if you fold it into fourths, then you can pick it up without it breaking. (Great tip) The best part was eating though!!! It turned out really good!!! I decided that baking and cooking is way to much work, so I have decided that me and my family will always be going to Grandma's house for the holidays!!!

Hiking in our backyad of WHC

Some of neighbor friends came over today to go on a hike. There is a lot of great places to hike in the canyon. We decided to hike up behind our condos, which I have done once before. As we were climbing the girls went little higher the me, but I eventually made it quiet high. One of the girls, Bailey, came back down, and was determined to help me go higher. I did get a bit more higher, but then I was to tired and scared to climb over the rock that was in the way. Once we got to the top, we could see all the condo east village. On the way up I had to ditch my brace, because you can not hike with a brace on. Coming down was a lot easier then going up, I slide down the steep parts.



Bailey determined to get me higher.
When I asked her why she was coming back down, she said: To help you b/c that what friends are for.


Autumn took a picture behind us to see how high we climb. I drove a golf cart to the hill. You can barely see it. And some where down there is my brace. Don't worry we found it on the way down.


Abby, Elli, and Bailey posing Bailey and I at the final point of
for a picture exhaustion (for me anyway)


Here is a view of my condo from top
it is in middle of the 3 condo in front



Here is a view of some of the condos in East village

Our new condo

After alot of hard work from volunteers and blessing from the Lord, we have moved into our new condo. Thanks to Bob the Builder, Kory, Gene and Mary, all the Work and Worship volunteers and all the other volunteers that put their time, energy, and blessing into making this new condo come together for the staff of Mark 2. The new condo is complete with three suites for each staff member, a common kitchen, living room and dining room. The suites each have a bedroom, bath, and living area.

Living area in my suite (2 views)

Common living area, upstairs

My new Lighthouse Bathroom

My bedroom off my living area

The other view of living area suite

There are about 60 condos on the property. Before Young Life got the properity, the Rajneesh, a cult that came to Oregon from India, lived on the Big Muddy Ranch (which is now Wildhorse Canyon.) The Rajneesh built all the condos on the ranch, plus most of the buildings here. Each condo had 10 bedrooms and 8 half bathrooms. There were no kitchen or living area in the condos. They would eat all there meals down at a common dining hall. They also had a worship building, that they worship their main guy, (The Bagwan) at. We now use the worship center as a Sport Center complete with a rock wall, skate park, weight room, and four basketball courts for campers. (It is a huge building). It is amazing seeing how God made something met for evil and turned it into good.

The Dining room from the stairs

Going to SD

I just got back from a week of South Dakota, after a long, hard summer. We were very busy this summer with campers everyday. South Dakota was very fun and a good break from the canyon. My sister, Brooke, had her wedding reception/ going away party. (She is moving to Japan in October) We all went to Vegas at the being of June for her wedding.
I also spent alot of time with my nieces Sophie, Baylie, and nephew Jax. Baylie wanted me to be her Show and Tell at school. That was very fun, I spent the afternoon with her second grade class. Baylie loved it. I forgot my camera when I went to her class, I was so bummed! I saw some of old teachers that taught me, which was alot of fun. I took Baylie to Gulches of Fun on the last day. Baylie went on the go-carts with Sam, then Megan, Molly, Sam, Kat, Me, and Baylie all did a round of golf. I am not a very good put golfer. Baylie and I also went on the bumper boats. Good thing it was a hot day. Megan and Molly, and my mom also came for the weekend.