La Vida - The Life (part 2)

Day 3 – Up in the Air

Three words: high ropes course. Imagine it. You come to a clearing. Trees that are rather high loom before you. One “course” consists of a rope incline, with two other ropes on each side (to be used to help pull you up). Another course, called the Indiana Jones Bridge, is made up of, you guessed it, a bridge that one must balance across. Four more small courses follow these two and make up what is considered the La Vida’s high ropes course. It was you, a harness, someone below who is connected to the harness, your balance, and Jesus.

This was where I found myself on the morning of Day 3. Of course, it was also raining. Praise God, the weather had let up some when it came to my turn to attempt the course.

Going up the first course – the incline – was especially hard. Encouragement from below motivated me to push. To my amazement, I did it! The next three small courses went by with a breeze. The whole time I was in utter disbelief. I was actually doing this! I came to a small platform where I got to rest for a few minutes and was required to either, sing a song, do a dance, or make a joke. I went for the lovely song and dance combo and sang “Don’t Stop Believing” (the Glee version).

The next course that loomed ahead of me was considered the rope vines course. Besides a small wire my feet had to balance and cross on, rope vines were spaced nicely apart to be what my hands could cling to for support. Halfway through, due to slipperiness of the wire rope I’m sure, I slipped. There I hung, clinging to one of the vines with one hand, and the wire rope with the other. More encouragement from down below shouted that I could do it, that I just had to pull myself up.

Those who know me can agree that I am not strong by any means, especially when it comes to upper body strength. It seemed I had no choice but to let go and have them lower me back down. But something came. Motivation? Determination? Inspiration? Sure! I pushed my muscles and surprisingly pulled myself up. A few more steps and I of course slipped once more. However, getting back up that time was easier. I came to the last course, crossed the log, and was then lowered to the ground in great victory. Thank the Lord, I had done it.

Later on, we packed up a van, loaded up the canoes, and we finally, to the groups greatest delight, set off. The trip began with a portage – when you carry the canoes overhead so to cross land. Down the first hill I recall slipping (it must have become a new habit for the day) and falling with the canoe upon me – it was rather brilliant on my end. The portage was small and I was able to manage it.

Soon, we had hit water. After returning to our starting point near the van once more to collect gear we made our way back to the water which we all had yearned to reach. It was time to canoe! I got in the front of the canoe with one our Sherpas – Steven. Once everyone was loaded up, gear and all, two to a canoe, we took off. How exhilarating! The first trip didn’t last long and we soon had to pull in due to the fact that if we continued down the river any further we would have hit some small rapids. Unloading, we began another portage. This one I didn’t have to carry a canoe, so I took a bag and followed. Once we got to camp, we had to turn around once more and go retrieve our bags (this is how all the portages were set up).

Our camp consisted of a nice lean-to, and we were fortunate, there was an outhouse. That night, we learned how to set up a bear bag (where you put food in a sturdy stuff sack and hang it up in a tree in a way that a bear cannot attack it), strangely enough it wasn’t a bear that ever attacked our food during the trip, but chipmunks. We also learned how to broadcast – it’s when after your brush your teeth, you do not merely just spit the toothpaste out in one spot, but spray it out all around. It was hard not to broadcast the first time without fits of laughter.

All cozy in the lean-to, boys one side and girls on the other, we reflected on the day. That day I got a clear example of endurance from the ropes course. Sometimes in trials, it seems the only option we have is to give in. But, you can always pull yourself up and finish with victory (more on this lesson later).

Day 4 to Day 8 - The Wonderfulness in Between

The next following days generally went along the lines of this: We would get up, pack up most of our stuff and go about doing our morning duties (bring down the bear bags, take down the tents and group tarp, filter water and fill up water bottles, or make breakfast). Then our Sherpa, Sarah, would lead us into a small lesson which was followed with us going off on our own for some devotion time (a time to sit at the base of a tree, or on a rock by the water and write in our journals, worship, and pray to God).

Group Tarp

Next, it would be time to load up the canoes, get with your canoe buddy (we switched every day), and then as a group we would gather the canoes together out on the water and pray. And off we went! We canoed a lot each day (my guess at least 3 hours a day). We usually stopped once in between for snack, lunch, and/or bathroom break. At the end of each canoe voyage, we would then portage the canoes and gear to our campsite. This usually occurred after lunchtime. Once we get to camp, it’s time to set up the tents, tarp, get out things for dinner, filter more water, take care of bear bags, and fellowship with one another during it all. We would end the day with a life story or two (when one of us students would share basically a 15-20 minute testimony which followed with the rest of the group asking the student various questions whether serious or silly and then it would end for us praying for that student), some prayer, and worship. It was a blissful time!

Our Canoes

Each day we would have our LOD’s (Leaders of the Day). Two or three (depending on the day) of us would be the “Sherpas” for the day. We would be in charge of getting everyone up, making sure tasks were done, making sure everyone stuck to the map route, encouraging all, etc.

One of our Campsites

Throughout those days songs were sung out on the canoes, sometimes a little to loudly that we had to contain ourselves to not to disturb other canoers or kayakers who would pass us. Laughter was a common occurrence throughout the hours and minutes. Encouragement was just as frequent. Life was shared.

We would get caught in the rain, so we did all that we could do, we’d put on our rain jackets and embrace the weather (I remember on Day 8 – our “Final” – we got poured on out on the canoes. We didn’t complain, no, instead we shouted with glee, and welcomed the weather and challenge that it presented to us). Support was exchange during portaging. We learned to trust each other enough to be vulnerable and admit when we needed help. Friendships were made; a family was created.

I could go into detail of all the wonderful moments, but that would probably take about a books worth of writing. Just know, each moment was a treasure and it’s print will be forever in my memory and forever in my heart.