All things loss in view of Christ...

Venture students took first year students rock climbing this weekend.
CPR with Charles
(Please note that the wounds in this picture are not real. This is a picture of a simulation.)

Trauma, Trauma, Trauma. Those words have been floating around the heads of these busy Ventures these past few weeks! Wilderness Advanced First Aid is completed and each of them are now certified! Parents need not fear with these Ventures here! The Students enjoyed this intense class taught by Charles Kirkland III. Charles is a deep field medic in Antarctica and teaches wilderness medicine all around the country. He has been coming here for 7 years now teaching WAFA to our staff and Venture students. We sure enjoy having him here. Thank you Charles! They shared many good laughs during this week! Each of them had a quote that they could not live down as they had made silly mistakes. Even through a hands on course such as this the Lord has been working in the hearts of the Venture students. I've asked several of the students what things they have been learning in these first few weeks and they had some neat things to say.

Elizabeth Kupfershcmid- "I learned through the WAFA course that I can do my best and I don't have to be afraid of failing. I know nothing good is coming directly from me, it is coming from God. I can be confident in God and not in myself."

Scott Frasier- "During Backpacking I learned the importance of meditating on scripture, memorizing, and putting time into it."

Maddy Yohn-"I love this year 10 times more than last year. My attitude is the core of that. I noticed how big a difference my attitude makes and how much more I can get out of it."

We praise the Lord for His work in these student's lives. Currently they are sitting in class studying Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian life with Kaj Balintyne. Be praying for them as they are learning about avenues of drawing closer to the Lord through the disciplines. This week really digs into the heart! We are praying Philippians 3:8 for them, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ...." We are praying that they would count all things to be loss, in view of knowing Christ better. That means sacrifice, which can be difficult and without the right heart behind it, it can be empty. So we are very excited for them to be learning these things this week and begin to put them into practice.

Next week is a short week of class. We will be taking them on a 48 hr solo trip. This time will be used to put to practice many of disciplines they will have just learned about. True solitude, silence, prayer, meditation, fasting, journaling, and bible intake are what we are having them do. Pray earnestly for their hearts during this time. God never fails to meet them while they are all alone for 48 hrs and bring to light many hidden things in their hearts. We know that some of them will be battling fear during this time also, so pray that they will respond with "Power, Love, and a Sound Mind". We want to praise the Lord for the work He is already doing and the work He is going to do!

Blessings to you all.