Back in the lower 48, this is my first blog here since going to Juneau. The change from Juneau back to Missouri has been not to bad and then making the transition in less than 24 hours back to Kansas will be I guess exciting for me because school is about to start up again with a ton of new students, new beginnings, and new surroundings...well a few that will be new but another school year is fast approaching. Adjusting to the hot weather in Missouri from the mid range conditions from Juneau, Alaska hasn't been much of a problem for me being from the south. I'm used to the heat but, I rather still be in Juneau haha...hey that the way it goes. Coming back to Manhattan has been on my mind for the last 3 weeks. Coming off one of the most summer highs of my entire life up til this point has me extremely pumped about the whole school year in general not just the fall semester but everything. A new year is right around the corner and there are going to be some changes coming compared to what I had to go through last year coming in as a transfer student and new to the university and trying to get used to everything and trying to do it all. It won't happen, a year under my belt at Kansas State and I'll do things a little bit differently. Hopefully one of the things that I want to accomplish this year is my relationships with my friends on campus, like building on the friendships that I made a year ago and grow even closer to them. On the flip side making new friends is also important as well. So, one of the many goals will be making new friends. When a new year comes in everything is different, well most of them. It will be interesting to see what happens as I currently still processing everything that I learned in Juneau.
5 Star Questions
* What has it been like coming back to the states?
A: It been good just to come home for awhile to relax with family. I mean it had to take a while because I was used to waking up in the morning and seeing the mountains in the distance. Of course you don't see them in the big city but it's nice getting back into everyday mode for awhile. Kansas, will be different in itself with all of the weather patterns it has but I used to that by now.
* How is post Juneau?
A: Still in the processing everything I learned from being on summer project up there. It's still going to take a while but I think after a month or so I'll being to digest some of the things I learning in Juneau and start applying it to my daily life. At the same time, I don't want to forget everything and I mean EVERYTHING that I did this summer and throw it all away, I'm working on breaking that habit. I will always remember this summer as an eye opening experience and remember all the things I did to get there.
* How about the return to Kansas? (Manhattan)
A: Very excited about it! I mean it's being 2.5 months since I've been in any part of Kansas. I'm ready to go back and see many of my friends that I haven't seen since May and share the experience with them.
*What was the best part about Juneau Summer Project?
A: Haha, there's not really one that stands out to me. I think for especially for me is taking the step of faith and trusting the Lord to go to this summer project. That in itself was a HUGE deal. Never even going to before Alaska was like what am I doing. I don't know what I do if I didn't go to Juneau this summer, I know things wouldn't be the same for sure. I real happy that I had the opportunity to go, met a lot of good people who are now my friends as well as the Juneau Summer Project men and women. Looking forward to keep those relationships for a lifetime.
*Ready for classes to start?
A: Almost lol, I just honestly ready to get back to a routine after a few days. It will take some time but after a few weeks things for be will go back to normal with what appears to be a busy semester this fall.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Chapter 17: Men's Juneau Summer Project 2011 Series: The Adventure Part 2 (Weeks 10 &11)
The final installment of this series at least...this has been an amazing journey getting to know everyone who came to project this summer. It's been a one unpredicted ride for me just getting to this point in my life, it's awesome. Here is a recap of what took place the last few weeks in Juneau.
It starts at almost two weeks ago (23rd) spending the night at Bill and Tammie's family who just join the church that me and 7 others go to; that would be Glacier Valley. Their family is super, super COOL. Our group ate at their place the previous weekend and cooked us fried chicken. Their from the state of Kentucky where Linsey and Trey two of my project friends are from. And me being from Georgia I was craving some southern food haha! Eating fish is really good, but I was getting tried of it, lol. This time though we ate and shared funny and inspiring stories with them about the summer/project. Afterwards, we basketball followed by ninja which become a popular game to play for me.
A shout out goes out to all of the people who to Glacier Valley southern baptist this summer. It was a lot of fun just going to church eating great food and just hanging out. It started out as a little awkward not and with the ladies a whole lot but towards the end we all come together...
The students who went to Glacier Valley with me this summer-
Cody
Faust (Steven)
Trey
Shawn
Saul
Amanda
Jenny H.
Heidi
Also including:
Sam H.
Linsey
Brady
Van Zant
On the 24th as a men's project we went on a hike to Mt. Jumbo. Started from the ground even though we were on a hill going upwards and made it all the way to the top and peaked it as well. The first mountain that I went all the way to the top. The view was something else seeing downtown from up there was amazing and seeing the size. To me, I think Juneau is small town compared to other capitals and this city is like a small town where everyone knows everyone. Hiking Jumbo wasn't too bad, got to talk to at least a few more guys that I ready didn't know to much about yet. After, we did our service on the beach in downtown Douglas Island some of us went to go see Captain America with some of the locals. I thought it was a pretty good movie.
The 26th on Manhood Development is was raining pretty good and we did trust falls off the pipe on an old building. Somehow or another I'm slowly overcoming the heights issue that keep mentioning in some of these posts. The meaning behind it is we need to trust the brotherhood which is really key to having a good community and a successful one. Holy communion followed that.
Early Wednesday morning, I went kayaking with Debbie Douglass and it was a total blast. Me, Mills, Bickett, Joe, Grant and Faust didn't have a chance all summer to go out to the lake until that time. I'm back on the water again in a skinny boast thinking yeah, I'm about to go into the water but that never happen at all! We kayaked all the way as close as we can to Mendenhall Glacier than went all the way back. And yes, I got a workout at the same time.
Wednesday, 27th (same day) during our CRU weekly meeting I had a chance to speak to everyone and tell them my testimony on how I came to Christ and Juneau. It went very well. I actually wanted volunteer to share my testimony and God put that in my heart and I did. Got a lot of good comments from people plus the locals who are in CRU in Juneau. After the meeting we had an event called the $5 prom. Basically we had to buy 5 dollars outfits or you can be creative like I was I need to spend money on a dance party. Followed by hanging out with locals going to McDonald's. I got invited by some of the students who go to CRU in town so I had chance to get to know some of them like Callie, Bri, Cassie, Seth, Nathan and David D. That was one of my favorite nights of the entire summer just spending time with them and chillin.
On the 28th (Thursday), After the last day of work I ended up cooking for my action group which turned out very successful! All I cooked up was Mac and Cheese homemade kind and on top of that a ton of pasta noodles. Yeah, I wanted to just keep it simple and I did real BIG. I'm starting to learn how to cook so at least this summer I know a little bit still working on it.
Saturday (30th) was our prayer hike on Mt. Roberts. And we all did it together that included the ladies as well. Did it in small groups though but we arrived right at the cross sitting on the mountain where we had worship and prayer up there but that wasn't the top. About 9 of us after that hike the rest of Roberts another 2.5 miles up eventually I got to the top of this mountain as well. It took a while but I got up there and that mountain I think was a little bit harder than Mt. Jumbo was. The same night we had our last outreach event of the summer and it was a dodgeball tournament. And it turned out to be real competitive, had a lot of fun with that. During the intermission I got to share my testimony again with all of the locals who came out to the high school (Thunder Mountain).
Monday and Tuesday (1st and 2nd) was mostly free time to what we wanted because this was the last week in Juneau for most of us. Tuesday afternoon, I went downtown with Callie and Bri just to hangout with them some more and take some more pictures. It's was really nice getting to chill with them. We have just gotten to know each other well. Action group night, Mike cooked us some real big burgers then went to the docks from some shakes afterwards. Then, ended up playing outdoor caged dodgeball for the night cap which was fun.
Wednesday (3rd), the last CRU weekly meeting for us took place after that one last hanging out with all the locals who helped us out this summer. The same night a few of us starting a yearbook signing event where a few others had maps that the students were signing as well.
Towards the end of the week, each student was debrief by one of the original staff students who were here in the beginning of the summer. We all cleaned up the campus all day (Southeast Alaska) vechcles, storage room. etc. Pretty much everything. Then finally the last night in Juneau we all hungout with each other before taking offon our seperate ways. I manage to enjoy my last night by staying up all night because I had a 6am flight didn't want to go to sleep at all. Had a chance to watch most of the movie "tangled" with Jenny Logan, Rikky, Seth, Caleb, Jack, and Christina before taking off on the airplane back home. At the airport before getting on the plane their was one line big line of the project (students) giving hugs and saying the farewells. Everyone who was still in Juneau were able to see us off first. I flew back with Robert, Parker, Spencer, Kieth, Van Zant and Christina. The group slowly seperated as we got closer to our destinations. But it took longer for some of us to get home than expected. The last 2.5 months has been really amazing spending it with a good communtiy of students and real soon I'll be back on campus at K-State.
See you on the flip side,
Eddie
It starts at almost two weeks ago (23rd) spending the night at Bill and Tammie's family who just join the church that me and 7 others go to; that would be Glacier Valley. Their family is super, super COOL. Our group ate at their place the previous weekend and cooked us fried chicken. Their from the state of Kentucky where Linsey and Trey two of my project friends are from. And me being from Georgia I was craving some southern food haha! Eating fish is really good, but I was getting tried of it, lol. This time though we ate and shared funny and inspiring stories with them about the summer/project. Afterwards, we basketball followed by ninja which become a popular game to play for me.
A shout out goes out to all of the people who to Glacier Valley southern baptist this summer. It was a lot of fun just going to church eating great food and just hanging out. It started out as a little awkward not and with the ladies a whole lot but towards the end we all come together...
The students who went to Glacier Valley with me this summer-
Cody
Faust (Steven)
Trey
Shawn
Saul
Amanda
Jenny H.
Heidi
Also including:
Sam H.
Linsey
Brady
Van Zant
On the 24th as a men's project we went on a hike to Mt. Jumbo. Started from the ground even though we were on a hill going upwards and made it all the way to the top and peaked it as well. The first mountain that I went all the way to the top. The view was something else seeing downtown from up there was amazing and seeing the size. To me, I think Juneau is small town compared to other capitals and this city is like a small town where everyone knows everyone. Hiking Jumbo wasn't too bad, got to talk to at least a few more guys that I ready didn't know to much about yet. After, we did our service on the beach in downtown Douglas Island some of us went to go see Captain America with some of the locals. I thought it was a pretty good movie.
The 26th on Manhood Development is was raining pretty good and we did trust falls off the pipe on an old building. Somehow or another I'm slowly overcoming the heights issue that keep mentioning in some of these posts. The meaning behind it is we need to trust the brotherhood which is really key to having a good community and a successful one. Holy communion followed that.
Early Wednesday morning, I went kayaking with Debbie Douglass and it was a total blast. Me, Mills, Bickett, Joe, Grant and Faust didn't have a chance all summer to go out to the lake until that time. I'm back on the water again in a skinny boast thinking yeah, I'm about to go into the water but that never happen at all! We kayaked all the way as close as we can to Mendenhall Glacier than went all the way back. And yes, I got a workout at the same time.
Wednesday, 27th (same day) during our CRU weekly meeting I had a chance to speak to everyone and tell them my testimony on how I came to Christ and Juneau. It went very well. I actually wanted volunteer to share my testimony and God put that in my heart and I did. Got a lot of good comments from people plus the locals who are in CRU in Juneau. After the meeting we had an event called the $5 prom. Basically we had to buy 5 dollars outfits or you can be creative like I was I need to spend money on a dance party. Followed by hanging out with locals going to McDonald's. I got invited by some of the students who go to CRU in town so I had chance to get to know some of them like Callie, Bri, Cassie, Seth, Nathan and David D. That was one of my favorite nights of the entire summer just spending time with them and chillin.
On the 28th (Thursday), After the last day of work I ended up cooking for my action group which turned out very successful! All I cooked up was Mac and Cheese homemade kind and on top of that a ton of pasta noodles. Yeah, I wanted to just keep it simple and I did real BIG. I'm starting to learn how to cook so at least this summer I know a little bit still working on it.
Saturday (30th) was our prayer hike on Mt. Roberts. And we all did it together that included the ladies as well. Did it in small groups though but we arrived right at the cross sitting on the mountain where we had worship and prayer up there but that wasn't the top. About 9 of us after that hike the rest of Roberts another 2.5 miles up eventually I got to the top of this mountain as well. It took a while but I got up there and that mountain I think was a little bit harder than Mt. Jumbo was. The same night we had our last outreach event of the summer and it was a dodgeball tournament. And it turned out to be real competitive, had a lot of fun with that. During the intermission I got to share my testimony again with all of the locals who came out to the high school (Thunder Mountain).
Monday and Tuesday (1st and 2nd) was mostly free time to what we wanted because this was the last week in Juneau for most of us. Tuesday afternoon, I went downtown with Callie and Bri just to hangout with them some more and take some more pictures. It's was really nice getting to chill with them. We have just gotten to know each other well. Action group night, Mike cooked us some real big burgers then went to the docks from some shakes afterwards. Then, ended up playing outdoor caged dodgeball for the night cap which was fun.
Wednesday (3rd), the last CRU weekly meeting for us took place after that one last hanging out with all the locals who helped us out this summer. The same night a few of us starting a yearbook signing event where a few others had maps that the students were signing as well.
Towards the end of the week, each student was debrief by one of the original staff students who were here in the beginning of the summer. We all cleaned up the campus all day (Southeast Alaska) vechcles, storage room. etc. Pretty much everything. Then finally the last night in Juneau we all hungout with each other before taking offon our seperate ways. I manage to enjoy my last night by staying up all night because I had a 6am flight didn't want to go to sleep at all. Had a chance to watch most of the movie "tangled" with Jenny Logan, Rikky, Seth, Caleb, Jack, and Christina before taking off on the airplane back home. At the airport before getting on the plane their was one line big line of the project (students) giving hugs and saying the farewells. Everyone who was still in Juneau were able to see us off first. I flew back with Robert, Parker, Spencer, Kieth, Van Zant and Christina. The group slowly seperated as we got closer to our destinations. But it took longer for some of us to get home than expected. The last 2.5 months has been really amazing spending it with a good communtiy of students and real soon I'll be back on campus at K-State.
See you on the flip side,
Eddie
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