Exploring the tunnels!

On our of our free days we went to old railway tunnels near Hope B.C. We were blessed by the beauty of the nature and the man made tunnels.

 

 

They were scary tunnels!

 

 

And beautiful ones!

 

 

 

 

Service Day at the Chehalis Community Retreat Center

We spent a morning serving the native community center that we stayed at by raking leaves. It was really fun and felt good to be able to respond to the hospitality we recieved.

 

 

 

 

An amazing boat tour

As part of our native cultural week we had the opportunity to take a boat tour of traditional native lands. It was exciting time of watching salmon return to their birth place to die and seeing the hundreds of bald eagles who came to feast on them.

 

 

 

 

Visiting a longhouse

ABORIGINAL WEEK REFLECTION

Scott McIntosh

“My way or the highway”, a quote we’ve often heard in our lives, a quote I’ve never much thought about, until I found myself thinking it when my site was dunked headfirst into a portion of semester one, known simply as aboriginal week.
It’s an odd sensation to be thrown into a culture so different from our own but at the same time a culture so interwoven into our Canadian history, and yet we don’t know near enough about it.
We spent the day hearing a lot about the culture from Brander McDonald, and at first I disagreed with a lot of what he was saying. This way of life he was explaining couldn’t be right, could it? I mean, the way I grew up has worked fine, so why isn’t he doing it my way? I was at first listening with a worldly perspective and a “my way or the highway” attitude.
This wasn’t right. I spoke to some of my fellow Outtatown community members and quickly saw the problem, God says to love and accept all. Just because this culture is not what I’m used to, doesn’t make it wrong. The next day at the healing circle we attended I was able to see through a whole new light just what the native community was all about. They made things work their way. I learned to respect a culture that had been around far, far longer then that of my own.
It was so interesting to see to see this way of life and it really prepared me for the new cultures we’ll experience in South Africa.
With Gods help I was able to see cultures unlike our own are not necessarily better or worse, they’re just different. And through God’s love we can all learn to accept and cooperate everyone God put on this earth.





Another part of our week included visiting a longhouse where we learned traditional about native practices including how to make cedar bracelets.

 

 

 

 

Halloween Party!

 

 

 

 

The Great Small Group Food Challenge

As part of the Halloween party, small groups faced off against each other in a race to be the first group finished eating a random assortment of appealing and not-so-appealing food.

 

 

 

Rock Climbing

Pioneer ranch camp is an incredibly beautiful place. We had the awesome opportunity to go rock climbing, hiking and horseback riding.

 

 

 

 

Enjoying Pioneer Ranch Camp

 

 

 

 

Horseback Riding

 

 

 

 

Guys' Week

 

 

 

Reflections on Guys Week
By John Dodman
Coming out of Thanksgiving weekend having stayed with an awesome family I felt really excited about how I felt like I was at home even though I wasn't - our community is awesome for that. The drive to Alberta didn't feel like a 16 or so hour car ride, partly because everyone was so excited to be back together again. And then we hit Calgary. We unloaded the vans of all of our stuff at the girls' hotel and repacked all the guys' stuff back into the trailer so that the guys could head to Canmore.

As we continued on our ride to Canmore (where the guys were staying) I was half asleep when Aaron (one of my site leaders) stirred me saying, "Hey John, have you ever seen the mountains before?" I looked up to see the most beautiful set of mountains I had ever seen in my life. The moon was full on the cloudless night which seemed outline by the black mountains against the night sky. Thus began the tale of Guys Week '08.

Our speakers, Blaine and Gary, were awesome. Their passion for watching young people grow closer to God was so evident throughout the whole week. Their willingness to talk openly about sensitive issues that normally aren't talked about was so helpful. It wasn't just while we were in session, they were with us all the time, just being role models to us, showing us and teaching us what it means to be a man of God in this world.

One thing that sticks out in my memory was is the Calgary Hitmen's Hockey Game. We were all dancing for the McDonald's danceathon where you dance to win some food. While he was away from our group Gary mentioned us to the hostess and sort of arranged for a couple us to be involved in the next activity - a trike race! So, myself and Jason - from site 1 - raced off against each other!

Guys was lots of fun! However, I don't want to go into too many details because - What happens at Guys week stays at Guys week!