What happens when 17 guys from three continents go camping? First of all, the experienced ones (i.e. the four Americans) end up teaching everything from how to set up a tent to fire-building techniques to how to catch a trout. You have to start fairly basic when most of the guys have never been camping before.
We also tried to demonstrate how to stay on top of the float tube (behind the motor boat), but that didn’t always translate!
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We had a lot of great conversations, too. That’s what happens when men from various faith traditions (only two of the 13 students are Christians) spend 38 hours harnessing nature together. Here are a few of the topics discussed over the weekend:
- the religious climate in China (on the drive there)
- the story of a witch doctor turned pastor in Indonesia (around the campfire)
- how to believe in God, especially when you’re not sure that He exists (floating in kayaks)
- Muslim prayers at 4:00 a.m. (tents are not well insulated!)
- what a Christian church is like (on the return trip)
Please pray with me that these conversations continue well beyond this camping trip.
When all was said and done, we arrived back in Monmouth mostly injury free (except for a stubbed toe), we all had way too much manly (read: “unhealthy”) food to eat, and many new friendships were established. Do you want to join us next year?
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | camping, international students
Sounds like an excellent outing, Matt. I’d like to see if maybe we could get a couple of guys from Chemeketa to go and I’d tag along, too.
Hey Bill. I think we’ll be doing a trip like this again next summer, so let’s see if we can coordinate something! The benefit is a lot of time to spend with students–a chance to share our life and faith with them.