ePistle October 2010

This is reposted from my last newsletter that was sent out October 25, 2010. Would you like to subscribe to my newsletters?

Bear One Another’s Burdens

It was the first time I was out of breath since we started hiking 6 hours earlier. Josiah* and I were now well ahead of the group when we dropped our packs on the side of the rocky trail and quickly hiked back down to meet the rest of the group. Josiah shouldered Kyle’s* pack as I picked up Ben’s*. “You’re not going to carry my pack,” Kyle, who is Josiah’s youth pastor, protested. “I want to say I made it the whole way.” “It says in Galatians,” I countered, “to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.’” Kyle didn’t argue. He knew he was out of energy and the hill we were climbing was still demanding more.

Kyle brought his Kansas youth group to Redcloud for a 9-day Expedition. Each day they learned hands-on lessons such as faith when they were rock climbing, or unity on the ropes course. Now, their first of three days backpacking, they were learning to bear one another’s burdens.

Hiking without packs, Kyle and Ben reached the top of the hill at a much faster pace. After stopping for a short water break, two other students grabbed their packs. They would carry two. When they got tired, they handed them off to others who carried the packs all the way to the campsite at the 12,400 ft lake.

When first I asked Josiah how he was feeling, he told me he was really tired and didn’t know if he could make it much further. But the moment I asked him to help his eyes lit up and suddenly he had new energy. It demonstrated how when we’re thinking about ourselves it is very easy to grow weary, but when we step out to serve someone else, God gives greater strength. Josiah and several other students experienced this first-hand that afternoon.

And Kyle? He did make it the whole way. He reached the 13,215ft high point the next day and on the third day hiked the rest of the loop. He humbly accepted help when he needed it, and because of this was able to finish strong. By doing this, he gave others an opportunity to serve, giving of themselves and gaining so much more.

My Current Need

As I write this I am in a similar situation and need to ask for your help. Regular monthly supporters currently pay about ½ of my salary each month, the rest comes from year-end or one-time gifts. I received a couple large donations at the start of the year which kept my support account in the positive until the start of this month. If my account stays in the negative I’ll receive a significant pay cut. I need to raise about $3,000 in special gifts to finish out this year in the positive.

Would you please prayerfully consider giving a special gift to help with this?

Thank you so much for all your prayers and financial support and for considering my request. There are more news snippets below, along with an online photo gallery. 2010 was a very difficult, but very good summer. It is truly a blessing knowing that you are standing with me in this ministry. God is good!

News Snippets:

Our Staff – We had an excellent group of 10 guides this summer, along with a couple volunteers. All of them were new to our program, but they served well, loved the kids, and bonded together very well. While I got to know and ministered to all of them, I had the priveledge to mentor and disciple two of our guys Fritz and Ryan.

Rock Camp – Nine kids came out for our ten-day rock-climbing camp this summer. Several of them have already told me they plan to come back next summer. Rock Camp this year was really enjoyable for me and I loved being able to share with the campers. There are several more photos in the online photo gallery!

Personal Trips – I got out for a few short personal trips this fall, including one with my parents in the Snare Lakes area, one with a friend in the Weminuche Wilderness, and one to climb Capitol peak in the Elk Range. I find these trips refresh me and help me stay excited for the ministry here at Redcloud.