Rock Climbing/Backpacking

WEEKS 2 & 3- Introduction to Rock Climbing and Backpacking.

This is just a quick post of some pictures to let you guys see a little bit of the Rock Climbing and Backpacking classes. We had awesome weather for the week of Rock climbing. We spent time in Helena and right here by the school. Everyone did a great job and we are proud of their accomplishments. Rock climbing is a challenging sport in many ways.By the end of the week the Venture students we certified to Belay, competent in basic rock climbing technique and able to draw ministry applications out of the sport.

Backpacking through the Bob Marshall Wilderness proved to be beautiful and wet!! Mud, mud, mud, was all over our feet every day. Although the weather did not co-operate with our plans, each trip was safe and had a wonderful time. Students talked about the things they learned about the Lord, themselves, and each other through this experience. More than once it was said how big God is and how small we are, yet He care for us most out of all creation. We praise the Lord for the fun and safe time that 70 people traveling over 260 miles combined got to share with each other.

Currently the Venture students are in class with Charles Kirkland studying Wilderness Advanced First Aid. Pray for their minds to take in all the information clearly! They will be in class from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm with multiple tests each day and life like emergency simulations. Already they have said how they are enjoying it!

"For Behold, He who forms the mountains and creates

the wind and declares to man what are His Thoughts,

He who makes dawn into darkness and treads the high places of the earth,

The Lord God of hosts is His name." Amos 4:13

Venture Students 2011

We would like to welcome the Venture Class of 2010-2011! From left to right starting at the top is Adam Jordan, Brooke Jordan (Venture Directors), Logan Wynne, Brady Bowman, Lori Halldorson, Madelyn Yohn, Elizabeth Kupferschmid, and Scott Frasier.

We are excited to have them for this second year. Already they have been a delight to us all. This photo was taken on the Orientation trip to Glacier National Park. We hiked the peak of Mt. Oberland, and spent some time enjoying swimming and other trails. During this trip we talked about our expectations of them during the school year and the responsibilities of a Venture student. We enjoy prayer time around the camp fire with a lot of fellowship. It is evident to us that their hearts are eager to learn leadership and serve the first years. One of our prayers for the staff and Venture students is that we would serve and lead humbly. Isaiah 66:2 says "This is the one to whom I will look, he who is humble and contrite in spirit." Apart from Jesus Christ we cannot produce fruit. We know that these students are eager to be used in the lives of their peers, and we pray that they "Abide" in Christ as John 15 talks about.

During the first week of school the Venture students are spending the mornings in class with the first years and also the afternoons in their own class. They have over 50 verses to memorize throughout the first semester and are required to spend time exercising for 30 mn. a day, 5 days a week. We ask them to be very disciplined in their days here as an avenue to spiritual growth as well as for being an example to the first year students. In our first weeks of bible study we will be sharing testimonies together so that we can become more transparent and to know each other better. Upcoming classes they will be taking are "Introduction to Rock Climbing", Backpacking II, and "Wilderness Advanced First Aid". These classes will be a lot of fun for them as well as stretching for some of them. We are look forward to using moments to teach through life experiences about fear, trust, and group unity. The Lord is always so good to be the ultimate teacher in this place.

What a delight these Venture students have been. Keep them in your prayers as they learn and serve the first year students. We'll be updating you all periodically throughout the semester.

In Him,

Adam and Brooke Jordan

All Class Reunion!

It is that time again for the MWSB all class reunion! The date are the 23rd - 26th of July. If you are planning to come please let us know so that we can plan accordingly. If you missed the registration form in the last newsletter you can still register with Terry via phone or email (406-562-3803 or registrar@mwsb.org).  There will be limited housing in the dorms and on campus (if you bring your own tent) so register early. There will be plenty to see and do so bring your family, child care will be available as well. Come this summer and catch up on all your old classmates!

The End of Things

Hello Everyone,

We hope you are all doing great as you read this. We are doing very well up here at the school. This is the last week and a half of school for the first semester. Christmas break will be here soon and we are all excited for it, and will be missing everyone when they're gone. This will be the last blogger update until January when school starts up again. 

We thank you all for the prayers you have invested in this year's Venture students. Two of them (Paige Rodriguez and Cody Boehm) have written briefly about their experience here this first semester. We hope it blesses you to see the year from a Venture's perspective.

"This semester has really flown by fast. The Venture program has been such a growing experience for us as a team and individually. God has been stretching me in so many ways, in prayer and what it really means, fasting, meditating on His word, and even how to love. In classes we have been learning Leadership Principles from I Timothy- Discipleship, Purity, and about the Church Body. At times, this semester has been challenging in the sense that I as a leader have to make sure I am doing what is right in my spiritual walk before I try to lead anyone, and choosing to love people when I don't "feel" like it. This year has been such a blessing! I've loved getting to know everyone. It's been such a blessing to be able to come alongside the first year students and encourage them and also pray for/with them. What an amazing time in my life, learning, growing, and experiencing so much!"- Paige Rodriguez

"It's a blessing to be able to come back as a venture student. Being in the mountains another year, a leader  to first year students, and growing closer to the Lord. The biggest challenge for me has been the verses we were assigned to to memorize during the semester. Although it's difficult, it's worth it in the long run. It's hard to pinpoint my favorite class, because there's so much to learn from all of them, but the one that sticks out to me the most is "Spiritual Disciplines" that was taught by the staff. In the book we read Spiritual Discipline for the Christian Life, was a quote that I like. 

" The goal of godliness isn't found on the surface of Christianity. It has to be dug from the depths with the tools of discipline. But for those who persevere, the treasures are more than worth the trouble"                              - Cody Boehm 

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy the time with your family and friends. Be praying for the Ventures over break that they would stay strong in their convictions and in their spiritual disciplines. I know many of them are excited to go and minister to the people surrounding them as well. Pray for their opportunities and wisdom! 

Thank you all so much and we'll post again in January!

In Christ- Adam and Brooke Jordan

p.s. If you have been enjoying reading these blog updates and would like us to continue doing so please post some feedback. We love to do this and hope it is helpful to those who read it. Thank you for your time.

New Carpet

We are happy to announce that the carpet is down in the gym!  A crew of Lundbergs, Dubbes, and Johnsons came from various places all over the country to install it for us.  

WE ARE SO THANKFUL! 

The carpet really makes the gym look like it is almost finished.... 

and we cannot wait for it to be in full-time use.  

Solos, Packtrip, and Purity

 Recently...........

Well, our Venture team has been busy. In our last blog we asked for prayer concerning the venture's 48 hour solo, and God was faithful again. First the weather was calling for rain the entire time we were out, but it did not rain until we were well on our way back to campus. God is sovereign in the small things too. The Venture students learned  and enjoyed their time with the Lord during those 48 hours. Some thought it was difficult, some thought it could have been longer, but over all the sense was positive and the value of true silence and solitude was captured. Everyone was safely kept by the Lord and we're grateful for the time we got to share after the experience. 

Shortly after that the team was off to the mountains again to experience packing in on horses. Each of them learned how to saddle, ride, and care for their own horse as well as set up a back country camp, cook, and all of the work that goes into the animals out there. We were blessed by a local rancher/outfitter with the use of his 18 pack animals and equipment. This kind of trip is much work with much reward.  Our staff member Kevin Lytle taught the students art of leading a trip like this with all it's work skills and people dynamics they might encounter. We are again so grateful for the safety God granted us with a total of 16 people and 25 horses camped together in the Mountains! In the past, several students have gone on to use this packing class in further ministry opportunities. It is always our hope that in each outdoor class and experience the students are challenged personally, taught the skill, taught to lead in it, and given the opportunity to take it further into ministry. 

Currently...........

For the next 5 weeks left in our semester the Venture team is stationed here on Campus. Their classes from here on out will be instructed by our resident and visiting faculty. This week they are studying  Absolute Purity with Peter Wetendorf.  Pray for them to see clearly what absolute purity entails in their own lives and to desire to work at it with discipline. As leaders we desire to be bold and Biblical in our lifestyles and teaching and we desire also for these students to rise to the occasion in their own realm. Caitlin Elya, one of the Venture students has said that the purity class has been relevant and challenging in her life. Peter has challenged each of the students to draft an intentional and specific personal purity plan for their current situation and the future. This has been a huge encouragement to Caitlin on how to intentionally live with absolute purity with no exceptions. 

Pray............

We are so blessed again by this team and are so encouraged to see their leadership with the students and to see how the students are responding so positively to them. God is at work in hearts here so pray against the schemes of our enemy to seek, steal, and destroy these people.  We have full confidence that God is refining and will continue to in these students as they are seeking Him! Pray also for their upcoming weeks of class. They will be studying the following: 

Leadership Principles in the Church Body- Dave Barnhart, Bible Study Meathods- Jim Carlson, Communication- Delvin Hackwith, and Leadership Principles in Contentment- John Erickson. 

Pray for their hearts and their minds to be engaged in each course. As we near the end of our semester a tendency amongst everyone here is to become anxious for winter break and to slightly disengage from the place. 

Pray for a continued excitement about learning in class and from the community life we share. Pray for the first year students especially as they gear up to go back home and leave the fellowship they've been sharing for the past semester. It is usually bittersweet to have a break and miss the "family" environment created amongst the class.                                                     Pray for their strength to step up spiritually when situations call for it. A place we would like to see all our hearts here is to crying out "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." (Psalm 84:10)

Thank you again for your prayers for this school and this team of Venture students. We hope you enjoy hearing about the events and classes in the Venture's life. And that you yourself are encouraged in your life.  

In Christ ~ Adam and Brooke  Jordan

 

Dressing Up...

The fun never seems to end at MWSB.  The creativity that flows in this canyon at times can be impressive and other times just done right funny.  This year there have been several events that have encouraged the creativity to arise, for example:  there was a dress up like a rock-star dinner, Rodeo Guy and Girl night, and just recently dress like your favorite super star for dinner after the fun events of "Super Saturday".   The staff at MWSB have been very thankful for the group of Venture students that are so engaged in this year's class.  Even after a week of being in the mountains on a pack trip - they came home and led the students in "Super Saturday"  where every hour was filled with games, crafts, food and laughter.  It has been fun to see these students WORK hard, but then let loose and PLAY hard.  Pretty sure God is looking down - laughing right along.... go ahead take a look at these pictures and laugh too!

Super Hero night.

Not exactly sure which super heros Daniel Meza and Taylor Devine are posing as, but whatever works... right?

Rodeo Night... the girl Venture students.

Rock Star Night...