Underhill Update Blog

I know it has already been a week since Easter, but I haven’t had time to write an update over the last week. Andrea and I went down to Kennewick for the weekend to be with my family for Easter. Nathan was able to come over from Mt. Vernon and be there as well, so we were only missing Seth who was enjoying sub-freezing temperatures in Wisconsin instead.

On Saturday I worked with my Dad on removing old Arbor Vitae stumps in the yard. Nathan, Zach, & I spent quite a bit of time chopping up the rotting stumps, attempting to outdo each other. Andrea, Abbie, my Dad, & I went to the last bit of a Kennewick High boys soccer game which brought back some memories for me. On Sunday we went to church and came back to enjoy a great Easter brunch my Mom made. Andrea & I, left shortly after and came back to Montana that evening.

Andrea was sick most of last week, but is feeling much better now.  I have been very busy taking the wilderness EMT bridge upgrade with Wilderness Medical Associates. We finished the class on Sunday and I am know a WEMT-Basic. I have been a WFR for 5 years now and an EMT for 3 years. I am dissapointed that they make you take the WEMT upgrade when you have WFR and EMT already because they don’t present any further skills or knowledge than you already have. Apart from a 10 minute lecture on IV’s in the backcountry, everything was review. It did count towards my continuing education hours though which was nice.  (will post some pictures of the class soon.)
This week we are going through some meetings as a senior staff at camp to better understand how the individual parts make up the whole now that we have been in our positions for a year and a half. Andrea and I are excited about what the future holds but have lots of questions as well about how things will look as we move forward. This week will hopefully help to clarify some of that. We pray and trust that this day finds you all well, living and absorbing all that life has to offer.

Every year the Explore program finishes the year by taking a final trip that has come to be known as the ‘Team Trip’. It is planned out by the Junior Interns (1st year interns) and the program staff at Bighorn serve a supporting role. The past few years that has meant hiking out ahead of the students to pre-established check points. Upon arrival we wait for each team to check in and then give them some piece of info for the rest of the trip.

This year Andrea and I went out with Leanna Guinn (our staff member) and Zach Vanderwall (Training Support Director). This year’s trip took a route we have used many times in the past starting just up out of Plains. We head to the top of Mount Baldy which towers over the Plains valley and then continue on the other side back down into the town of Hot Springs, Montana. We finished the trip yesterday and had a great big pig roast in the town of Hot Springs to celebrate.

It is hard to believe that we are getting ready to say goodbye this Friday to another group of Explore students. I am now finishing up my 6th year working with the program. It is a privilige to be able to interact with and lead such quality young men and women every year. I love the opportunity we have at camp to impact college age students and see them grow and develop into Christian leaders. As we draw to a close on this year, I am reminded that this program is the reason why I am at camp in the first place. I never imagined I would be working at a camp anytime ever in my life and yet here I am coming up on my the completion of my fourth year as a full time staff member with Bighorn.

Times change and we are looking at new ways to connect with a constantly changing base of students that come every year from a variety of backgrounds. One thing remains the same though, the power of the truth to penetrate to the core of who we are and demand our response. What a joy and adventure!