Jun

1st Annual Staff Camping Trip!!

DennisHBK on June 30th, 2009

Alex Truelove, Ruben Lopez, Fernando Gonzalez, Cesar, Sergio Lopez, Ashley Wallenberg, and Debbie n

We had a week without groups and the work horse intern slave driver thought it would be good to take off for a couple days and get to know his staff better and for them to get to know each other better. We took care of some work duties most of the week and then we headed out on Thursday for Erendira. Erendira is a very small community that sits about an hour south of Ensenada, then you head south and find your little spot on the beach and call it home for as long as you want. This camping is roughing it as there are no bathrooms, no hook-ups, or stores to go to, so it’s the real deal.

We started the trip off by setting up camp and then right away the crew headed down to the water and got

Getting settled into a nice evening with a camp fire!

started on having fun with the boogie boards and exploring the rocky shore line. I eventually got started with my part and whipped up my famous “Slim’s Blasting Baja Rice”. We also had some awesome shredded pork that Debbie made before we left. We ate dinner to a setting sun and the sky was a clear as clear could be and eventually a blanket of stars covered our heads and of course the Milkyway. Our campfire conversation consisted of “what is your favorite…” Then eventually we all headed off to bed and feel asleep to the sounds of Waves crashing on the rocks.

Friday was big day and we started it off with devotions and talked about Serving others and what a servants

Cesar lands a painful back flip

heart is all about. In dealing with rules and setting the example for our groups we had to touch up on some things and make sure we were all on the same page. For that we talked about running the long race of summer and how we are watched by the groups and how important it is that we set the example at all times. Funny though how our personalities work and sometimes we all don’t see things the same way. So, to help us out we read from Hebrews 12.

After devotions the fun started with a heated game of Boccie Ball and all though the Radical Red team got off to a slow start we (Ruben and I) eventually came from behind to take the win with a two point throw. We then

Ashley goes for the traditional and alway fun CanonBall---but here they call it a Bazoca!

made our way down to the water hole after lunch and we jumped off the rock and dove in from the sides and although the water was cold it sure felt good. The day was also occupied with Crap hunts, Sand Digging, more cliff jumping, swimming, exploring, and sometimes just laying down in the warm sand. I even got to have a special time with my Buddy Kabic as we both took a little nap in the sand.

Soon enough I had to pay attention to my watch and the sun and head up to start dinner. We planed a very basic dinner with hambergers,,,but,,,,we cut a fresh pineapple and laid the Sirloin hamberger patties on top with chedder cheese, all the fixings, and we didnt’ forget the peanut butter! As we gobbled down the bergers all you

Our Camp site south of Erendira

could hear was a constant “Yuuummmm…” Oh yea we also had potatoes that were wrapped in foil with butter, onions, green peppers and spices–oh man,,,it was so good… Anyway, we watched the overcast clouds role in and eventually the Legend of Art, and for those that don’t know the story you’ll just have to wait for me to Blog it some day.

Saturday Morning was more like role call at boot camp as we rolled the troops our of bed to start breaking down camp. I tended to kitchen duties and prepped some Eggs, Chorizo, Potatoes, and warmed up the tortillas. It was imprecive as to how fast they tore down camp gobbled down breakfast! We had a little bit of

Awwww the Wind Cave!! A Rush of Fun!!

time so we headed a little ways south and searched for the Wind Cave. There is a section of shoreline that is like one big rock and there is one spot that’s like a bridge, but there is a large crack that in some places is about 16″ wide and when the waves crash under it the air is forced up through the crack—and I mean forced! So we had our yells and screams, watched some awesome huge waves roll in and then,,,started the trip home.

We got home, started to unpack and got a phone call that the group from Washington would be arriving in two hours—pant, pant, pant… So we had a great two days of bonding as a team and that bonding came through playing, eating, talking, exploring and sharing God’s Great Word. Hebrews 12:1-4

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.