7/11/17

We woke up freezing! Jessica didn’t skip me today. Instead she stomped up to my tent quickly and scared the heck out me. She knew I was awake by my scream. She giggled mercilessly as she walked away. I shouted after her, “You suck Jessica.” It was too early to filter. But it was a good demonstration of our relationship. I really like her and I feel comfortable with her. I almost thought about hugging her today. I’ll get to that later though. I asked them to burn my hand with water and they did. I just needed to get warm.

We were ready to leave by 8 but didn’t need to leave until 9 so Christy started a game. “I’m going to Outer Space and I’m bringing… Cookies.” I thought it was a different game … the alphabet road trip game. But I was wrong. I joined in because practically everyone was playing. We had an hour to kill. I think myself, Joel, and Christy as well as one other person had the game figured out when we started. Then they arrived.

We went to Sparks Lake (Soda Creek) and Tom Walker, a fish biologist got us to work right away. Jose, Joel and I seem to gravitate to each other. So we started pulling out fence posts and fencing out of the  creek side. Joel is super strong. So is Jose. That is one thing that always conflicts me. Doing manual labor with guys. They can do things that women can’t. I really love to work and work hard and work with my hands. I wonder if I should work harder instead of asking for help.

Next we drove to North Twin Lake to cut up the vegetation on the side of the trail. Again, Jose and Joel and I gravitated. And after that, I ran to the water. Jose can’t swim so myself and Joel tried to help him. No one else got in the water with us. We wondered how deep it was. I said I’d swim out a ways and then Joel said, “Let’s go.” Man, I hadn’t completely expected that. So then we were swimming really coordinately. I don’t think he was trying very hard, but I struggled to keep the even pace. I could’ve swam faster but it wouldn’t have been pretty.

We showered after that and Jessica left us to the other van. It was great! They ride with the windows down which is super legit and I was so happy. I hate air conditioning which is something that almost no one understands.

I want to write about Christina. I want to write about the cards that we played and ninja. Christina is really good at ninja! And maybe not so good at cards? She kept switching the sixes and nines. And putting down a king when she meant to put down a queen or something. It was really entertaining. That was her shout-out.  But back to the card game specifically. It started after I spent some time praying by the river and talking with Grandma about the reading. Leviticus 14-16 (Christina is pleased <3 )

I came and talked with Taylor who was sitting … it’s 10:44 PM. They’re saying we have to go to sleep by 11 PM. He was sitting alone. We talked a little last night. He began to tell me some really personal things and they told us lights out. Bummed me out. I was glad I got to sit and talk with him a little. We didn’t talk too much but I just sat in his presence. I think he needed it.

I came back and sat with the high schoolers who were playing cards. I feel super attached to them as a group. Because I know they have stories that they want to share. And I want to listen so desperately. I want to be their friends and I think the desire is mutual. It’s pretty special, what’s happening. I want to go into crazy detail. I could just talk and talk about them.   Like Jay is the very first one that I met on Sunday when we got to school. She has since gotten quieter. But … I don’t know. At the same time she’s more talkative. Like playing BS with her, it was unbelievably hard to read her! She started letting us in with little tell-tale signs like I saw a single smile when she lied once. I think I lost that game. And I lost OG too. Then we played Ninja and I won my first game ever! Okay, most of the high schoolers are gone. I’m going to call it a night too! Peace (10:52 PM)

We are going to be up at 6 AM again and we’re going to be out of here by 8:30. We must pack up fast. Haven’t given myself much time… Good night. I’m loving all these guys.

They played a really good song called “How to be loved” by Mark Wagner… not Mark Twain.

Dinner was awesome. We stood and talked again and everyone was more willing to share. It was really nice because Sadonia pointed out that she got to spend more time with me today. I really appreciated that she appreciated that time like I did. And the time with Christina was nice too. And Jay said “good morning” today so she’s really starting to open up. It’s awesome. They’re all so awesome.

My peeps from Heritage are cool too I’ve been spending tons of time with Jose.

This morning we’ve basically just run around a ton. We stopped at the museum and that was legit. I saw a bald eagle like twenty feet from me in a display (alive!) a golden eagle and porcupine as well as a bobcat! I’m trying to write fast because I’m being rushed. My pastor sent me a sermon on living uniquely as Christ has called us each to be our own part of the body. Some are called to be the hands, others the feet, and on and on. More to come. Hopefully this is kinda pretty and fun to read. I’m going to upload pictures.