Winter 2020

Winter 2020

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Kings Peak w/ Ella and Friends

Ella wanted to do a fun adventure before she started her Sophomore year.  We had an awesome group of 9 teenagers, Abby (10 years old) and then Amber and I were the adults.  We hiked in 8 miles to Dollar Lake.  It drizzled on us most of the way in.  We set up camp and cooked some food.  The next morning we were up at 6:00 AM.  We hiked up to Gunsight Pass and then took the Dome Shortcut.  We reached Anderson Pass with freezing cold, howling wind.  By the time we made it to the summit the sun was out and the wind was not bad.  We got to enjoy the summit.  Then headed back down to filter some water.  We soaked our legs in Dollar Lake, gotten eaten by mosquitoes, ate good food, and tried to start a fire.  Then hiked out the next day.  Costa Vida was delicious on the way home.  So impressed with these kids.  It was a great group!  Abby was awesome and enjoyed being with the big kids.  























 

Friday, August 4, 2023

Xela, Guatemala HXP with Tyler




Tyler had an incredible experience and was able to go to Guatemala for almost three weeks.  The group spend the first 5 days sight seeing and getting to know each other.  Then they spent the next two weeks finishing up a building that would be a medical facility in a small mountain town.  

He had no phone for the three weeks.  Here is the letter he got to email home. 

Dear Mom and Dad and Doodis and Abs,

I hope you guys are doing ok.  I miss you all.  It feels weird to be gone for this long.  I hope you can read my handwriting.  It has been an amazing trip.  I've been pushed a lot.  So far I've plastered like 8 walls 3 times each (which is way harder than it looks), painted like 20 walls, moved so many blocks, wood, rebar, and cement bags.  I've poured, spread, and smoothed 80 bag of cement.   Tiled, cut, and measured 4 rooms of tile.  Give 2 talks in church, 1 in Spanish, 1 in English, 2 spiritual thoughts, led 2 missionary visits with members, played like 5 hymns I've never heard of and met a lot of new people.  

I've been up to a lot and taken a lot of pictures.  (which I hope you guys have seen).   This trip has made me realize a lot.  It is crazy seeing the locals here. They have so little.  The 2 Guatemalans who help me learn construction can't even afford new shoes or gloves even though they work harder than anyone I know.  I have it good.  The local homes are small.  It has also been crazy talking to the "mom and dad" of the trip.  They made me realize how hard parenting is as we have talked about it on the long bus rides.  You guys do good.  

It's crazy how much your testimony grows when you spend 2 hours a day or more doing "spiritual stuff".  It's crazy how when you put in the work things actually happen.  I've made so many new friends.  Anyway, I can't wait to see all of you, and my bike.  Go serve someone today.  It'll make you happier.  I know it has made me.  I've never been happier.  Love you all so much - Tyler