Weekly Update Nov. 5-12

I have been here a little over a week now and alot has happened. Last Friday we went to an Etna High School football game. It was so cold. The Etna Lions lost to the Mt. Shasta bears 47-20 to complete their winless season. The game was also homecoming. One of the girls rode in at halftime on the hood of an 18 wheeler tractor (I know you wish you could have done that, right Kathryn?). The game was fun. I think the crowd thought we were a little crazy. Jonathan Jensen and a friend of his came to visit us for the weekend. We went to Castle Crags state park. I have always wanted to go there. It was even better than I expected. The rocks are so big. We hiked for about 2 hours to get to Castle Dome (see pictures)and then we climbed it without ropes. It is like a miniature half dome (yosemite) without the crowds. The view was incredible. It was the highest point for hundreds of miles. Definitely one of the coolest things I have climbed so far. Jim (my brother) and I hope to return to it this summer and climb one of the more difficult routes to the top with climbing gear. Sunday, we went to Bethel Church in Redding, CA. We stayed Saturday night with some guys who are in the school of ministry at Bethel. The best way to describe Bethel is the California version of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, if that makes any sense. Sunday night was the JH Ranch potluck dinner. The winter staff has a potluck dinner at least once a month during the winter months to fellowship and share what God is doing in there lives.I met several people for the first time at this dinner.

Monday Night Matt suggested we spend and hour reading the Bible or another book and share what we learned from it. 3 hours later we finished sharing what each of us had learned. It was an amazing time of fellowship that definitely brought us much closer together and helped us to know where each person is at and what they are struggling with. I think we are going to try to do this at least 2x per week. Matt also suggested we come up with a basic structure for our off time during the week. So that is something we are thinking and praying through as a group.

Tuesday through Friday were pretty much the same. There is a group here until Friday so we have worked in the kitchen for 1/2 of each day (washing dishes, cooking, cleaning). I have been working to get flight info together each of us (5)for the holidays and the Christian Camping International Conference in Savannah,GA we will attend in December. Matt and Chris Installed the Wood burning Stove in our house (The Greanbean is actually a double wide trailor). Also, the heat quit working yesterday so it is cold in the mornings in the house.

That is about all that happened this week. We have big plans for the weekend though. Tomorrow it is Mtn biking in the morning, and then we plan to take a break to watch Auburn Destroy Georgia on their way to winning the National Championship. I wish I could be there. It will be so much fun. War Eagle! Sunday we plan to go fishing for trout in the morning and then to church at Bethel in Redding that night. Don't forget to check out my new picures at the link listed below...

Great Verse:
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Goto this website to see all of my pictures:
http://saundha.dotphoto.com/CPListAlbums.asp