Two groups, colder weather, and Meatloaf

Hello Friends,

First, it is getting colder, but The Mountain keeps looking more majestic. We are truly blessed to be able to serve God in an area as beautiful as the Trout Lake Valley. Thank You, Jesus. Well I don’t want to make you all jealous by telling you how beautiful it is, because I am sure you all would love to live here as well, so on to the news.

Well our retreat week started on Thursday this time. First Evangelical came for a Youth Retreat. They had a great retreat and were fun to be around. They took advantage of one of the fortes of the area, caves. They also used our zip line which was a hit and played Dodge ball in our gym. I didn’t get to play Dodge ball, bummer.

On Friday, the homeland Missions board of Jefferson Baptist Church used Jonah as a place for a retreat, a time of discussing and prayer. I pray that God used there time here effectively and that they continue to help, support, and encourage homeland Missions through their ministry.

Both groups left on Saturday.

That last paragraph sure was boring. Here is a cool tidbit: Grandma made some incredible meatloaf on Saturday. It was a very tasty loaf of meat. Good job Grandma.

Well, I hope you all feel updated and little hungry because of the mention of meatloaf. Keep Jonah in your prayers as a ministry striving to serve God with everything.

Proud to do Kingdom work,
Soka

God keeps using

Hello all who want to know about this crazy cool ministry that God is using,

Let me tell you about last week. Our retreats started on Monday this week. Dee Duke came to Jonah and put on a leadership seminar. Many pastors from all around came and learned more about being a leader and how to better lead in the positions they are occupy. God used Jonah once again to train and teach leaders for His ministry.

Wednesday means The Well, which is a gathering for Trout Lake to play some songs, giving people the opportunity to worship God through music, watch a Nooma video, designed to learn from and promote thinking about spiritual things, and have some fellowship during the hump day of the week. It is turning out to be a great ministry as people are coming and learning and worshiping God.

Friday came, which means Scrapbooking came, which means the guys should just leave. Just kidding, sort of. We had a great Scrapbooking retreat this weekend, giving many women the opportunity to have a weekend rest and also participate in something they love, scrapbooking memories to enjoy for a very long time. The creativity flowed this weekend and I am sure that many women were blessed by the event. Also the Southgate Chapel women were able to come for their women’s retreat as well. Good job Harmony, putting on a great Scrapbooking Retreat.

On Saturday, the Grace Baptist youth group came to our ropes course and were involved in the many elements our course has to offer. This group was able to do many group bonding activities that really began to bring them together even more.

Saturday also brought the opportunity for Soka, that’s me, to travel to Yakima for a Mission’s Conference. We were able to get the word out a little bit more for Jonah and the work God is doing here which was a really great thing. I was able to share that God saved many campers this summer and that numerous staff were challenged in the work with Him, which is the point of our ministry so it is really awesome to be able to tell people such news.

On some other cool news, the effects of The Hunt (Adventure Camp) are constantly being reported, sounds like an epidemic. I have heard numerous people talking about something that triggers memories of The Hunt and then they are constantly being reminded to live for God in everything. This is a beautiful example of how camp can change people and bring them closer to Him. God is awesome.

I hope you all have a great week and keep Jonah in your prayers that God will provide for us and that He will continue to work in mighty ways through such a cool ministry.

Proud to do Kingdom work,

Soka

Winterize Everything!

Hello all, we hope everything is going well on your side of the blog. Because of your curiosity I will let you know what is going on over here on our side.

We sent Soka to Portland to help YD Adventures with low ropes facilitation for Wood Middle School. It was good experience and he learned a lot about putting Jesus in everything. Ask him about it.

This weekend went very well. The Pathfinders group came up to experience a healthy serving of caving, we have a lot of those cave things you know. I believe they went to 5 different caves in less than three days. As always we had really good food and a great weekend retreat.

It is starting to get cold here in Trout Lake and so the Winterization Process has begun. Powellhurst youth group came up to do a work weekend. They did a great job, putting plastic on our old windows to keep out the cold that is soon to come. Most of our windows are not new Thermal pane so this step is a must to make our building comfortable for visitors. The Powellhurst team also put in the igloo all our outside picnic tables and benches to protect them from the ensuing cold weather and SNOW. Good Job Powellhurst, we are very thankful.

We have a group coming today so I must be going. Keep us in your prayers as there is still much to raise funds for and many projects to finish. God works here so He will provide for His work. Great Truth is it not?

There is a fresh layer of snow on Mt. Adams, so you can be sure the cold is coming soon. It is already starting to drop below freezing. So grow out your hair, thicken your beards and buy a beanie.

Proud to do Kingdom Work,

Soka

Late for Last Week

Hello Friends,

Here is a little update. I am sorry it is so late.

Soka left for a date. With low ropes twas great.

But whilst was gone. Blog was not done.

Soka is sad. But don’t get mad.

Did you like my poem? It just came to me.

Anyway, I went to Portland to help out YD Adventures with some low ropes challenge stuff. It was pretty cool, but I did not have the internet to update the blog. Sorry.

So here is what happened last week.

1. A lot of good old office work happened. We started working on a bus barn brochure it was a good thing to be sure.
2. Also the Hood River Alliance Church Men’s Group came for the weekend. It was cool to have them and I sure hope they come back next year. Ropes Course, Caving and some good old Pork Chops mmmm it was a good time.

Well I hope that little update was enough to wet your palates and of course my beautiful poetry is enough to make any man cry.

Keep us in your prayers and stay on the edge of your seats for next week.

Soka