Jackson Hole: Week Three

Yet another week has flown by and we are now entering our last week out in Jackson Hole. This past week has been filled with a LOT of activities plus a LOT training- making it an all-around balanced & busy week! Starting out Monday morning, we met all together in our normal meeting room (the "Buffalo" room) and began our week studying the Biblical view of discipleship and evangelism and how to adequately disciple someone else. After a quick lunch, everyone headed out for an awesome afternoon of rafting down the rapids of the Snake River (no worries- Levi and I stayed home!) The students (and Mitch) had a GREAT time and the weather was perfect for the occasion. Like all Monday nights, we closed out the day studying the second chapter of our Gospel Growth books in our small groups. This week we studied the significance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and what that means for our salvation and for our lives.

On Tuesday morning, we heard from Kari about how to follow up with a new believer and the importance of diving into the scriptures with them. After lunch, despite the overcast/rainy weather, we headed out for a more low-key hike around String Lake. Like most Tuesday nights, we headed into town for dinner and some late night visits to the candy shop and Moo's Ice cream. Although the hike and dinner were fun, the highlight of the day was definitely all the wildlife we saw on our wake back from our hike! While exiting the trail and park, we saw a bear, a moose and some beavers! 

String Lake

 On Wednesday, we spent time in the morning learning different methods of evangelism and certain evangelism tools that can help you clearly share your faith with a non-believer. A few of these tools include Knowing God Personally, Soularium, & Back Story. After lunch, we travelled out to Mormon Row where an old barn resides on a beautiful field. Rumor has it that the Mormon barn is the most photographed barn in the world! We spent the afternoon taking pictures and admiring the beautiful backdrop of the Tetons. That night, the staff enjoyed a night out to dinner at The Bird. The restaurant is known for having the best burgers and they did not disappoint! Although we love our students, it was so much fun just getting a night to hang out with our amazing staff team!

Staff night out!

On Thursday, Mitch spoke in the morning about the importance of discipleship and how discipleship always begins with You and God- you cannot adequately disciple someone else if your relationship with God is not where it should be. After lunch, I headed into town for the afternoon with the 4 girls that I disciple and we enjoyed an afternoon of coffee, shopping and discipleship. While we were enjoying the afternoon downtown, Mitch and all of the men on project spent the afternoon paddle boarding at String Lake. The goal was to stay on the board because the water was EXTREMELY cold (it is a lake in the mountains after all). We finished the day having our weekly men's and women's time.

On Friday, we spent the morning hearing from Pastor Don (head of the Bible College). After a quick lunch, the group headed out for an afternoon of paintball (again, no worries, Levi and I were convinced to stay home). Although many students were a little worried about the idea, they all ended up having a blast and stayed out on the course all afternoon. After a quick dinner, we had a bowling social that night at the bowling alley downtown. I say bowling "alley", but it was actually only four lanes total so we rented out the whole place! 

We decided to end a busy week with a very busy Saturday! After a later breakfast, we heading into the Park and began our longest hike yet- Death Canyon. Since the hike was 8 miles round trip, we allotted most of the afternoon for the excursion and I'm glad we did. The hike was definitely harder but the views made it completely worth it and I look forward to bragging to Levi one day that I made it to the top carrying both of us! After a quick run home to shower, we packed into the cars once again and drove across the Idaho state border to see "Monsters U" at the Spud Drive-In Theater! Although it was close to freezing outside, we enjoyed laying in the back of the cars and in the field in front of the screen and enjoying a night out at the movies! 

Liz and I outside the drive-in!

I cannot believe we only have a couple more days here before we head back to Mississippi and the sweltering hot weather I hear is awaiting us. Please continue to pray for us and the students as we wind down the project this week and start traveling home on Friday!