Travel Days

Hey y'all,
We made it out to Luray, Virginia, today around noon without anything eventful happening!  From Illinois to Maryland, we didn't go more than ten miles without some sort of road construction which was annoying, but we made it!  We at at this AMAZING restaurant that served home cooked food and great southern hospitality.  They also had AMAZING sweet potato fries.  After that, we went to the Luray Caverns for a tour before heading into the park.  Luray is the closest town to where I am working, but is still about an hour drive.  It weaves up and down and in and out of the mountains.  Skyline drive is not the fastest road between two points.  The lodge is huge with lots of different cabins.  It has a small gift shop, a tap room, a dining room, and some other small rooms.  We left and checked out Skyland and then headed back to town.  We grabbed some dinner at this AMAZING Italian restaurant, found the Wal-Mart so I could get some books, and then headed back to the hotel.  We are exhausted, but having a pretty low key night.

Dad leaves about 9 am tomorrow so I will probably leave around then to make the drive back in.  I will check in and then I'm not quite sure what the day holds.  I have some reception in and around the lodge, but not sure on the dorms or internet situation.  Anyway, thats about all.  I have pictures up from Wartburg Graduation on Photobucket and will probably set up a link for pictures from this summer as well seeing how I don't have facebook currently. (EDIT! LINK FOR SUMMER PICTURES CAN BE FOUND HERE.  IF LINKS DO NOT WORK PLEASE HOLLER!)

Here's a preview of the park though:

Opening Day

I would just like to go on record and say that it is opening day at Big Meadows Lodge today.  Well, okay, officially, they opened yesterday, but today is the day the restaurant opens!  How exciting!  Two weeks from today, I will be starting work there.  And oh my, is there so much to do!  First on the list?  Finish my presentation for class tomorrow.  A 15-20 minute presentation on youth ministry at my home congregation.  I could probably do it in my sleep, but I'm preparing any way.  Its also a pass fail class, so it shouldn't be too bad!  Second?  Move home.  Third?  pack. Fourth? attend graduation.  Fifth.  Drive. Five things.  Not that bad!  Just thought I'd share my excitement on this big day!!!

Less Than a Month

I am less than one month away from embarking on an amazing adventure that God is sending me on.  On April 29 and 30th, I traveled to Plymouth, Minnesota, for training for A Christian Ministry in the National Park which is the volunteer organization that I am working with this summer.  It got me even more excited than I already was and also helped to remind me why I am doing this.  I love doing service work, love traveling, and love God.  Working in a national park for the summer combines all three of those things. 

After the training conference, I headed to Holmen, Wisconsin, for a night to spend the night with a friend before starting my May Term adventure at Sugar Creek Bible Camp.  I spent a week with 8 of my colleagues, one campus pastor, and two retreat hosts, doing challenge course activities, hiking, canoeing, and spending time with God learning about camping ministry and youth/family ministry.  We learned about D.R.A.G Bi.G. which is now a group joke, and had fun making up stories about bears, wombats and doors (deer).  The week was quite exhausting in every sense, but also was a way to connect with God and remind myself why I am going to the park this summer.  Upon arriving back at school, I was thrown back into work and realized that I am pretty much alone at school for May Term.  One of my friends is traveling around Europe, two are in England, two are in New York City, and a couple are doing various internships.  The couple people who are here though have decided we are going to have a kick butt may term filled with laughter, good weather, and good times.

I think that is all for now.  I am at work and should probably get back to actually working..

Look back soon for pictures from Sugar Creek Bible Camp.