It was 4:30 am.
We were instructed to pack our bags, because we were going on an adventure; a four-day camping trip in the forest surrounding Hume.
There would be no showering, no mirrors, and minimal electricity. We would have no clocks, either; no sense of time. (That turned out to be neat and I actually really enjoyed it. The leaders would blow on a conch shell to summon us together. It was reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies", minus the savagery).
That morning we loaded into vans and were driven away from campus. We stopped at a trail off the side of the road and began an early morning prayer walk. We hiked until we reached a small campground where we stayed for the week. (It turns out, our campsite was merely a three minute walk from the Joshua building.)
Our afternoons were spent in "Group Initiatives" (team-building activities). My most impacting time was on the "High Ropes Course" where we did tasks in the trees. It was thrilling; nearly terrifying. It was an adrenaline-filled lesson in trust.
(The most entertaining GI: We ate dinner tied together at the wrists. This did require quite a bit of teamwork!)
That morning we loaded into vans and were driven away from campus. We stopped at a trail off the side of the road and began an early morning prayer walk. We hiked until we reached a small campground where we stayed for the week. (It turns out, our campsite was merely a three minute walk from the Joshua building.)
Our afternoons were spent in "Group Initiatives" (team-building activities). My most impacting time was on the "High Ropes Course" where we did tasks in the trees. It was thrilling; nearly terrifying. It was an adrenaline-filled lesson in trust.
(The most entertaining GI: We ate dinner tied together at the wrists. This did require quite a bit of teamwork!)
Our evenings were spent in free time, which gave us plenty of opportunity to get to know our classmates better. (One night we were sent away from camp into the woods for solo-time to listen to the Lord. It was long and challenging, yet I was excited to be a part of it.)
Overall, our days in the wilderness were full of "stretching" opportunities.
(There were many experiences that I was eager to participate in because I never would have done them on my own.)
It was difficult. And it was also very good.
Did they really blow on a conch to summon you guys?
ReplyDeleteThat would have been really creepy, what did it sound like?
Yes! The conch was real. It was big and pink.
ReplyDeleteWhat did it sound like? Well, if a talented blower was using it, it was like a hollow, echoing trumpet. If a less-experienced blower was using it, it was more like a sputter. Both sounds may have been similar to that of a small elephant.
Was is creepy? No. It was kind of neat and we got used to listening for it. I felt like I was a part of "The Lion King".
(If anything about the conch was creepy, it was the comparison I made to "Lord of the Flies". That book was well written and full of allegorical parallels, but it was creepy.)
What a sweet experience! It would be amazing to live for a whole week without clocks, with special time to listen, and getting to know the people around you. I am glad you liked it and had an amazing time. It sounds awesome.
ReplyDelete