Hey all you parents, friends, and family of our STEM team.
Thanks so much for checking out our site.
A few things for you to know!
We only get web access every couple of days, so approving comments and updating the site takes a bit of time.
Also, these are the tip of the photographic iceberg. There will be WAY too many photos to get onto my Picasa web albums, so please be patient, as not everybody gets onto every photo.
We are looking forward to coming home in 4 days!!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
STEM Trip '07 - Mountains and Fun
STEM ’07
Tuesday, July 10th
Peters Creek Baptist Church
Mountains and Fun
The last two nights we have made treks up into the mountains.
Monday night from 8pm-midnight (still light) we went up to see some falls and then up to the Eklunta Lake, which involved for some, a back of the pickup truck ride to the top. The scenery was well worth the trip up. We got some group pictures and enjoyed the 360 degree view of the mountains.
The boys went home first, while the girls got to wave around an unloaded Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum and an unloaded 12 guage shot gun. It was a good night of fellowship and fun. But, there are still no bear or moose to be seen. Apparently we make too much noise.
It is a good thing everybody took a two hour nap today, or this would have been a late grumpy night.
Tuesday was a hard, fun day. After VBS we got revved up for a trip up to Hatcher’s Pass. Jen Burman was actually here with her FBBC ministry team 10 years ago. She is pretty happy to be with the teens in this place of fond memories.
Once we took the 45 minute drive up to the pass, we all jumped out to hike up a 1000+ foot mountain. Pastor Blood offered the guys a steak dinner if they could get to the top in 15 minutes. They think they did it, but it actually took them about 20 minutes. (Pastor Blood was impressed!) Some of the older and slightly heavier team members (which will remain unnamed) eventually got to the top a few minutes later (well, 20 minutes later). The view at the top was breathtaking. Some of the younger guys pushed off to some higher ground for an even better view. The pictures, as usual, will not do this mountain justice. It was STEEP! But everybody handled it well. Only a few scrapes!
On the way down the side of the mountain, almost everybody got to slide down a long patch of snow! This resulted in some cold, wet pants, but many laughs.
And finally, on the way back to the church, we saw MOOSE!! A baby and a momma moose came alongside of the road. We only had to tell two young people to get back in the vehicles, lest they get stomped.
We got back to the church and spent 2 hours with the Peter’s Creek youth group. I gave a challenge to their teens while our team ate supper. Then we spent an hour and a half snacking and playing with them. We played some high intensity games with a lot of running, pushing, and pain. By doing that on top of all the climbing, we were all pretty worn out, so almost everybody showered that night. (it only took from 9:30-12:30)
It was a great day, and we are looking forward to more good times in the afternoons!
Tuesday, July 10th
Peters Creek Baptist Church
Mountains and Fun
The last two nights we have made treks up into the mountains.
Monday night from 8pm-midnight (still light) we went up to see some falls and then up to the Eklunta Lake, which involved for some, a back of the pickup truck ride to the top. The scenery was well worth the trip up. We got some group pictures and enjoyed the 360 degree view of the mountains.
The boys went home first, while the girls got to wave around an unloaded Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum and an unloaded 12 guage shot gun. It was a good night of fellowship and fun. But, there are still no bear or moose to be seen. Apparently we make too much noise.
It is a good thing everybody took a two hour nap today, or this would have been a late grumpy night.
Tuesday was a hard, fun day. After VBS we got revved up for a trip up to Hatcher’s Pass. Jen Burman was actually here with her FBBC ministry team 10 years ago. She is pretty happy to be with the teens in this place of fond memories.
Once we took the 45 minute drive up to the pass, we all jumped out to hike up a 1000+ foot mountain. Pastor Blood offered the guys a steak dinner if they could get to the top in 15 minutes. They think they did it, but it actually took them about 20 minutes. (Pastor Blood was impressed!) Some of the older and slightly heavier team members (which will remain unnamed) eventually got to the top a few minutes later (well, 20 minutes later). The view at the top was breathtaking. Some of the younger guys pushed off to some higher ground for an even better view. The pictures, as usual, will not do this mountain justice. It was STEEP! But everybody handled it well. Only a few scrapes!
On the way down the side of the mountain, almost everybody got to slide down a long patch of snow! This resulted in some cold, wet pants, but many laughs.
And finally, on the way back to the church, we saw MOOSE!! A baby and a momma moose came alongside of the road. We only had to tell two young people to get back in the vehicles, lest they get stomped.
We got back to the church and spent 2 hours with the Peter’s Creek youth group. I gave a challenge to their teens while our team ate supper. Then we spent an hour and a half snacking and playing with them. We played some high intensity games with a lot of running, pushing, and pain. By doing that on top of all the climbing, we were all pretty worn out, so almost everybody showered that night. (it only took from 9:30-12:30)
It was a great day, and we are looking forward to more good times in the afternoons!
STEM Trip '07 - VBS and church life
Monday - Wednesday, July 11th
Peters Creek Baptist Church
VBS and life in the church
Vacation Bible School has gone very well. Our kids spent late Sunday night transfprming the church into a tropical paradise. I, as the leader only have responsibilities during the opening and the closing. All the other aspects of the VBS are being run by the teens. Each has a day and an area of assignments. And things area going about as well as any STEM VBS we have had.
We have averaged about 20. Which is good in this fishing time of year for Alaskans.
We have had three decisions in three days. Layla, Will, and his brother (his name is escaping me)
We have song time, Bible time, craft time, game time, and some crazy songs that the kids really get into. The local church has been pretty wowed by our kids and all they are doing.
Life in the church is probably one of the most challenging aspects of this trip. We have three rooms for the teens, and all use ONE SHOWER. This means 1 ½ hours in the evenings for the guys and 2+ hours in the morning for the girls. Which equals diminished sleep time.
The team has handles it very well, mainly because of some great volunteer leaders helping in SO many ways, especially in the meals. We have been well fed and well cared for.
Well, more to come in a few days!!
STEM team 2007!
VBS + pictures
Sunday and Canvassing pictures
Peters Creek Baptist Church
VBS and life in the church
Vacation Bible School has gone very well. Our kids spent late Sunday night transfprming the church into a tropical paradise. I, as the leader only have responsibilities during the opening and the closing. All the other aspects of the VBS are being run by the teens. Each has a day and an area of assignments. And things area going about as well as any STEM VBS we have had.
We have averaged about 20. Which is good in this fishing time of year for Alaskans.
We have had three decisions in three days. Layla, Will, and his brother (his name is escaping me)
We have song time, Bible time, craft time, game time, and some crazy songs that the kids really get into. The local church has been pretty wowed by our kids and all they are doing.
Life in the church is probably one of the most challenging aspects of this trip. We have three rooms for the teens, and all use ONE SHOWER. This means 1 ½ hours in the evenings for the guys and 2+ hours in the morning for the girls. Which equals diminished sleep time.
The team has handles it very well, mainly because of some great volunteer leaders helping in SO many ways, especially in the meals. We have been well fed and well cared for.
Well, more to come in a few days!!
STEM team 2007!
VBS + pictures
Sunday and Canvassing pictures
Saturday, July 07, 2007
STEM Trip '07 - Float Trip - Tuesday-Friday
STEM ’07
Friday, July 6th
Peters Creek Baptist Church
Well, the float trip is over. While there are way too many stories to tell, and we are sure you will hear all about them, we have accomplished many things.
We have learned to row canoes, or at least who can and who can’t, we have slept in the rain, swam in 40 degree water, shot rifles and 44’s, spotted bald eagles, spotted no big game, fished, sang Shark songs, laughed, whined, relaxed, tensed up, dealt with minor injuries (thanks to those pesky knives), gone to the bathroom in new and exciting places, been up til 11:30 with plenty of daylight, played, prayed, done our devos, switched rowing partners, crammed into vehicles, taken 20+ showers in one shower in a matter of 2 hours, and had a GREAT time.
It rained almost every day, but always seemed to rain while we were on the water, or safe inside our tents. We did not have rain during any set up, dinner, or tear down time.
God provided some great men and women to serve as our guides, so we had quite an adventure, with 20 canoes and 3 rafts running down the Little Susitna River (you can look it up on google earth) from about 60 mile inland all the way to the last landing before Cook Inlet.
We are happy to be bathed! Many have commented how good it feels to be clean. And we are ready for a busy weekend of canvassing and recovery.
We have fed and bed all the teens for the night. Their tents are airing out outside the camp site. Jen, Terrie, Reilly, and Melissa did ALL the laundery and got it back to us folded and ready to go. They did an awesome job.
The teens are a little edgy, mainly due to a lack of sleep and close living quarters, but they are doing well. Tomorrow, the canvassing will wake them up and bind them together.
I found out I get to preach on Sunday, so I will be working on that tomorrow while the leaders help with the canvassing. I also get to teach the youth group on Tuesday during the churches weekly 6-9 pm youth time.
Thank you for your prayers. We miss you all!
STEM Team 07.
Friday, July 6th
Peters Creek Baptist Church
Well, the float trip is over. While there are way too many stories to tell, and we are sure you will hear all about them, we have accomplished many things.
We have learned to row canoes, or at least who can and who can’t, we have slept in the rain, swam in 40 degree water, shot rifles and 44’s, spotted bald eagles, spotted no big game, fished, sang Shark songs, laughed, whined, relaxed, tensed up, dealt with minor injuries (thanks to those pesky knives), gone to the bathroom in new and exciting places, been up til 11:30 with plenty of daylight, played, prayed, done our devos, switched rowing partners, crammed into vehicles, taken 20+ showers in one shower in a matter of 2 hours, and had a GREAT time.
It rained almost every day, but always seemed to rain while we were on the water, or safe inside our tents. We did not have rain during any set up, dinner, or tear down time.
God provided some great men and women to serve as our guides, so we had quite an adventure, with 20 canoes and 3 rafts running down the Little Susitna River (you can look it up on google earth) from about 60 mile inland all the way to the last landing before Cook Inlet.
We are happy to be bathed! Many have commented how good it feels to be clean. And we are ready for a busy weekend of canvassing and recovery.
We have fed and bed all the teens for the night. Their tents are airing out outside the camp site. Jen, Terrie, Reilly, and Melissa did ALL the laundery and got it back to us folded and ready to go. They did an awesome job.
The teens are a little edgy, mainly due to a lack of sleep and close living quarters, but they are doing well. Tomorrow, the canvassing will wake them up and bind them together.
I found out I get to preach on Sunday, so I will be working on that tomorrow while the leaders help with the canvassing. I also get to teach the youth group on Tuesday during the churches weekly 6-9 pm youth time.
Thank you for your prayers. We miss you all!
STEM Team 07.
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