Graduation!

Last Saturday was the BBTI Graduation! 

It was a overcast, drizzly day, so the decision was made to move the ceremony from BBTI to the church in town. The ceremony went well. Bro. Rex's challenge to the students was excellent! and Bro. McElroy preached a good message. 

Afterward, we had an great lunch of deep fried catfish - thanks to Pastor Terry! It was actually my first time having catfish. By then, the skies had cleared up some, so we were able to eat outside.

It was a bittersweet day. 

Exciting to be done with school, hanging out with all my marvelous friends from my time in Texas and looking forward to being home in Alaska.

But also knowing that I would be saying goodbye to those marvelous friends in just a few short hours. 

Days like that make me ache for heaven, where we won't have to say goodbye!

an amazing friend! I love you, LL

haha! the Schnell kids! gonna miss them

oh the stories that could be told about this group ;)

!Fabulous Four!

next time... across the globe? 

always in my heart!

On another note....

Yesterday was my 26th birthday! 

Yikes!

Those who are younger than me think I'm old and those who are older think I'm still a child. lol

But I am thankful to my Lord for the 26 years He has given me. 

And I hope that I will be able to please Him in whatever time He gives me from today forward. 

more Jungle Camp pics

Team #1 with our shelter

Tim giving instructions about collecting water

another method of getting water from the environment

Abigail and I watching the chicken butchering

skinning the chickens

Tim and Steve butchering the pig

fresh chicken on the spit

man, it was tasty when it was finished!!

homemade raft 

had to get everyone across

Arianna and Elicia on the raft

Jungle Camp

Right after I got back from California, we began Jungle Camp! 

Monday morning we started and then finished up Friday around noon. We slept outside, some had tents, but myself and some of the other girls had a shelter built out of natural resources and a couple tarps. The weather was a little chilly the first night, but after that it was not to bad for sleeping. Course we had sleeping bags, so it was all good. Though by the end of the week, I was starting to hurt from the hard, uneven ground. But coffee made in a percolator over an open fire makes it worthwhile. :) 

nothing better than coffee around a campfire

On Tuesday, we butchered a pig and 4 chickens. Earlier we had been split into 4 teams, so each team got a quarter of a pig and a chicken to cook for a dinner that night. We had a community meal that night with everyone contributing. Our quarter of pig got stuck thru with a long stick and roasted over the fire. The chicken we started baking in the clay oven, but it didn't cook all the way, so we threw it in a pan and finished cooking it over the fire. 

roasting a leg of pig

carrying the meat to dinner

lots of yummy food

There was so much food. All cooked out the "jungle." Our team did skewered pork, baked/fried chicken, fried cactus (like fried okra, but better), onions & carrots, and (wild) garlic potatoes. Tim also baked a snapping turtle. And Josh killed and fried a snake. 

snapping turtle, anyone?

how about snake?

I think everyone had a great time living in the woods. I know I did. We learned how to make a fire, build a shelter, collect & purify water and snare/trap animals to eat, all with natural resources. Its amazing what you can do to survive with just a knife. 

We also had a great time of fellowship. Three of the nights, we all gathered together and had some singing and preaching. You can't beat singing praises to the LORD when you are surrounded by His creation! 

special song during camp service

our team's natural shelter

our team - #1

I was exhausted that week, since I had just gotten back from California Monday morning and we had some late nights. But it was amazing to be around fellow believers, who have the same focus in life and learn to work together "to survive." I think if I had to be stranded somewhere remote, I'd pick the people from my team to be stranded with. (ok, maybe Tim C. also!) :) 

I don't have many pictures I know, but might post some more soon!