H.O.W.

One of the things I miss most about Grace is starting the weekly Bible study with a H.O.W. (Highlight of the week).


The last two weeks here at camp has been jammed packed with H.O.W.s

We teach a class here called Pond and Stream. It wasn't ever one of my favorites. For training week I was assigned to teach the class to the new and returning Naturalists. It didn't go well.

Last week I was to teach the class to a group of 4th -6th graders. Things went much better. I had the opportunity to watch another Naturalist (thanks James) teach the class and it really helped me figure out what I wanted to do with the material.


The best part was I had one of those rare moments where the kids asks a question that isn't off topic, but isn't in the lesson plan. A question that leads to a genuine and memorable learning experience. We were standing up at the pond and notice the clouds begin to move over our heads. The kids thought it was because we were so high in elevation (camp is at best 200 feet above sea level). I explained it was because we were so close to the ocean. We had already discussed the water cycle, and used that to discuss weather and its formed. As I am talking a dark cloud stops over our heads. Three hours later it rained during our night hike. A genuine and memorable learning experience.

Monday I went skiing. To be fair I should say I went to Squaw with a group from work, and fell down a lot. Once I figured out how to get back up on my own, I told them to go have fun, and tried to learn on my own. I fell down a lot more. I gave up, went inside and waited around by myself.

After eating an overpriced turkey and cranberry sandwich, I went out again, fell and was ready to give up for good. My friends and co-workers (one and the same actually), wouldn't let me. They linked arms with me and made me go down one more good run. I learned more in that 30 minutes with them, than I did the whole time I tried to learn by myself. There is a pretty obvious object lesson here.



This week is Christian Outdoor Ed. So instead of using words like creation and design hoping the kids will see things that are bigger than they are and begin to learn there is a God bigger than us, I get to read Bible verses and pray with my kids. Their first day we taught about stewardship of the earth. Before the evening activity, I called on a student to pray. Among her words to God was a request that He make us stewards of His creation. There is no better feeling as an educator than to hear a student show understanding and application of what you have taught IN THEIR PRAYER. Honestly, it doesn't get much better.

--Serving Him along side all of you, just from a little further away,
Jesse "Gonzo" Letourneau

The Shack

So I have been reading the Shack lately. There is a chapter that shows a picture of (what I assume*) the author thinks heaven to be like. And in that chapter the picture is painted of someone entering heaven and all who are already gathered meeting for a celebration to welcome them home.

I like this idea.

I like the idea of dad enjoying a perfected creation, and waiting for me. I like the idea of my dad off enjoying nature, when someone stops by and says, "Hey, your son is here." I like the picture of my dad dropping everything and running out to meet me.

I don't think this is what the author intended when he wrote the chapter. But it is what was going through my mind as I read.

*For those of you who have read the Shack: It's the Chapter where Mac and his father are reunited. I haven't finished the book, so maybe it isn't heaven, but that was the impression I got.