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Participants in the canoe trip were: (Standing) Kory Sonners, AJ Ackerman, Ty Breitbach, Drew and Stephanie Emery. (Kneeling) Gabe Larson, Pastor Olson, Tyler Heflin, Blake Lundberg, and Hannah Strike.
The youth group raised funds to enter into God's Country," where they enjoyed the beauty of the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. They ventured 600 miles from Prophetstown to canoe the 50 mile route, complete with lakes and portages.
The first night was spent in the bunkhouse of the Cliff Wold Outfitters.
Monday morning we gathered for breakfast before leaving.
Monday Night we stayed on Hudson Lake. Chef Tyler impressed us with his ability to cook steaks!
Each day brought the necessayr "water purifying ritual."
Tusday we camped on Ensign Lake.
We gathered around the campfire for dinner and conversation.
Moms, please note that our boys really do know how to do dishes!
Here is our Wednesday camp site. Each night we had to hang the food in trees -- just in case a bear wandered by.
Of course, we were protected by the "Order of the Spearmakers"!
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Gabe kept the fires going for us.
Into every life a little rain must fall...and ours came on Thursday morning. We hung everything out to dry and prepared breakfast in the rain.
Drew, Stephannie, and Hanna worked well together.
Each day presented the obstacle of portaging from one lake to another.
That meant carrying canoes, packs, and everything else overground to the next lake. Our longest portage was a half mile (180 rods).
Our last day was a short one, and we ended up on a lake that was warm enough for swimming.
Even Pastor Greg can float!
Our last meal together was fixed by Ty and friends.
A community that washes dishes together, stays together!
Each day we prayed together, read scripture, and on the last night we gathered in Holy Communion. We thank God for the simplicity of this beautiful place that both taxed our bodies and pulled us together to make the experience work. Although we shared the flu bug, we also shared the awsome beauth of the water, rocks, and trees that God has given us to enjoy and care for.
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