I've got 16 minutes left on my half hour of internet I purchased today, so lets see how this entry goes. Thank you Nate for the reminder that there might be some people out there trying to live vicariously through my blog posts. Life at the Park Cafe is great. After working in Olympic National Park last summer, and working for Aramark, I realize now that the Park Cafe, all the people who run it, and everyone who comes to work at the cafe truly spoil someone's national park experience. There are a few people working at the cafe this summer who worked at St. Mary Lodge, for Glacier Park Inc. last year, and they have said their experience at the cafe is much more positive than with GPI. Emily and I led our first ACMNP services last weekend at the St. Mary Campground, where we had a strong show of support from fellow Park Cafe'ers. By that I mean, the only people that came to our worship services were current or former Park Cafe'ers! I talked about creation and different creation stories, inspired by a book called "In The Beginning" which tells stories of creation from many different tribes and ethnic groups from throughout history and around the world. There are many stories that fit into a few categories, good vs. evil, earth diver creation stories, creation out of nothing, and a traveling creator placing things where they fit perfectly. The amazing thing I picked up from these stories, was that they all had some piece that needed a major fix, such as the good vs. evil creation stories, where the good creator who had made everything in proportion to everything else, so there was a balance of life on the earth, had to fix the evil creators creation because the evil creator imitated the good creator, but made things bigger, and out of proportion, e.g. in one story, the evil creator made a giant frog that drank all the fresh water on the earth, and the good creator had to come over, slash the frog in half, and release all the fresh water so other things could live. Long story short, the Genesis 1 creation story, allows for us to imagine how and why God created the universe in its entirety, not just pieces of it. It also allows us to know that God created all of creation as the creator in the Blackfoot creation story, Na'pi (Old Man) created things, perfectly, and for their perfect use. The only missing piece in the Genesis creation story, is that it requires us all to be as perfectly ourselves as we can. If we are not, and if creation is not being what it is fully intended to be, then it will not be perfect.
My internet time was happily interrupted by an ACMNP'er from 2011 in Glacier, Jessika Carlstrom just showed up in the store at the cafe! So I'm going to go sit with her and her friends as she enjoys some delicious Park Cafe pie! It appears as if we will have for 2 weeks in a row, former ACMNP'ers at the St. Mary service on Sunday!
Also, I leave for Ohio one week from tomorrow. I can't wait to spend a week at SportsCamp!
And also, for next blog entry, I've got another bear story!
Peace for now and always,
Love forever!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Hey all! I've been at the Park Cafe since Monday, and it's been a great week! I went on a little hike on Tuesday, and have worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, today, and I'm cooking again tomorrow morning. The ACMNP services are going to begin on June 9. MY ACMNP teammate got here today!
On my hike on Tuesday, a few of us were planning on heading towards Red Rock Falls, which is out of the Swiftcurrent area, and we began walking up the trail, and there is a bridge about 400-500 ft up the trail. We saw two young guys standing on the other side of the bridge waving at us, and we couldn't figure out why, until we stepped on the bridge, and I looked down and saw a BIG nose sticking out from under the bridge. There was a rather large black bear standing under the bridge, in the river, and he came out from under the bridge, as I was standing on the bridge. We quickly walked backwards, a couple people pulled their bear spray, and he really didn't even care that we were there. So we abandoned hiking that trail, and instead hiked up to Apikuni Falls, a short 1 mile hike, but it gains about 800 ft in elevation. It was a good first hike to set out on here in Glacier. I'm excited to have a full day off, and having earned enough in tips already to buy my park pass, I will do that, and go exploring a little more when I have a full day off. As for now, I have a lot of laundry to do. Laundry can wait a little bit though. Last night I saw the most intense display of the Northern Lights I have seen in my life. It was absolutely incredible. There was a large group of us from the cafe who were sitting out in the cafe parking lot from about 11:30 to 1:30 just in awe at the display the Northern Lights were putting on. They were moving, pulsating, and just lighting up the sky in a beautiful green! I hope there are many more displays this summer, so I might get to see them from somewhere other than the parking lot! It really was pretty special though, getting to see the Northern Lights with so many people I live and work with this summer. I'm excited to begin the duties of the ministry, and get to spend a few more months here at the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park!
On my hike on Tuesday, a few of us were planning on heading towards Red Rock Falls, which is out of the Swiftcurrent area, and we began walking up the trail, and there is a bridge about 400-500 ft up the trail. We saw two young guys standing on the other side of the bridge waving at us, and we couldn't figure out why, until we stepped on the bridge, and I looked down and saw a BIG nose sticking out from under the bridge. There was a rather large black bear standing under the bridge, in the river, and he came out from under the bridge, as I was standing on the bridge. We quickly walked backwards, a couple people pulled their bear spray, and he really didn't even care that we were there. So we abandoned hiking that trail, and instead hiked up to Apikuni Falls, a short 1 mile hike, but it gains about 800 ft in elevation. It was a good first hike to set out on here in Glacier. I'm excited to have a full day off, and having earned enough in tips already to buy my park pass, I will do that, and go exploring a little more when I have a full day off. As for now, I have a lot of laundry to do. Laundry can wait a little bit though. Last night I saw the most intense display of the Northern Lights I have seen in my life. It was absolutely incredible. There was a large group of us from the cafe who were sitting out in the cafe parking lot from about 11:30 to 1:30 just in awe at the display the Northern Lights were putting on. They were moving, pulsating, and just lighting up the sky in a beautiful green! I hope there are many more displays this summer, so I might get to see them from somewhere other than the parking lot! It really was pretty special though, getting to see the Northern Lights with so many people I live and work with this summer. I'm excited to begin the duties of the ministry, and get to spend a few more months here at the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park!
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Trip
Well, I've made it to Great Falls, MT! I'm 158 miles away from the Park Cafe right now, and am sitting in a Starbucks, charging my computer and phone, because I ran out of sun yesterday to charge my solar charger. My phone not having a charge was not a huge problem, however, the running out of sun thing meant rain. Lots of rain. I don't know if I have words to describe how much rain there was. Because of all this rain, and because I have been taking my time getting to the Park Cafe, I took I-90 West all the way to Butte, MT, and then hopped on I-15 North, through Helena and then to Great Falls. I-15, I would imagine, is an incredibly beautiful road to drive, if it's sunny and dry outside. It was neither sunny or dry, or warm for that matter yesterday when I drove I-15. The speed limit is 75mph, 65mph for trucks, with a minimum of 40mph. There was so much standing water on the road I was struggling to do 40 at times, as was most everyone else on the road. At the point when my fingers were beginning to get numb from holding the wheel so tight, and I had been telling myself, it doesn't matter when you get to Great Falls, just get there, and I was having some pretty intense conversation with God at the time too, a rest stop pretty much just popped up out of nowhere. I pulled off and a semi pulled in a few minutes behind me. After going inside, the truck driver and I stood outside under the awning for over an hour, just chatting. He had some amazing stories from his 25 years as a police officer in Oliver, BC, and some crazy stories from his years of truck driving. We talked until the rain passed, and the standing water on the highway cleared, and the last 40 miles from that rest stop into Great Falls were relatively easy driving.
Aside from the crazy highway travel stories, I've seen some pretty spectacular places on my journey. On Saturday, I succumbed to the tourist trap that is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It was a welcome break from driving, and I went inside, got a vanilla ice cream cone, and had lunch before I got back on the road. Approaching Rapid City, SD, there were severe thunderstorm warnings for a super cell storm that was producing softball sized hail. Naturally, I hoped to avoid having my windshield demolished, so I managed to find a way around the storm, and then found my way up to Devil's Tower, in Wyoming. It is incredibly odd, but magnificent also. There were vultures flying all around the tower, and seeing them so gracefully rise on the air currents and then dive along the face of the tower was inspiring. It was one of those moments that makes people want to be able to fly. I wonder if those birds know how blessed they are to have such an incredible playground!
On Saturday night, I camped in Sheridan, WY, and on Sunday morning, I made my way to Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is a stretch of Montana wilderness about 6 miles long by 2 miles wide, full of bluffs, steep valleys down to the Little Bighorn River, and it is a place that inspires imagination. The battle was fought on June 25 and 26 of 1876. The end of June in Southeast Montana does not sound like an enjoyable time to be living in the wilderness, much less wearing wool uniforms and fighting for your life. The Native tribes that fought, the Cheyenne, the Arikara, and the Lakota, along with groups from many other tribes, had an encampment established along the banks of the Little Bighorn River, and were in control of the river access, meaning that Custer's troops did not have water. 4 scouts from the Army were awarded the Medal of Honor for running into gunfire from the Indian positions along the river to fetch water for the thirsty troops. The landscape inspires imagination, and the history of the battle and seeing positions of the Indian Warriors versus Custers troops truly makes one realize that Custer never stood a chance.
My next stop was not planned, but I saw a sign for the Headwaters of the Missouri River. It was really just a neat experience to have traveled from the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi to the Headwaters, which is where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri. I met a man and his wife there who were panning for gold along the banks of the Missouri. He found what looked like a couple ounces! There truly is gold all across this land, sometimes it just takes a little digging in unexpected places (yeah that's probably going to be a sermon this summer).
After I left the Headwaters State Park, I texted my mom, "Lewis and Clark took 2+ years to get from St. Louis to the Headwaters of the Missouri...it took me 3 days" She responded, "What do you think they would say? Progress??" I don't know what they would say...any thoughts?
I've got just about 3 hours of driving left till I arrive at the Park Cafe. It's cool and rainy, so it won't be as spectacularly beautiful as it could be...aww shucks right? It is still immensely beautiful here in Northwest Montana. I am looking forward to yet another amazing summer living and working and doing ministry in the National Parks. Pictures are coming from my trip sometime in the next few days!
Aside from the crazy highway travel stories, I've seen some pretty spectacular places on my journey. On Saturday, I succumbed to the tourist trap that is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It was a welcome break from driving, and I went inside, got a vanilla ice cream cone, and had lunch before I got back on the road. Approaching Rapid City, SD, there were severe thunderstorm warnings for a super cell storm that was producing softball sized hail. Naturally, I hoped to avoid having my windshield demolished, so I managed to find a way around the storm, and then found my way up to Devil's Tower, in Wyoming. It is incredibly odd, but magnificent also. There were vultures flying all around the tower, and seeing them so gracefully rise on the air currents and then dive along the face of the tower was inspiring. It was one of those moments that makes people want to be able to fly. I wonder if those birds know how blessed they are to have such an incredible playground!
On Saturday night, I camped in Sheridan, WY, and on Sunday morning, I made my way to Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is a stretch of Montana wilderness about 6 miles long by 2 miles wide, full of bluffs, steep valleys down to the Little Bighorn River, and it is a place that inspires imagination. The battle was fought on June 25 and 26 of 1876. The end of June in Southeast Montana does not sound like an enjoyable time to be living in the wilderness, much less wearing wool uniforms and fighting for your life. The Native tribes that fought, the Cheyenne, the Arikara, and the Lakota, along with groups from many other tribes, had an encampment established along the banks of the Little Bighorn River, and were in control of the river access, meaning that Custer's troops did not have water. 4 scouts from the Army were awarded the Medal of Honor for running into gunfire from the Indian positions along the river to fetch water for the thirsty troops. The landscape inspires imagination, and the history of the battle and seeing positions of the Indian Warriors versus Custers troops truly makes one realize that Custer never stood a chance.
My next stop was not planned, but I saw a sign for the Headwaters of the Missouri River. It was really just a neat experience to have traveled from the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi to the Headwaters, which is where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri. I met a man and his wife there who were panning for gold along the banks of the Missouri. He found what looked like a couple ounces! There truly is gold all across this land, sometimes it just takes a little digging in unexpected places (yeah that's probably going to be a sermon this summer).
After I left the Headwaters State Park, I texted my mom, "Lewis and Clark took 2+ years to get from St. Louis to the Headwaters of the Missouri...it took me 3 days" She responded, "What do you think they would say? Progress??" I don't know what they would say...any thoughts?
I've got just about 3 hours of driving left till I arrive at the Park Cafe. It's cool and rainy, so it won't be as spectacularly beautiful as it could be...aww shucks right? It is still immensely beautiful here in Northwest Montana. I am looking forward to yet another amazing summer living and working and doing ministry in the National Parks. Pictures are coming from my trip sometime in the next few days!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Another summer in Glacier and with ACMNP and Birthday Reflections
Hi Friends! I'm about to begin another summer working in Glacier National Park at the Park Cafe and with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I'm going to attempt (based on internet availability) to blog my summer. From bear interactions and other good hiking anecdotes to where I'll end up after my summer in Glacier, to spiritual devotionals and sermon tidbits, to hopes and dreams and probably frustrations with how poorly the Cubs will be doing come the All-Star break. A few big points that will provide a timeline for my summer:
First ACMNP Worship Service: June 1
Opening of Going To The Sun Road (Anticipated June 15)
Flying back to Ohio to counsel at Sports Camp! (June 22-29)
Mid-Summer rant about the Cubs- Expected anytime really
Figuring out where I will be come September/October (End of July-Beginning-Mid August)
End of Summer at the Park Cafe
Sisters Wedding- September 21
So with that out of the way, here are some reflections on my birthday, and where I've been on my birthday the past few years.
In 2011, 2012, and now here in 2013, I have spent my birthday preparing for, on the way to, or arriving at a National Park to spend the summer in working and volunteering with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. In 2011 I arrived at the Park Cafe on my birthday, into an amazing community that is hard to remember as awkward those first few days, because within a week it felt like an instant family/community to be welcomed home to and be part of throughout the summer. In 2012 I spent my birthday driving from somewhere in Nebraska to Twin Falls, Idaho. I found a campground in Twin Falls and went in search of a steak and a beer and found a really bad steak and a watered down beer at the Applebees in Twin Falls. That day, even though my phone helped me get some birthday messages from Facebook, and a couple of voicemails, and phone calls from family and friends, I felt very alone. Today, I am at home in Troy, OH, and got to spend my birthday with my Mom and Grandma, I got to play golf at the public course here in Troy, that I grew up playing, and haven't played in years (I shot 79...fairly impressed with myself about the score!) My mom baked a lemon cake, and it was a really great day, yet I've got the remnants of the past three years in St. Louis surrounding me in the garage of my parents house, which I'm sorting through and repacking to begin my trek back to Montana for another summer at the Park Cafe with ACMNP. I know where I'm going, physically, for the next few months, yet I have no idea where I will end up after my summer in Glacier. I have just completed course work at Eden Seminary but I have one remaining unit of Contextual Education to finish to earn my M.Div. Along with all these physical realities come the emotions of turning 27 and having no idea where my life is going. That comes into reality really quick when I realize my sister is getting married and buying a house! I couldn't be happier for her, and her fiance is an amazing guy that I'm proud and excited to welcome to the family, yet I still am left wandering. I know my journey is just a little longer and a little less direct than many others my age, and I know I'll find my way, I just have to let myself experience all that happens along the way. That will be a struggle this summer, one that I hope to share and work through by sharing some of my thoughts with anyone who wants to read my ramblings!
I heard a fascinating quote today listening to Garrison Keillor on the Writer's Almanac on NPR this afternoon. I didn't realize I shared a birthday with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's fun to know that. The quote Keillor offered from Sir Arthur was this : "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
First ACMNP Worship Service: June 1
Opening of Going To The Sun Road (Anticipated June 15)
Flying back to Ohio to counsel at Sports Camp! (June 22-29)
Mid-Summer rant about the Cubs- Expected anytime really
Figuring out where I will be come September/October (End of July-Beginning-Mid August)
End of Summer at the Park Cafe
Sisters Wedding- September 21
So with that out of the way, here are some reflections on my birthday, and where I've been on my birthday the past few years.
In 2011, 2012, and now here in 2013, I have spent my birthday preparing for, on the way to, or arriving at a National Park to spend the summer in working and volunteering with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. In 2011 I arrived at the Park Cafe on my birthday, into an amazing community that is hard to remember as awkward those first few days, because within a week it felt like an instant family/community to be welcomed home to and be part of throughout the summer. In 2012 I spent my birthday driving from somewhere in Nebraska to Twin Falls, Idaho. I found a campground in Twin Falls and went in search of a steak and a beer and found a really bad steak and a watered down beer at the Applebees in Twin Falls. That day, even though my phone helped me get some birthday messages from Facebook, and a couple of voicemails, and phone calls from family and friends, I felt very alone. Today, I am at home in Troy, OH, and got to spend my birthday with my Mom and Grandma, I got to play golf at the public course here in Troy, that I grew up playing, and haven't played in years (I shot 79...fairly impressed with myself about the score!) My mom baked a lemon cake, and it was a really great day, yet I've got the remnants of the past three years in St. Louis surrounding me in the garage of my parents house, which I'm sorting through and repacking to begin my trek back to Montana for another summer at the Park Cafe with ACMNP. I know where I'm going, physically, for the next few months, yet I have no idea where I will end up after my summer in Glacier. I have just completed course work at Eden Seminary but I have one remaining unit of Contextual Education to finish to earn my M.Div. Along with all these physical realities come the emotions of turning 27 and having no idea where my life is going. That comes into reality really quick when I realize my sister is getting married and buying a house! I couldn't be happier for her, and her fiance is an amazing guy that I'm proud and excited to welcome to the family, yet I still am left wandering. I know my journey is just a little longer and a little less direct than many others my age, and I know I'll find my way, I just have to let myself experience all that happens along the way. That will be a struggle this summer, one that I hope to share and work through by sharing some of my thoughts with anyone who wants to read my ramblings!
I heard a fascinating quote today listening to Garrison Keillor on the Writer's Almanac on NPR this afternoon. I didn't realize I shared a birthday with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's fun to know that. The quote Keillor offered from Sir Arthur was this : "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
Monday, March 26, 2012
Care for Homeless
Not having shelter isn't the only issue homeless sojourners deal with. Many times the inability to procure health care is also an issue, either because of money, or because of not having a permanent address. We need to care for sojourners in our midst not only through providing shelter, but allowing all people to have access to health care. A persons health largely depends on opportunities available to them, as it has through history. Life expectancies are the highest they have ever been, but for those without access to healthcare, or shelter, or food, or adequate clothing, the life expectancy rate drops significantly. With rising homeless numbers in our midst, these issues become front and center and should be recognized by all people.
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/homeless-count-up-for-st-charles-lincoln-warren-counties/article_a5c4964f-3a21-5e32-b0ac-20ac5c61c26b.html
http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/homeless-count-up-for-st-charles-lincoln-warren-counties/article_a5c4964f-3a21-5e32-b0ac-20ac5c61c26b.html
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Yay for Richmond Heights
Richmond Heights, MO just passed a city ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. This would have been covered in the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, if it had passed, but even so, the state of Missouri ratified it in 1975. This is a symbolically great thing, but should be something that is just natural to humanity (SHOULD BE).
Richmond Heights Bans Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Richmond Heights Bans Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Homeless Camp Bulldozed
This is treating the symptom...not helping the problem. Is bulldozing a homeless camp really how we're going to treat the homeless these days? That doesn't quite seem like how God calls us to give shelter to those without.
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