Photo Highlights

On the road in the western US... we've spent time in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Nevada so far. Next we are heading on to California. The last month has been full of unexpected blessings as we have spent time with friends, families, strangers, and lots of mechanics... in order to get our new home (a lovely old van) on the road. The cool thing about being on a schedule created by car "trouble," is that God has shown us ongoing blessings and provision, and used us in the lives of others. Praise Him!

Solid Rock BBQ after climbing in Clear Creek Canyon (Golden, CO) The Price family generously offered to help us build shelves in our van (and sleep in their driveway). Here the kids are doing some important measurements before we start cutting and drilling!
OK, so I got a little into it! Master carpenter, Jason Price

Brian came to visit, just when the van broke down... great timing honey! 16 month old Cora is well trained to "pound it" when you put out your fist. The Schaffner family (dear old friends) welcomed us into their home for almost two weeks while we waited for van repairs. Julia, fellow Solid Rocker and old friend hosted us in Salt Lake City. How great it is to laugh with friends!

Sporting the latest quick draw/helmet fashion!
My amazing teammate... she's the best and I am SO blessed to be on the road with her!
Gretchen enjoys the view from the base of Castle Rock, Idaho

Our New Home

Here she is, folks, our new pimped out road trippin' mobile. Gretchen and I will be stylin on the road in this elegant coach. We can't wait to get on the road to climb and share God's love!Some amazingly generous new friends helped us customize by building some new shelving units and fixing up a few things. Check out the cozy living space (below)! God has answered our prayers for a vehicle that will also serve as a home on the road.

Now all we have to do is get it to start...

(this is not a joke- please pray with us!)

Solid Rock National Conference

Rocky Mountain National Park

Christian climbers gathered from all over the nation for a week of climbing, fellowship, outreach and encouragement. It was refreshing to meet even more folks who have a heart for Jesus and for rock climbing! (I think we all agree that if Jesus were currently walking the earth in human form, he would spend some of his time hanging out with rock climbers- OK, maybe he’d be more into the bouldering scene.)

Impacting Young Lives Through Outward Bound

My summer has been spent leading wilderness trips for teenagers here in Central Oregon. There are many days when I look around me at the cliffs, the river, or the surrounding mountains and say, "wow... I can't believe this is my office!"

I am privileged to be able to take people out into the wilderness and see their jaws drop at the beauty around them. They experience challenges that will help them to develop their character and world view. We hope that they will have a better understanding of themselves and make a positive influence on the world around them when they return home. Here are some photos from the past month "in the field."

Students learn to belay each other (above) as they scale the rock cliffs and explore the beauty of Smith Rock State Park (below).

I instructed a 15 day River/Mountain adventure with 16-18 year old students in June.
We started with a week of white water rafting and other challenges on the Deschutes river.
After rafting 97 miles of the river, we stopped at the local nursing home to visit for a while (Outward Bound is big on community service), and then headed to the Mt. Jefferson wilderness area for a week of backpacking.

The snow was so deep that the trails were nowhere to be found...
...but we loved playing in and navigating through the snow-covered forests near Mt. Jefferson (below).Another reason that I love my job, is the people. Below are three of the many inspiring instructors I get to live and work with. As you can see, we are all a bit nutty, but it is a blessing to work with people who are full of vibrant creativity, compassion, and positive energy.

I will miss the Outward Bound community when I leave in two weeks. However, the great thing about a large family of transient adventure-seekers is that I am "bound" to run into at least one of them somewhere soon!

Smith Rock - God's Country

It's great to be back in Oregon again! This is my third summer in Redmond, and I'm enjoying the familiar faces of Solid Rock members, the Outward Bound community, and City Center Church.
My "welcome back" to Smith Rock was a prayer walk one evening with some local Solid Rockers before the Smith Rock Spring Thing. What a refreshing perspective for coming home to Smith (the place God called me to move to almost three years ago.)
The Spring Thing is an annual trail day where climbers (and hikers) come together to do service projects to improve trails, prevent erosion, and clean up the park. Most of the climbing trails and staircases around the park have been created and maintained by volunteers over the years. It was fun to come together, get dirty and do some heavy lifting with other folks from all over. Solid Rock Climbers for Christ had the privilege of providing and serving dinner for all of the volunteers.I managed to climb while having my shoes sent off to be re-soled (one foot from each pair)... it made for some interesting climbing!
This summer I will be working for Outward Bound doing some logistical work in Redmond and some instructing at Smith Rock and on the Deschutes River. I hope to spend any free time climbing at Smith, guiding at Smith, and planning for another fall season on the road with Solid Rock.
Travis, Brian and I climbed the Monkey Face last Thursday... yup- that's us just under the color change on the Monkey (below). What a great climb! You can see a photo and description of the route we climbed on my friend's website: http://www.smithrockclimbingguides.com/Guiding/MonkeyFace/default.aspx
I've done it once before, but this was my first time doing any aid climbing (I led the one short pitch of A1 - a bolt ladder just above where we are in the photo).
I was talking to a friend who owns the yerba mate shop in town about how great it is just to be out in such wild and beautiful places. Similarly, at church we have been exploring science and the reality of intelligent design. This truly is "God's Country," and I am blessed to be able to explore and share it with people of all faiths and all walks of life.

Mt. Rainier

I think the photos speak for themselves...

I'll be back!

Falling

Have you ever been at the end of your own strength, where you know you've tried your hardest and it's just not working?

It happened to me while climbing last Friday. I decided to lead a climb that would push the edge of my ability. The first 3/4 of the climb went great. I got to the first crux (tricky spot), and worked right through it. Then, already well above the bolt, I attempted the next crux move, and I fell... and I screamed... and the rope caught me (15 ft later) just as it's designed to do. I was fine. I got back on the climb and fell again (and screamed again), got back on and fell again (and screamed again). Then I rested there, hanging in my harness, frustrated and shaking. I couldn't remember the sequence I had used before (on toprope), and simply couldn't figure out the move. I knew that the fall would be good- the rope had already caught me three times- so why was I still scared? I prayed.

God showed me a metaphor for my life: oftentimes I'm afraid to really go for something if I can't see how it will work out, or that I will be successful. Life is full of risks: stepping out into a new job, moving, falling in love, and the list goes on. However, if you don't take those risks, sometimes you miss out on really living.

God challenged me to get back on that climb one more time, and really give it all I had, to dyno (jump) for that next hold, even though I wasn't sure I'd be able to reach it or even hold onto it. This time I was ready to really give it my all, for the climb and symbolically for my life. I got back on the rock. I did the first crux move again, then moved my feet around this time for optimal positioning to crouch low and then spring up for that next hold. I rocked down, let out a tarzan yell and sprang up for that hold with all my strength...

...and I fell (and I think I screamed). I failed. I couldn't do it. I tried my hardest and didn't make it. So what about my great metaphor, did it go down the drain? Absolutely not. I learned that I could fail, and that was perfectly OK. The rope still caught me, and I was safe. In my life, I often fear failure and get disappointed in myself easily. However, last week I was reminded that it can be more rewarding and strengthening to take risks than to walk away from the uncertain and remain safe on the ground. God was not disappointed in me that day. He always loves me, no matter how much I mess up. He protects me from harm and encourages me to give life my best, no matter the outcome.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

Gotta Love Campfires!

Once again, I've been blessed by meeting some amazing local Solid Rock climbers, and other wonderful folks as well. This past weekend we invited our campground neighbors over for a free BBQ and campfire/music circle. It's really fun to give out free food and just hang out with people! Despite the intense winds (and I mean intense!), we had a good 25 folks come and hang out Saturday night. We also got in some good climbing and had a Sunday worship service at the campground. I'll be here for another week camping and climbing with various folks.

Bishop: For All Seasons

In Bishop, CA you can climb year-round! This small town is an outdoor mecca, just east of the Sierras and west of the Whites. There are more climb-able boulders here than I've ever seen in my life!

Christ going for the dyno

Kevin is having fun at the Sad Boulders

Travis and I managed to find (with Kevin's help) some stellar cracks in the Owens River Gorge

Warming up on an upper gorge sport climb

Stephanie belays Emily in the upper gorge