Time for another one of those blog things. So this past weekend was our self titled "Missionary Boot Camp." It's kind of hard to describe in the sense that I really don't know how to describe it. So I think I'm just going to tell you about different elements.

            The first element is Sir Colin, Ma'am Elsabe, Sir Flaps, and Sir John. The fact that I just called them Sir and Ma'am should tell you something. (Note: They all had Afrikaans accents which slightly resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger and really resemble him when they were yelling "Geev mee pooshups" or "Yoou doont vant to see my bead side." Mainly that was Sir Colin).

            The names of the second element are Fried and Battered. Two chickens, no, two teammates that were handed to us at 4:45am (right after we were woken up) and we were told that they went everywhere with us and did everything with us (yes they slept in our shelter).

            The third element was our "shelter." We were handed tarps and rope and told to make a shelter. I say "shelter" because ours definitely was pushing it. It was supposed to fit fifteen people and two chickens, in reality it barely fit twelve girls laying on their side not moving, three guys piled at the end and then two "furry teammates." We know the chickens aren't furry but that's what we called them ok, we got in trouble if we called them chickens.

            I would say that the fourth element was the bathroom but because that was bush with a purple flag and the simple instructions of "dig a hole" I won't give it the title of an "element."

            The fourth element was the team builders. The first one required getting all of us (including the furry friends) through an intricate web with obstacles and swings and army crawls on your back and rolling in dirt. The problem was the time and touching the web. To get time or touches (because you run out easily) we had to do over a hundred push ups (each) and the leaders (Michael and I) split the push ups others couldn't finish. We had to run, a lot, give up lunch and showers and well you get the picture- we worked for it. That team builder alone taught me that in Christ I can do a heck of a lot more than I ever thought I could.

            Fourth element continued: We did all the usual trust fall things. I whacked Luke in the mouth and made him bleed on one of the falls. Then we did some rope climbs and funny enough climbing the rope was our break. After that we made a fire and cooked our dinner in a very large black cauldron and soaked up all the Little House on the Prairie ma and pa jokes.

            We thought the night was over after we as team diffused a bomb and saved the human race from toxic waste- but oh no, we were wrong. Imagine following a skinnier Arnold Schwarzenegger named Sir Colin up a mountain at one o'clock in the morning. Then he points to a bush tells you to hand over your watch and flashlight and you're told to sit, don't move and pray. So it's one o'clock in the morning and I'm sitting alone in the African bush trying my hardest not to fall asleep. Of course I do and I would wake up and hallucinate. According to my brain the rock behind me was not a rock but a crouching animal that was waiting to pounce. I was seriously saying to myself that if it was going to eat me it would have already attacked. Then I swear I saw like three zebras and some tribal people up the hill, which were all strategically placed trees and shadows. I did pray, don't get me wrong, the prayer included- Lord, please send Sir Colin to come and get me. Finally he did come, three hours later.

            So the fifth element: The most incredibly beautifully scary thunder and lightening storm I have ever experienced. Thirteen people and two furry friends standing under that dinky tent trying to duct tape up all the holes while it's pouring rain and the lightening is fairly close. For a while we thought that they would have us sleep out there, but by the grace of God they allowed us to walk back to Alabanza and sleep in the barn. Then the next morning we woke up at 5 to walk back to the camp site and clean it up.

            That's the weekend in a nutshell. It really wasn't horrible and looking back it was good and I feel like our team grew a lot and personally I learned a lot. I think I included everything that needs to be included. I hope everything is well wherever you are and that God challenges you in new ways everyday!  

Funny story: The septic tank people came today to take care of all that pretty stuff. Their slogan was "Yesterdays meals on wheels." Think about it.