Canoes, Creation and Community

This past week, we had the opportunity to, as a community, to embark on a canoe trip.  With some guides from the Manitoba Pioneer Camp, we divided into two groups and took to the water, eager for an adventure and the chance to reconnect with the wonders of nature.

Lasting 4 days and 3 nights, most of us felt as though it were a week.  In such a short time so many remarkable and rewarding experiences took place; we certainly returned with far more than we`d bargained for.  From taking a ride back in history in the heart of a mining community; portaging canoes on our backs through bush and mire; to vanquishing a woodland plateau overlooking lake and pine and testing our strength and resolve against threatening 1-metre high waves, we persevered with naught but bumps and bruises and a joyful spirit.

Amidst the highlights and fun times, we also had the opportunity to reflect and think in the midst of God`s creation, through both devotionals and discussions around the campfire.  While on the trip, the times of reflection revolved around two aspects of nature - beauty and brokenness.  Out in the wilderness, devoid of any modern technology, per se, it is so easy to realize and acknowledge the beauty - the lake, the forest life, the sunrise and sunset.  On the other hand, brokenness is a far more abstract concept, and personally, I really had to concentrate in order to see the broken and neglected in the middle of such incredible scenery.  The times around the campfire, where we enjoyed meals, fellowship, and discussion were definitely.  Many lessons were learned and challenges initiated  as we crowded the logs and stumps arrayed around  our source of warmth and light.

I could say so much more about our canoe trip, but that`s all we have time for now.  One thing that most of us would take away from this is the acknowledgement that we don`t really need, and in the context of a community, it is so musch easier to keep this in mind because we share mostly everything.  The few days we had together was a truly remarkable experience and challenged us physically, socially, and spiritually as we reconnected with nature and the desire that is deep inside each of us.

Written by Matt McGraw  

The Challenge of Simplicity

No technology, no time of day, no civilization, no showers, just the required needs for four days. Food and Clothes. Load this up into a canoe in the Lake of the Woods and you have all you need to delve deep into the beauty and brokeness around us.

The whole trip was catered around removing barriers in our lives in order to reach a point of simplicity, where it often becomes easier to connect with God. While there was lots of contemplation we had loads of fun which include great inside jokes and a myriad of random quotes. Who could leave out pigeon sitings and late night campfire talks. All great times that help a development of close-knit community and relationships with each other.

Our theme over the trip was beauty and brokeness and each day we focuses on something else. We first discussed beauty. It is not very difficult to find beauty around us when we`re in the unadultered wilderness. Whether it`s the incredible sunrise with the fog floating just above the water or the unique effect of the bright sunlight reflecting on the water or even the beauty of the people around us and the cohesive community we create. The beauty of God that is displayed around us everywhere.

Brokeness can be more difficult to spot or think of in nature, but it is everywhere, it can be tangible like broken trees or bad weather, it is all around. Often our spirituality is a hidden brokeness where we shelter ourselves from God until we don`t recognize his voice. For myself I saw brokeness as I canoed with two people whos` bodies were failing them. It`s a simple reminder of how our physical bodies are breaking but God will give us new ones as we join him in heaven.

I think our guide Chris summed up the trip perfectly with the connection of beauty and brokeness. The cross is the perfect balance of beauty and brokeness, it combines pain and sacrifice with the beauty of the salvation of our sins. Nothing displays more beauty and brokeness then the cross.

By Blayne Stobbe

A Matter of Perspective

Astonished Man

A Matter of Perspective

A Sculpture by Matt McGraw

Set before you is a story told through clay that is of 5 men.  Each of these men live in the same small town and are of the same social class, yet you can tell by the expressions on their faces that they each view the world a different way.  

First there is the Laughing Man, who sees the joy and the positive things in life, content and thankful.

Next is the Grieving Man, who cannot see past his own guilt and wretchedness.  Though he is looking on the same plane as the Laughing Man, instead of seeing the beauty and wonder of life he perceives only the broken and the negative aspects of society according to what he sees in himself.  

The Crazy Man, however, has taken what he believes to be acceptable and taken it to the extreme, living a life of immorality and deceit.  He consciously harms others without acknowledging the consequences of his actions.  

Facing away from everyone else is the Arrogant Man, who feels that he doesn't need the help of those around him, because in his mind he has twisted the truth and sees himself as better than everyone else.

Finally, we see the Astonished Man, with his face upwards, bent towards the heavens in the realization that he cannot make do and live life by his own strength.  He has found the source of all life, his Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Each of these men have heard the Truth, but have interpreted it according to their own experiences.  When everything is said and done, it's all a matter of perspective.  

Crazy Man

Laughing Man

Arrogant Man

Grieving Man

We just finished up a series of classes with instructor Brian Larmour and this is what Matt created during one of the sessions.  

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Sandy

The first one

Hi everyone back home!  This is Sandy coming to you live from Starbucks! 

I know you must being going crazy, wondering what we've been up to in the past couple days.  So let me share!

We arrived safely at Camp Arnes on Sunday night and it's just been a barrel of fun since then.  It's a little chilly, but that hasn't stopped us from hanging out, making new friends, or playing a little frisbee.  And laughter.  A lot of laughter.  The general consensus is that Outtatown is fantastic - and we can't wait to see what God has in store for us as a team.  And a team we are quickly becoming.  I'm not sure what you've been doing at home - but you sent us 32 incredible students.  

I'll just ask you all to have a little patience as we get the site blog up and running, but we'll do our best to keep you updated.

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Sandy

our first exercise in team building...