Our Last Day....

Our journey is coming to an end. Today is our last full day here at Timberline. We head out tomorrow morning for a long bus ride home! 

Instead of me reporting our day and the ways God has been working during our time here!

It’s our last day here, and it’s been amazing! We’ve all had the time of our lives here in Colorado, and I know we’ll all miss it. We’ve all connected so much as a class through hearing each other’s testimonies, work trips, and adventures. Today, we all went and spent a few hours at a park playing tons of games like soccer, frisbee, cards, spike ball, and so much more. After our busy week, we made our way to Georgetown for a train ride called the “Georgetown Loop.” The views were amazing, and we got to enjoy everyone’s company! Once we were done there we headed to Beau Jo’s Pizza for dinner (which was amazing) and I swear we each ate more than a horse could. 

It’s bittersweet to leave, but I know the memories I made here will last a lifetime. To my family: I miss you guys so so much, and I’ll see you soon! I can’t wait to tell you all about the trip.

-Georgia Hughes

Last day at Colorado which is very bittersweet. We are having a last hurrah with a bonfire and s’mores. Then in the morning we will say our goodbyes to the staff and Timberline Lodge, and to Minnesota we go!

-Emily Mortenson

I can’t believe it’s almost over! I’ve had a great time these past weeks and really feel closer than ever to God.  One thing that God has really made clear to me this trip is that even though I am surrounded by these huge majestic mountains that seem so impressive to us, He spent more time creating and forming me than any of them. I kinda really like that.  I’m very sad that this is all coming to an end but at the same time, I’m excited to come home. Miss you mom J

 -Luke Peter Anderson

Last day in Colorado! I can’t believe that it’s almost over.  God has shown me so many things through being here.  He has shown me that making friends is easy and fun.  I’m sad to leave but I hope that I can use what God has shown me here at Colorado to impact the people of Minnesota.

-Matthew Mortensen

Starting out this trip I didn’t know quite what to expect, but I’d say that I was thoroughly surprised by this trip. Out here in the mountains of Colorado things are a little farer away even though everyone this trip has grown closer. As sad as it is to leave, I know there are good things that await us in Minnesota and I’m sure many of us will remember this trip and the friendship we made for a long time,

-Paul Hokemeir-Seim

Holy Moly Macoroly!! It’s the last full day at Timberline! I can’t even begin to describe how this trip has impacted my life! It has been great to meet new people and still strengthen the old friendshipsJ  I never really knew that seeing the mountains would really strengthen my relationship with God. It brought me to the state of humility. Seeing that God created the mountains, yet created me. It’s so sad to be living this wonderful place with these wonderful people, but I know that these friendships are going to continue to grow! Goodbye, for now, Colorado. Maybe I’ll be moving to your wonderful state soon?!:)

-Lilly Turnquist

Wow, where has time gone? Colorado was such an amazing opportunity to be apart of.  God really showed me how little we actually are. Seeing God’s creation all around me is breathtaking.  During these two weeks, I have been surrounded by the most friendly and most caring people. I am so blessed to have made so many amazing friendships, and can’t wait for the relationships to strengthen. Hi Family, see you all soon!

-Marissa Coleman

When I first got on the bus for Project Colorado I only knew a small group of people. Now that we're leaving I feel like I know most people here! This has been such a cool experience for me and I never want to leave! Although I'm so excited to see my family and sleep in my own bed and everything, I know I'm going to be homesick for Colorado and seeing all the fun people here every day.

-Caroline Manning

This is the last post until we arrive home! Please pray for safety, sleep and no bus troubles.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and love for the students here. We have felt them and seen the Christ work in amazing ways. We are excited to tell you all about our adventures when we return home!!

Busy, busy, busy!

We have a great group of student’s here! I am continually impressed with them, their attitudes, and their ability to branch out and come out of their comfort zone.

It has been a busy past couple of days. On Sunday, we packed up the buses and headed to Grand Lake Colorado. The students enjoyed a baked-potato bar, art fair, and the ability to walk around and do a little shopping and enjoying each others company. Afterward, we went back to Timberline for a mandatory rest time and cabin clean up. The day finished up with a campfire and worship time.  

Grand Lake 

Enjoying our baked potato lunch!

The wonderful Timberline staff member Peter serving chili

Monday was a day full of more adventures. Because of our previous bus troubles, the second half of students went whitewater rafting. They had just as an amazing time as the first group--the rapids were just as fast and they were on Saturday. The bus came back full of happy faces and no injuries. The other half of the students were able to go on adventures yesterday. These adventures included: horseback riding through the mountains, camping, a hike, and golfing adventures. Each camper came back tired, but with smiles on their faces.

I am so proud of these students and all they have accomplished. They are getting more done than expected; we have to find more for them to do! We have only heard good things from the places they have worked, from the Timberline staff, and from the other Wooddale leaders. The community of students continues to grow closer together with each other and with Christ. God is definitely working and moving here.

Please continue to pray for safety, for students (after all of the adventures, it is easy to become tired and less motivated…the second week can hit hard), for the rest of the testimonies that have to be shared, and each and every one of us to take advantage of the rest of our time here.

Here are some pictures to show you the happenings around Timberline!

Heather and Audrey off for an adventure!

A view from one of the hikes

KJ sharing her testimony--she did such a wonderful job. 

Aren't they cute?

 

Horseback riding through the mountains yesterday!

Our campfire last night

Tomorrow will be our last day of work projects and adventures. On Thursday, we will be taking a group trip on a train through the mountains, eating a delicious meal of pizza, and then going finishing up with a campfire. Hard to believe that our time here is so close to ending, but thankful for the time we have had here!

Here are some pictures from both groups of rafters! 

From the first group of whitewater rafters

The first group of rafters--ready to go!

Our whitewater rafting adventure! 

The second half of the group ready to go rafting!

An Adventurous Day

It’s hard to let you into our world here in Colorado…but I will try. YOUR kids, OUR kids, MY kids…. are incredible and continue to amaze, inspire and encourage me. Just yesterday on our way to Noah’s Ark to Whitewater Raft one of our buses broke down- but God is good. All the time.  We broke down on the side of the road where right next to Copper Mountain. We had a picnic in the parking lot while Heather and Chad trouble shooted with the bus drivers and the kids ate like nothing was wrong- granted we had a sweet open parking lot in the mountains to enjoy the view while we ate. The bus was indeed broken so now we had only one bus. The plan was for half to go rafting and the others stay put until dinner and the non-rafting crew will raft on Monday. I’m not even to the incredible part yet…as people that stayed changed out of their rafting outfit and swimsuits the song lyrics kids kept singing aloud were: YOUR PRAISE WILL EVER BE ON MY LIPS, EVER BE ON MY LIPS. This is where I was encouraged as a leader and just one reason I LOVE this trip. We are real. We don’t have to worry about makeup, the things of this world, judging each other but we are intentionally pursuing God and each other. We’ve had a full week of working and adventures but sometimes adventures are more work and work is more of an adventure. Testimonies are going great and we are seeing kids courageously meet new friends and encourage each other.

Please continue to pray for a solid finish to this week, no homesickness (although we are grateful we have family to miss), new friendships, good attitudes, awesome faith conversations, and continued bonding between the students.

Here are some of the pictures from our day yesterday! Unfortunately, we haven't gotten pictures from Noah's Ark....but just imagine 4000 basketballs moving in front of you at 1 second.... no injures, awesome rafting, and fast water....

(sunset on our way back to Timberline)

 

Eating lunch at Copper Mountain

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The second group that stayed behind and had an adventure!

Quick Update

Hello friends and family! It has been a wonderfully busy last five days! From hauling logs, more painting, camping, hiking, zip lining, and growing together as a community, our journey here Colorado continues to be amazing. 

It’s day 5 in Colorado and it has been a blast. So far I’ve seen the mountains, llamas, alpacas and things that you can’t see anywhere else (especially in Minnesota).  The best work project so far is Don’s. Don is a 70ish year old man farther in town about 45 minutes away. That’s where the llamas, alpacas and a 160 pound dog lives. We pushed wheel barrels full of chopped up logs for winter (that’s how he heats his house during the winter). Don is a very kind man who loves the Lord and loves the Wooddale students a ton. 

My fam: Love you lots! Miss you, but am enjoying myself greatly. Can’t wait to see you in a while.

~Jacob “Fabio” Brandt

Colorado is grand. I have had so much fun working &hiking so far. Spikeball has definitely been a favorite between Aaron & I. I went hiking yesterday with Joseph & Lucas as my leaders. It was so exciting and beautiful. There were cliffs and all and we had so much fun. Today I cleaned mud off the road with Ben Anderson and although it may have been dirty and not so fun, Ben made it a blast. YEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Family: Miss you guys so much. It is beautiful here and there are great accents. I’ll call you guys soon!

~Beau Pullman

Day 5, and I already don’t want it to end.  The work projects are amazing. Between bonding with timberline/Wooddale staff, meeting new people, and working the hardest I ever have on my whole life—I love every second of it. Of course I can’t forget the fabulous adventures. Yesterday I went zip lining. One word. AMAZING. There are 5 different “zips” to do and the last one is so long you can barely see the other side. Everywhere I turn the view just gets better and better (don’t worry mom I am taking LOTS of pictures). Yes the projects, and the adventures have been amazing, but I love spending time with my best friends, and making amazing new ones more than anything else.

(I love and miss you family, but also don’t want to ever come home J)

~Annaka Buchstaber  

The student’s have been working hard and are having great attitudes! The whole staff is incredibly proud of them and what they’ve accomplished so far. God has continued to bless us with beautiful weather and blue skies. Yesterday, there was a 80 percent chance of rain and after a few hours, it came to a 0 percent chance. The students were able to work hard and enjoy their adventures under beautiful blues skies. How wonderful is that?

We are so excited about what God is doing here. It is obvious to see His hand all over our work, adventures and our community. It is a blessing to be here and be saturated with God's creation, the abilities and talents He has given us all and the desire to grow closer in our relationship with each other and God.

After their busy week, we are taking a break from all the work projects and heading out to Noah’s Ark to go whitewater rafting today! The student’s are all excited and eager share this to experience together. Again, thank you for all your prayers back home. Continue to pray for this group of student’s would continue to recognize and be aware of the work God is doing in and through them.

Pictures from whitewater rafting and from our time here will come soon!