5-17-07

So we woke up again at the break of dawn. Not to a crow again though(major foreshadowing here!)! We quickly got our stuff together and ran down to breakfast. After that we went up to Suzanne's cabin and had a time of prayer and worship. We then followed with quiet time. That was when it started to rain and we had to rush to the vehicles where our luggage had been dropped off. We got all the stuff packed and we were ready to go in no time.
So it took us nearly an hour and a half to get from Elijay to NorthPoint where we were meeting up with the BigStuf interns to have a cookout with Lanny and gang. Backyard Burger was catering (which was awesome!). Just as we were beginning to play Ninja, Lanny got us together and we ate. After a great meal, Lanny got us together and explained all about BigStuf, Journey, and the 410 Bridge. After getting about a forty minute lecture, the BigStuf gang headed to the airport and we went to StayBridge Suites, our hotel off NorthPoint parkway. Travis, Joey, and I got our own room, and the other guys got another. So began our task of downsizing our stuff to one personal bag and one carry-on. Our other checked-in bag would be a team bag. After downsizing to an awesome 32 lbs. I helped Joey along with Travis to pack all the team equipment. It was neat to be able to take Travis twice around NorthPoint. Pizza was our dinner and we began to finish packing and going over tomorrow's plans. I was able to catch a little bit of LOST. :)
Sleep was better that night, but not the best. The next day would be crazy as we began our trek to Amsterdam.

End Day Three

5/16/07

Training yesterday was long, but good. Joey and Suzanne (our leaders) did the best job I have ever seen fully explaining the culture of Kenya and what all we will and could experience. I am so excited about all the possibilities. After three hours of training it was lunch time. The food at Camp Highland is surprisingly better than the food at BigStuf's summer camp in Panama City. After lunch we played a little frisbee and football before it was time to do more training. We did a team building exercise where we got in a circle and tossed a ball, a thing of glue, and a frisbee around to three different people. Each element made it more difficult and challenging.
After that it was off to the low ropes course. It was definatly a blast riding the hummer-like military vehicle all through the mountainside. Our first initiative was my least favorite. Steel ropes connected to trees making us all go by line from one tree to another without falling. It took us forty minutes to really get the hang of it, but we did it. The next initiative was to put half of one team on one block/square of wood and then half on another. Then with a rope swing across until everyone had flipped sides. That took us a good thirty minutes. It was fun. :) Our last initiative was the Wall of Doom. That took fifteen (minutes) with great ease. After that we were worn out and ready to relax. So we went up to the high ropes course and watched the BigStuf camp interns go while we drank some h20. Soon we were on our way back to the cabins when most of the guys and Tana were dropped off to play Ultimate Frisbee with all the BigStuf guys. Fun! Then it was time for dinner. After dinner we did a time of training and then Suzanne and I gave our testimonies. I wanted to be open and uncomfortable, so I instantly raised my hand to go first out of all the campers. I wasn't detailed because I have a month to get to know all of these guys!! It felt good.
End Day Two

T.I.A. (This is Africa) Video

Here is a video that one of my pals Travis Bartlett created after coming back from the July trip. Alot of the people in the video and alot of the places you see I was at. Enjoy!
-Trent

Click to watch T.I.A. Video

5/15/07

WOW. So we already feel like a family here! We all met at North Point and then drove up to Elijay where we ate and then continued in a ton of cars to Camp Highland. We got there and I noticed all the BigStuf interns were here as well. At times we mix with them, but we mostly stick to our groups. Last night we did a few high-ropes stations...really just one because it was close to midnight. It was a freefall thing where they pull you up and you let go, drop, and then swing. It was fun. I was one of the first to go, so after I got done I sat and yakked for awhile. We then got around a bonfire, roasted marshmallows and told stories about raising money and our expectations. It was amazing to hear of all the ways God handled raising the money. After the bonfire we came back to our cabins. They are really just platforms with walls on both sides, a roof, and two open ends. I slept okay.
So now we've just got done with breakfast and about to go to training.

5/14/07

Here begins my journey to Africa
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It has been a year since my last entry in here. Thanks to cyberspace I am able to keep online journals called blogs. Though I am not as open as I am in here. I've missed you! Alot has happened in a year. I am no longer at Lee University. I took the spring semester off and transferred to North Georgia College. I am happy. Since I left Lee God has shown me many open doors and I have been able to walk through them. Today begins my journey to Africa. WOW. After more than seven years my wildest dreams are coming true. I am going to Africa! Today I go and meet up with my team at North Point Community Church. I am going with the 410 Bridge through BigStuf Camps. So my journey will be logged in here like the good 'ole times!

Here we go!

LOST Journal

Hey guys. I can't seem to find my journal anywhere. The last time I saw it was on July 4th. I'll keep looking!

Since I've Been Gone.

Hey everyone!
I've had about 2 weeks to adjust back to life here. It's not that easy, and jet lag is a killer. Starting this week I will begin to post journal entries and pictures on my blog. I'm in the process of creating a book and getting it published about my journey to Africa. In it will be more pictures and more detail of the trip. The book will be available in either hardback ($30) or softback ($20)and should be ready by this holiday season. It is sort of a fundraiser to help me go back to Africa as well as some other mission trips I want to go on. If you are interested in purchasing a book from me, please contact me at castingmycrown@hotmail.com.