January 25, 2012

     Busy busy busy day! Mostly getting ready for our first winter trek tomorrow! Woke up and hobbled on my sprained ankle all day long...trying to get it ready for the pressure that I'm going to have to put on it starting tomorrow! Had to start the day early and finish up the 2 papers that were due tonight...lunch...leadership...we had the "leave no trace" talk and found out our trek teams! I'm on Katie Burn's and Mozzy's team (who was supposed to be DJ...but because Dave got sick...it got switched around) On my team is Taylor O. (roomie!), Taylor M., Reed, Rick, Gabe, Katelyn, Arielle, Aron, Leslie, and Amanda! I was on food duty and we packed up each meal in a separate garbage bag. Us girls then had to make "special pink bags" where we put hot pink duck tape around ziplock bags...just in case that time of month comes...leave no trace to the extreme! I then started to pack up my gear, went to dinner, went to Christian Classics, and then officially started packing! I had to do my laundry and while waiting for it me and Drew had a great talk! yay for friends and good conversation! I now, at 1:40 am, have just finished officially packing. Our bags weigh probably from 40-50 pounds...and our team is hiking up 20 miles total...this could get interesting to say the least...especially on a sprained ankle. I can't wait to just spend time away from reality in God's creation! We talked tonight in Classics about what solitude is all about...and I can't wait to get some genuine solitude in! Praying for God to bring some clarity, restoration, and just plain joy to this experience! Especially since I am not the best hiker ever!
    Off to the wilderness for the first trek tomorrow bright and early! 5 days of backpacking up the snowy mountains of Shuteye Peak in the Sierra Nevadas we go! Only sad part? Not seeing everyone else who's not on my team for 5 days! We each go to different locations...so we never get to run into each other! I can't wait to hear about their adventures and share our own!
   Peace out! Prayers appreciated! Be back on Monday!

January 24, 2012

     Today was not the best of days. Me and the roomie Taylor got up for Life and Teachings and were innocently walking to grab breakfast before when the minute I stepped off the girl's dorm porch...BAM! I stepped in between 2 rocks in a weird way, my ankle twisted, and CRACK! That's the sound I heard. I instantly hit the ground and was hit by excruciating pain. Now, I am no expert in "Oh no this is a pretty bad injury!" but I have sprained my other ankle before playing volleyball in high school, and knew instantly that this wasn't a regular twisted ankle. Thank Jesus my roommate was there and sent someone to get Burns. Because it was so cold out, we think that it acted as an instant healer, and the swelling was nowhere near where we thought it would be. However, the pain was. I walked into Life and Teachings late (on crutches) and DJ asked me what had happened. I have no idea what came over me but I just started balling like a little girl...I haven't cried that hard for a long time. I couldn't get any words out and all I could do was nod as he was asking me questions. It was a tad embarrassing since everyone in class was staring at me, but seeing the concerned look on their faces, I felt the instant love...which I continued to feel all day long. Praise the Lord for amazing friends who are slowly but surely turning into family. Now, a sprained ankle isn't the end of the world...so why was I crying you may ask? Because Trek is TWO DAYS away...aka backpacking/hiking/rock climbing for five days. Yes, I am still attending...and yes, it is going to be ten times harder than it already was going to be (let's be real...hiking isn't my strongest forte in the first place.) Anywhoo...I think the frustration just overcame me...but I got through class and headed to lunch. The love everyone gave me was so appreciated. I was served lunch and dinner, walked everywhere with people carrying my stuff, and spent the whole day at Burn's house doing homework, with people in and out bringing me everything I needed. Crutches aren't that big of a deal to use...but when everywhere you walk is slippery with ice or dirt/rocks...making a mini trip becomes quite the task. and ps...I suck at using crutches...so spending an entire day on them was not the most ideal.
     I met with Burns for my one on one and we colored and talked about life. We then had staff meeting where we played a game where everyone puts 2 questions in a hat and then you have to draw one and ask it to the person to your right. Some of the questions were quite ridiculous! Also, as we were closing in prayer, Caity, instead of praying for bonding during Trek, it came out "bondage." And the whole student leadership team lost it...we were laughing so hard we couldn't finish the prayer...I'm sure God got a kick out of it ;)
    I then spent the entire night working on homework (yay for 2 papers being due tomorrow!) It was just one of those days you have no motivation and just want to sleep...especially after spraining an ankle. But, with my friends alongside me...we pushed through...stopping in between to have great life chats (mostly about relationships) :) Everyone is just so great here...Ian, O'neil, and Jeff graciously moved my bed from the top of my bunk onto the floor and made it up super nice...with a precious little note that said "This is your bed." signed by the three of them. I was told they wanted to make sure they knew what it was to prevent another accident. Ha. But seriously...I have never seen a bed made so neatly! love love love them. So...here I am laying on my floor bed typing this out, knowing the immense challenge Trek is going to be, and trusting in the Lord that he will work through my injury and still bring success from our journey. Prayers are appreciated.
   Much love...muah! ps...starting Thursday...I will be MIA in the wilderness until Monday...I will sure to write all about it upon return!
    Another ps...I can't thank you enough for the packages and letters! My phone gets limited service here and I rarely ever have my phone on me (especially since it is about to break in half...proof I need the iPhone?!?! hehehe) so here is a thank you! (aka Ms. LuAnne, Samantha, the parentals, Rachel, Kelsey) I appreciate them so much and they bring so much joy to my day!

January 23, 2012

     Oh Mondays. Today was just never ending! Woke up and went to brunch in Oakhurst at the Sweetwater Inn! So yummy! About 16 of us made the trip down! Came back and immediately started to write my paper that was due tonight! ahhh! cutting it so close ;) Then met with Rob to go over my independent study this semester...and made the decision to only take 13 units! I'm super ahead already in classes and I want this semester to be different since it is my "study abroad." I want to have time to fully invest in people and in my position as a student leader...and take adventures!!! We had shortened class today since our professor was out sick...so we just had a discussion which Mozzy led. We discovered the parallel between Plato's cave metaphor and the song "The Cave" by Mumford and Sons. I enjoy that song so much more now because I know what it means! Hooray!
     Dinner time and then small group! We talked about "sabbath" and how we go about getting our day of rest. I really liked something my leader, Megan, said that this has the potential to be a "Sabbath Semester." It hit right at home because of the decision I made earlier! So...hello "Sabbath Semester"...nice to meet you! Even though I have a few tough classes, I'm not super loaded...leaving much time for people and adventures and spending time with the Lord. I love love love my small group!
   I then took a nighttime nap...I had been going nonstop all day and was so tired! I then did some homework for class...and off to bed!

January 22, 2012

    Woke up and headed off to Sierra Vista Church! I like this one a lot! We get the choice to attend this one or the one we went to last week each Sunday...I definitely choose this one! It is so family oriented and it's just such a great environment. I love their sanctuary...it has huge glass windows that look out at the vast mountain scenery...they don't even need stained glass windows to make it pretty...they've got the authentic God's creation scenery...I tell ya. The message was on change, and how God is the only constant and only source of abundant life that we can depend on...good stuff. I also had a revelation concerning the imagery of snow and what it provides in order to have growth...for my journal only! ;) Maybe I'll share at a later time!
    Lunch were dino nuggets! hello childhood. Spent the rest of the day doing homework...I was just not in the mood today! Kept getting distracted! At one point me and Caity decided to sneak into Burn's house and take a nap in her super cozy bed! We posted a sign on her door that said "Please do not disturb: McKenna and Caity at rest." Well...I guess while we were sleeping she came in and saw us and immediately went back into the dining hall and let all the boys know. Soon enough, in come Aron, O'neil, and Kyle dog piling on top of us...but no fear! We kicked them out and went back to bed...but...20 minutes later...in they come banging pots and pans. Where is the love?!?
    Time for more homework! Ian and I shut ourselves in Burn's house and held each other accountable for finishing a certain amount of pages...and succeeded! This is going to be such a crazy week filled with much homework and preparing for Trek on Thursday!
    It's been such a rainy weekend! I love doing homework and falling a sleep to the pit pat pit pat on the roof.

January 21, 2012

     Sweet Saturdays! it SNOWED TODAY!!!!!!!! for a good 15 minutes probably, although none of it stuck. Still...it was so fun watching it fall from the sky and catching it in my hands! Slept in today and basically spent the entire day preparing for our "Sierra Showcase" that we had tonight! aka a mixed show of talents, funniness, and sentimental moments. Poster making, show order making, stage crew directions, sound system, getting snacks, organizing people, etc...you name it, and I was doing it. So much for getting homework done! But...it wasn't a problem...because...it was a complete SUCCESS! We had everything from poetry reading to dancing to song story telling to a screamo band to a cat dance! So much fun! and so fun to see people come out of their shells! So much talent and so much humor! Me and a few other former alpha leaders performed our "Old people skit" that we did for Good Times at freshman orientation this fall. This time though, we dressed up as the High Sierra Staff at their 50 year reunion. I played Katie Burns! So fun! After the show...I attempted to get some homework done...but kept getting distracted...as usual.
    Hardest thing about being here? Trying to balance work and play! DJ said the minute we get 4 inches of snow...we're going midnight sledding!

January 20, 2012

     Playing catch up with my posts! We lost internet yesterday and couldn't update! Friday!= chapel and then...nothing else! We made an Oakhurst run because we are all frantically getting ready to leave for Trek on Thursday! After, I pretty much chilled the rest of the day and hung out all night! The boys had a "first date" event tonight and came into the dining hall dressed up in couples...so presh. We watched Crazy, Stupid, Love in the movie room...and then we also watched Shawshank Redemption. I then stayed up with Jeff, Drew, Caity, Taylor, Amanda, and myself as we reminisced on our favorite old Christian bands...ZOEgirl, Jump5, Ginny Owens, Nicole C. Mullins, & so many more! These are the classics, people! We stayed up until 3 in the morning! So crazy! but so fun! Yay for Friday nights in the mountains!

January 19, 2012

     Greatest thing about Thursdays here?! They equal the start of the weekend! Hooray! It was a pretty chill day...went to class and then got to take a THREE HOUR nap. It was so beautiful. I then worked on some random things...and decorated our room a little more! I also went for a run while everyone and their mother was in class (I'm one of the few who isn't taking that one) After, I got to skype with one of my bestest friends Samantha! and then after dinner another skype sesh with my love Bianca! I kind've just chilled for the rest of the night, did rounds since it was my night on duty, and then watched 2 episodes of Vampire Diaries with Taylor and Sara! The plot is thickening people! Definitely my guilty pleasure show...hehehe ;)
     Trek is ONE WEEK from today! That means 6 days of traipsing through the wilderness...oh goodness. I wonder if we'll have snow?!

January 18, 2012 (My 20th Birthday!!!!)

     Twenty Years Old...what's up? Nice to meet you. What a fantastic birthday! Woke up to my door completely decked by my lovely roomies! Then to breakfast and an Oakhurst run...I share my bday with Jess and we bought each other Jamba Juice! Went to leadership and learned how to read a map (we're preparing for our backpacking adventure!) Then an hour break and off to Classics! Learned some crazy stuff tonight! Go read Psalm 46 in the New King James Version. It is rumored that Shakespeare translated the original to English. If you count 46 words in from the beginning of the Psalm...you find the word "shake" and then if you count 46 words from the end...you find the word "spear." Shakespeare was known for doing things like this and it is said that he left his "mark" in the Psalm, through the way he translated it. How cool! Then...dinner time! A bunch of people came out of the kitchen banging pots and pans with HUGE bowls of ice cream...chocolate & vanilla with ice cream sandwiches and ice cream bars mixed in topped with whip cream, in hand lit with candles...we're talking mixing bowl size here...for me and Jess! They sang for us and we ate our delicious dessert (not all of it of course...many people helped share it with me but we still couldn't finish!) However, before I even took one bit, Drew decided to pick up the bowl and shove it in my face! The whip cream did a number on my face and hair...and I made sure to get him back by wiping it on his face...and O'neil's (since he caught the whole thing on video!) So...after dinner...I had to take a shower! Then I skyped the familia!
    I received a cookie cake from my parents and a bunch of us went to Burn's house to eat it! We then played Disney Scene It! I then hung out with Christy and we watched the New Episode of White Collar! I think I'm going to watch 27 Dresses now! hehe Such a fun day and great way to start this new decade of my life! I'm excited for all the new adventures it is going to bring. "I'm in my twenties..." that sounds so weird!
   The best thing about birthdays is all the love you get all day long! So thanks for the packages, the letters, the decorations, the facebook wall posts, the mirror messages, the texts, the phone calls...they all mean so much! Yay for being 20!

January 17, 2012

     Tuesday. Breakfast. Life & Teachings: DJ made me cry...again...I tell ya...that man...he read us a letter that his mom wrote him when he was six...the first time he had ever read it to students. heart wrenching, I tell you. Plenary...we learned all about the history from the Renaissance until today...since that's the era we're all studying in this spring semester. Lunch. Nap time. One on one with Burns...she took me to the local coffee place "The Cool Bean." I got a peach iced tea...so good! Then...self care time! I worked on planning our January event "Sierra Showcase" aka an open mic/talent show we are going to hold on Saturday! It should be great! Dinner. Reading for Leadership. Setting up our girl's hall event. Tonight, as we're still looking at January's theme: (re)defining the word "scholar," we talked about how important self care is and we had a night of destressification! We first wrote down everything we had to do and then placed them aside. We played this great game involving panty hose, balloons, and racing...pictures soon! We then watched cartoons on the projector in the meeting hall! Tom & Jerry and Kim Possible for the win! It was so great to ignore homework and our responsibilities! I then came back to my room and was ambushed by my roomies exclaiming "Happy Birthday!" Christy made me a beautiful hand knit headband that she made herself! It's a deep olive green with a maroon bow! It's SO CUTE! I'm wearing it tomorrow on my birthday! Other girls on the hall came in too...so sweet! I share my birthday with Jess...we're convinced we're twins and she gave me a beautiful card! I then read a bunch of girls a bed time story. We all hopped in Taylor's bed and I read them the story of "Scamp the Puppy." So fun! I am now in our lobby finishing up leadership homework and writing this post! Tomorrow I turn 20! How crazy is that! Excited to see what this new year and decade of my life are going to hold! Nighty night!

January 16, 2012

     Today was a pretty chill day. Almost everyone went rock climbing, but I just had too much to do! and...it was freezing! The first flurries of the year! It's supposed to snow this week! eeeek! Am I ready for this?! Only time will tell!
     It was a very productive day! I worked on my life story (my first assignment for Life & Teachings of Jesus and Christian Classics...DJ is awesome), filled out some recommendations for my alphies from last semester to become alpha leaders (they're growing up so fast! tear), filled out independent study forms, and worked on some stuff for our hall. Oh! and I cleaned my room! It was a good day to catch up on life...we've just been doing so much this past week!
     Had Concepts of Human Nature from 3-6pm (I know, I know...its MLK day...but...no school off for us...boo) However, even though this is an advanced philosophy class, I actually really enjoyed the discussion! I was definitely not confident in my paper I turned in...but...the class was fun and felt short! How weird! I usually hate 3 hour classes!
   Dinner time! Rosemary potatoes for the win! yum yum! Then...I met for the first time with my small group! Megan (aka Nobi) is my leader and Caity (my fellow student leadership member), Penny, Danielle, Amber, and Taylor (my roomie!) are in it! I cannot wait to get to know them all and am looking forward to Megan sharing her wisdom with us. She met her husband here and they recently got married (on Star Rock...no less!) They are so sweet and their home is right on campus....just a one minute walk away from our dorm! You would never even think it was located in a camp...it is so homey and comfortable! Our small group counts as one of our chapel credits up here (the other 2 our Friday morning chapel and attending church on Sunday...wayyyyy better than main campus if ya ask me) so I'll be spending a lot of time with them! Can't wait!
    I then got to skype the familia and talked to one of my besties Rachel! yay! I then took orders from those stressed out in Great Ideas working on their assignments for tomorrow! I brought them all yummy snacks and tea! Then it was time to do my homework! Better go wrap up this life story!
    ps...tomorrow is my last day being a teenager....say what?!?!

January 15, 2012

       Sunday funday! Woke up and went to church! We all loaded up the vans and paraded in...it was in an old barn...with a loft and everything! Very unique. The message? Hope. I liked it. Back to school for lunch and the rest of the afternoon= homework. Concepts of Human Nature (aka a philosophy class) is going to kick my butt. no bueno. But...the good thing is...I have plenty of people to join me in my homework endeavors! Most of the night was spent with Christy, Ian, & Drew working on a paper we have due tomorrow (school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day...say what?!) but...I guess it's ok since we're going climbing all day tomorrow beforehand. ;) I got to take an epic nap today! I love Sunday afternoon naps!
        We ate dinner with the boy scouts! (The summer camp director that owns this place brought his son's boy scout troupe up for the weekend! so cute! After some more homework time, a group of us went to Burn's house to watch Castle! A great break indeed! Now...time for some more homework!

January 14, 2012

     The perfect Saturday! Woke up and went to play sand volleyball at our courts! Who headed up the game you might ask? The astronomy professor of course. It's so great to actually be friends with the professors. We played one mixed match and then one match boys versus girls...we won...obviously. The afternoon was then spent reading away and at 2pm we loaded up in the vans and took off for Yosemite. We hiked Glacier Point (the same short hike I did last week with just the student leadership team) and once we got to the top...we took tons of pictures (coming soon!), ate sack dinners, and watched the sunset (again with that dang alpine glow! so gorgeous!) I see you, God. good work. We then took the windy road home and ever since then I have been doing attempting to read & do homework! In all reality, I ended up having some epic conversations! One with my roommates (boy talk! hehe), one with people in the meeting hall (we were sitting by the fire attempting to do homework but ended up talking & playing hangman instead!), and one with the beautiful Austin! She read me & Christy some of her poetry and it was amazing!
    Time to continue slaving away at homework! Have I mentioned how much I love it here? Everything about this place just makes me view life differently. It makes me want to write, dance, reflect, and so much more! I am reminded of things I love & cherish reminiscing on my past...there's just this overwhelming sense of peace & security that I know is a sign I am meant for here...I am supposed to be here...and big things are going to be the result of my doing so.

WRITE ME!

I LOVE LETTERS! no pressure... ;)

McKenna Bennett

Azusa Pacific University 

PO Box 890

39515 Road 274

Bass Lake, CA 93604

January 13, 2012

   ***ps I am slowly adding in pictures from previous posts! Keep checking backward for some epic captured moments!***

    Yay for Fridays! Woke up to the sun shining brightly in my eyes (from sleeping on Star Rock) & FREEZING! I snuck back into my bed for an hour & then returned to Star Rock...because that's where we had our 1st chapel! We sang some worship songs & then we were told to journal about how we want to be/what we want to achieve at the end of this semester & how we were going to do it. It was also a time of reflection & time to simply just spend with the Lord. There's something about it up here...I just feel so much closer & in tune with Him...His creation speaks to me. Looking out over the vast array of deep green trees plastered against the bright blue sky...it's pretty difficult to deny His existence & love. After...I went & took an epic nap while everyone else was in class (no class for me today!) I then went to lunch & after went and read on the deck! It was beautiful! and so successful!
     A group of us then went on a walk to The Pines (same place as yesterday I went running) & we picked out some sweet shirts to be screen printed! I got a dark green long sleeve with some majestic deer on the front that says "Oh Deer" (Amanda's idea...so clever...I know...everyone back at campus loved it!) and I also got a gray tank (I'm in LOVE with tanks) that has a cute little teddy bear camping scene! I also purchased some epic postcards! Maybe some of you reading....expect some to come your way? Perhaps... ;)
    We returned just in time for dinner...they served lemon punch cake for dessert...probably like my favorite thing ever. Drew then decided to bet me that I couldn't read to pages 60 by tonight in one of the books we are assigned (midnight...aka the goal I had set for myself) Quite frankly...I didn't think I could either...but now there was a bet...and I was all in. The loser has to serve as the other's servant for an entire day. So naturally I sprinted off to go read! I found a quiet place in Burn's house with some other girls and things were going GREAT until in walks Drew with a cup of hot chocolate & cake for me! Don't get too excited...it was all in his devious scheme to distract me! And let me tell you...it worked! We all were so distracted and by the time we got him to leave I had lost time! So...we locked all the doors and got to work again! But...Drew...being...Drew... sent in multiple people to come "distract" us! So funny! So I shut myself in Burn's spare bedroom and pushed my way through...and WON!!!! I finished with plenty of time to spare! I'll keep ya posted on how my little servant does ;) hehehehehe.
    Had some great talks with people today! Getting to know everyone more and loving it! Tomorrow we're going on a sunset hike in Yosemite! Stoked!

ps...HAPPY HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND SAMANTHA FORTNER! woooooo! love you girl! xoxoxoxoxo

January 12, 2012

     What a beautiful day! Like all days up here! (no snow yet...and it's 65 degrees & sunny everyday!) Today I got to sleep in a little bit and then headed off to my only class of the day...Life & Teachings of Jesus...again with DJ! I'm really stoked for it! Plus...he gave me a free course booklet...saving $25 for the win! After class was lunch time and then I took a great nap. I then was super productive! I'm applying for RA on campus next year & dealt with all the application details, I ordered my books (finally...thanks to dear Jess for letting me use her laptop), and me and the roommates worked on decorating our room! I also finally emptied all of my boxes & stored them! We have a few things left decorating wise...but we are mostly settled in our new home! Me and the roomie Taylor then went on a run to the Pines (aka the only stores within walking distance....welcome to the mountains). After getting a little lost in the woods, we finally found are way & then took the road back home. We're trying to prepare ourselves for Trek! :)
     After dinner, me and Drew decided to go read. However, this proved to be SUPER unsuccessful. We kept getting distracted & before we knew it...it was time to play glow stick capture the flag! It was 2 orientation groups agains the other 2 and it was so much fun! It took so much more strategy trying to trek through the woods but it was so worth it! After the game, there were monster cookies (aka a giant chocolate chip cookie...life changing I tell you) & ice cream!
    A bunch of us then decided to go sleep on Star Rock outside. It was quite the chilly night! We all stayed up telling silly or embarrassing stories and Drew and I ended staying up until 3am talking (but everyone else told us later that we kept them up...it was just such good conversation we couldn't stop! oops!) We were supposed to get up early to go read (we're trying to keep each other accountable for reading for Concepts...but we were so tired that was a no go) Oh, well...maybe tomorrow? He better start keeping me accountable...or...I'm going to get nothing done. haha. It just doesn't feel like this is school yet!
     What a lovely Thursday!

January 11, 2012

This morning I awoken & went to Plenary again, this time taught by DJ. This man is freaking amazing. He read of us some of his poems, & finished class with one he directly wrote to us (he gave us each a handout of it):

To: High Sierra Spring '12
Love, DJ 


The semester's begun, you're finally here
Some thought that day wouldn't come
You're all geared up, boots broke in
The adventure & thrill you want some


A few came back, you know what's ahead
You're braced to repeat the gain
To see if there's something you perhaps missed
Force your soul to embrace the pain


So far it's been easy & loads of fun
the food might make you fat!
Maybe, you think, the rumors aren't true
But alas, it's much worse than that.


Someday real soon, when you're all alone
You'll put your head down, maybe cry
You'll look at the books you're supposed to read
& think it'd be easy to lie


Here's the point, you see, of my plenary today
in this place I describe you will sit
Both weak & tired & unfit you'll feel
& some might be ready to quit


But stop lads & lassies, listen a bit
a truth I'm here to tell thee
Alone a weakness will plague & torment
But alone you aren't s'posed to be


Two things about you I've thus declared
Hold in tension you can see
Both Lion & Lamb, willfull & not, 
Weak & Strong you must be.


On one hand a servant is all you are
Your delight is Another's will.
On the other hand Lord & Queen & King
At your voice all others are still


In the place you live, the lord you must be
the chaos you must control
But the Life of your space is He who made you
& He must own your soul


In days to come, not too far away
all alone & weak you'll feel
With too much to do & not enough time
you'll want to escape the deal


Return then to this, remember, reflect
Sit down with Him who loves you
Be quite & still-renew your vow
Say again what you know to be true


"Without you my Lord, I tremble & fear
Say again what you want me to do
With you by my side, I'm made of stone
my Lordship then I'll renew."


(Another reminder for more notes later)

    Right after, I had Christian Classics....again with DJ. We're going to have a lot of reading & a lot of creative writing assignments & I'm actually excited for it! Then DJ told us his life story (since our first assignment is to write ours). ***Disclaimer: I am not the biggest cryer ever. Even during a sad movie, or a sad life story, or sad anything...I feel...but I don't usually cry.*** Listening to his story, the tears would not stop flowing...I think it's because he told it with such love & reflection. We're talking about my professor here people...and his story is making me cry. That alone screams that this place is unlike anywhere else. He truly loves his students...in a very genuine way...I've never been hugged so tight & greeted so warmly by a teacher. (He is also the professor who made us zucchini soup last week during training!)
     Once again, after class, it was time to play! We had 2 more orientation activities: rock wall/tower of power & a trip into Oakhurst. The rock wall was so fun! I went up it so fast! I have no idea how! haha....& of course I belayed people too (being certified & all...hehe) I also convinced Jess (who is terrified of heights) to conquer the wall as well. Needless to say...after some coaxing...she did for her first time ever! (and she's even a returner from last semester!) After, we hopped in a van and took the 15 minute drive into Oakhurst for some various school supplies, necessities, etc. I had a 2 hour break when we returned...and tried to work on ordering my dang books (it is turning out to be such a difficult & frustrating process...boo).

                                                                 ^ Tower of Power ^

     After dinner, me & Caity wrote encouraging notes to the boys on our SLT (since we had bought them their favorite...sweet iced tea...on our Oakhurst run) & secretly delivered them to their rooms. So sneaky! We wrote "Just a little sweet tea for our 'sweeties'"...get it?! props to Caity. They loved them! We then all met together to discuss our "Community Charter..." aka an agreement of how we want to live life with each other for the next 4 months. We started out with writing our expectations/what we wanted to get out of this community on notecards. We then proceeded to tell everyone to burn them. The point being: Expectations have the capability of limiting us....they stop us from many greater or more things that the Lord might have in store for us this semester. Another point being...we shouldn't be asking what we want out of this community...but rather...what we can put in. Because community doesn't just happen...it takes people willing to work at it. We reflected on what we could all put in & sparked some good conversation & came up with our charter. Our last little fun add in: to have spontaneous dance parties all the time! And yes...immediately after....the lights turned off, the music started blaring, & we danced the night away! So fun! (although...I may have neck whip lash tomorrow...too much dub step) A group of us decided to go to the dining hall (everywhere minus dorms are 24 hour rooms!) & we sat around telling embarrassing/funny stories late into the night! It's so great getting to know everyone up here! I am way too late...but if I don't get in the habit of this blogging thing now...there's no way I'll be able to catch up later!

January 10, 2012

     Today was the 1st day of classes! My first one was "plenary." This technically isn't a real class, but a lecture that everyone is required to attend. Basically, it's a way for all the professors to take turns teaching, so that all the classes we're all taking have a way to connect. Dave Williams taught this one and it was on how to be a scholar and how to be where you are at: the university. (REMINDER TO POST NOTES LATER!) Then, my next class was Concepts of Human Nature. This is going to be a tough one for sure. There's only like 12 of us in the class & we already have a ton of reading & a paper due by next week! Next...lunch time! I love spending every meal together with my new family! After lunch, I had Leadership class...this is the class that we go on Trek (aka 2 backpacking trips) for. It's going to be challenging...but hopefully life changing for sure! What do we do after classes are done at high sierra? Play of course! My orientation group did 2 activities today. First, we did "The Crossing." There's nothing else like it in the world...and is basically a series of 3 challenges that your team must conquer...one is sliding 5 blocks to get from one platform to the next, one is rope swinging onto a tiny box (yes...the whole team must fit) and third  is figuring out a series of planks that move up and down depending on the weight put on them. OH...did I mention...that you are suspended way high up in the air while doing this?! ps...I am terrified of heights...and this almost threw me over the edge. It was so wobbly...it's hard to explain...but...yet again...pictures soon! However, our team managed to overcome it! We were so proud! Then, we got to take a lovely walk to the lake! I can't wait until it fills up and we get to go boating on it! (yes...our campus has boats that you can just take out....yet another awesome element to this place) It was then time for dinner...every dinner is served family style! So your whole table gets all the different dishes instead of a buffet like set up. We pray right at 6 and then dig in! It makes it feel a lot more homey! After, we had our first girl's hall meeting! Being the community mentor, I lead it, and I can tell they are going to be such a blessing. We talked about our highs & low, some general reminders, talked about the upcoming community charter meeting, & then we made door decorations! I gave them a giant dictionary to rip pages out of (since our theme is redefined), some colorful string, and told them to decorate anyway they wanted as long as all the names were on the door! I ended the night with a mini staff meeting & went to bed! One issue: I sleep on the top bunk & it is SO FLIPPING HOT....we're trying to figure out a new system....trial #1: turn off the dang vent! wish us luck! ps...did I say how much I absolutely ADORE my roomies Taylor & Christy?!? ;)

January 9, 2012

     Today we all awoke at 8am for breakfast & then unloaded the Uhaul! All day was pretty much spent unpacking! So.much.stuff! But this place already feels like home! How crazy awesome is that?! We broke up into orientation groups & went on a picture scavenger hunt, getting a lay of the land. We also played some other games helping us to remember names! The leadership team & I find times to hang out with each other & today we decided to become certified! Certified in what you might ask? Rock climbing of course! Yes, indeed, I am now officially certified to belay people up rocks. look out. We had to prove we knew had to double check for safety, belay, & tie a safety knot. So now, the entire leadership team and I are officially certified! Then it was time for banquet! All of us got dressed up, and the boys picked us up & escorted us to dinner! The food is absolutely PRIME here. We had pesto stuffed chicken & a variety of other dishes and strawberry cheesecake for dessert! They even served Martenelli's! After banquet, the leadership team & I had to write a funny intro for each other for our first community meeting (we have these once a month so we can all check in with one another). We also had to pick out costumes out of the HUMUNGOUS costume closet that we have on campus. O'neil wrote my description & used the "Old Spice Man" format. so funny. He also picked me out a winning outfit (aka ridiculous) (pictures soon!) I wrote for Robert & had a lot of fun picking out a ridiculous outfit for him as well!
     After the silly introductions...we got down to business! We talked about how rare this community is & how important it is to be "all in." I can say that I am fully ready to be all in and present....I don't want to be distracted while on this mountain. I want to take it all in, cherish the little things, & really let God move. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25 Katie Burns set this verse as the tone of the semester and it just made me that much more excited for the coming months. We then spent some alone time in prayer, and then were given the High Sierra bracelets. Everyone that has ever been here gets a bracelet made of climbing rope that is burned together. It is to serve as a reminder of the circle we are in and to pray for each other. It's really neat being on main campus & being able to tell who was a former High Sierran...and now...I have the official orange & black bracelet too! We then went up to Star Rock & prayed as a community. I cannot even believe how blessed I am to be attending a university as intentional as APU and to be blessed enough to be on this adventure called High Sierra Spring 2012.
    Side note: I have so much unpacking to do still...it's quite ridiculous. Maybe I'll do a little now? nah...that's what tomorrow's for. procrastinators...unite! And I am just dead tired. Tomorrow= 1st day of classes & more fun orientation activities! And...I guess...unpacking.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25

January 8. 2012

       Today we began traveling down the mountain to main campus so we could pick up everyone else! We started down at 5:30 am....I slept the entire way down. I barely remember a breakfast stop we made at McDonald's in Bakersfield...& then I got back in the van & passed out again. I woke up & asked where we were, and was super surprised to hear everyone exclaim "Azusa!" I thought they were joking, since it felt like I had only been sleeping for maybe 30 minutes...but low & behold there we were. I guess that testifies to how much 2 nights of minimum sleep & extreme decorating/crafting can take out of ya. ;) We got to campus & my family met me there! yay! They put all my stuff in the Uhaul for me (so grateful!) and then I was free to hang out with my lovely friends on campus for a little! Then...dessert reception, us leaders loaded up the 26 foot Uhaul (what a stressful job!), and then send off! A ton of friends came to see us off...they said it was the largest group of people to send us off EVER! Us High Sierrans held hands in the middle while everyone else circled around us, laid hands on us, & prayed for us! So blessed to go to such an amazing school! Then....we were off! I rode shotty in Rob (the director's) van! A van of all girls minus him! haha It was a great ride up...and you could feel the excitement in the air! We had great talks, listened to some tunes, and before you knew it....back up the mountain & home! Yes...people....a 12 hour driving day for me! whew! Then everyone scrambled like mad to find rooms (not us! since I've been here!) I am rooming with two lovely ladies, Christy & Taylor, & I couldn't be more excited for us 3 to live together in room 3! They're SO GREAT! Then, we all had a bonfire with s'mores atop of Star Rock! So fun! Now..it is bedtime. It's been a LONG week & breakfast starts at 8 am tomorrow! High Sierra Spring 2012 Semester has officially BEGUN!

Training Day 6

Training Day 6: January 7, 2012

Crazy Crazy day! We awoke with breakfast and then had about two hours of last minute training going over orientation week schedules! We have some great things planned...I will share later this week of course! We then made a "rules" video....I played a hippy lighting candles & trying to lead the camp dog into the dorms...Jeff edited it and it is so GREAT. It will officially be revealed Wednesday...and I will post it after! hooray! After, we went to work ALL DAY decorating the dorms. I have never traced so many things in my entire life. We took a small break and went to one of the professor (Mike Robinson aka DJ's) house. He made homemade zucchini soup (so delicious) & his wife made a yummy salad! He then talked to us about his thoughts on leadership. He is such a wise man & I took a lot of great things away from the conversation. I can tell I'm going to learn a lot from him. After, we were back to the old decorating. We also had to clean up because everyone else arrives TOMORROW! Let's just say we all got pretty dang delirious. At 2 am we took a small break and circled up as leaders, confessing our love for each other (but really) & made a pact to make a date once a month for just us 5 to hang out. We then got to pray for tomorrow...so cool! Me and Caity then made the boys stay up with us to help finish our hall (hehe) The boys started playing Harry Potter with our fabric? So...we sent them to bed. ;) I stayed up  until 4am...& had to wake up at 5am. That is dedication, people. But...do not fear...the dorm is decked & DONE! pictures soon...of...everything. haha

Training Day 5

Training Day 5: January 6, 2012
        Oh my goodness! Such a crazy busy day! Me and Jeff got to sleep in (the only 2...hehe) and then me, him, Robert, & O'neil headed into town (aka Oakhurst...aka definition of a mountain town). We went to McDonald's for breakfast (well...actually...the boys did....after watching Super Size Me twice...I declined). Then we went to Dollar Tree to shop for hall decorations! Each hall (boys & girls) were given  $50 budgets! The boys are doing "Unlikely Heroes" aka Super Hero theme! (obvi) Ours is a little more obscure but I'm SUPER pumped about it. We chose our theme as (re)defined. As we thought about this word, optical illusions came to mind. And then we thought about distorted mirrors. And then we thought of a fair/carnival! Now, we didn't want it to be a creepy carnival so we stuck with "vintage carnival/fair" Basically, you walk into our lobby and are under a huge canopy, we strung fair lights all the way down the hall in a zig zag fashion, are putting giant optical illusions everywhere, vintage posters, stringing tickets, and a hall of distorted mirrors...I will post pictures after we finish for the final result! Basically...our idea is to choose 4 topics to (re)define this semester. We've thought of 2! Beauty (because of the mirrors)...hero (to coordinate with the boys) & we're still working on the other two! Ok...I just got wayyyy ahead of myself! Anyhooo....we then went to a thrift/antique shop but couldn't really find anything good. The rest of the afternoon we spent tracing, making decorations, & prepping our hall decorations! We were told we have to do a very good job...so we're all working very hard on them!
          We took a short dinner break (lasagna...hey oh!) and then we had to experience "role play" situations....aka students breaking the rules and us pretending to respond to the situation. I got one of the scariest situations....a girl in a room with 2 knives and pills spilled everywhere. Talk about FRIGHTENING. My boss acted as the girl and she did such a phenomenal job acting...it really took an emotional toll on us all. However, I think I learned a lot and feel much more prepared. For the rest of the night....HALL DECORATIONS. They have become my life the past 2 days. Me and Caity (the only girl leaders) have a HUGE hall and have a ton to do! (We're both type A & perfectionists!...oh no!...but it's so GREAT!) so we stayed up until 4AM decking our hall. I pulled out my crafty nature and built a single horse 3D carousel out of...get this: a music stand, a cardboard tube, & fabric. Talk about proud. I'll post pics of course later! Make sure to check into old posts as I will be adding pictures! (whenever I get the time!) peace out.

 Boy's theme! Unlikely Heroes

 Tracing our hearts out!

 We lived in this room for a few days...decorating to the extreme!

 Good thing me & Caity are seriously both Type A...can you tell?? ;)

 Again with the Type A...

 We put our helpers to work! Yay for Hake & Burns!

 working on our vintage carnival "Redefined theme!"

Doin' Werrrkkkk.

Training Day 4

Training Day 4: January 5, 2012

     Today we woke up, ate breakfast, and packed up to head back to the High Sierra campus! Before we left the cabin we did another life story. Then, we went to see the Sequoia trees in Mariposa Grove! they are so HUGE! We did a mini hike and saw "Grizzly Bear" and "Tunnel tree"...both Sequoias! There was a hole inside of "Grizzly Bear" and I went inside....being inside a tree was something I have never done...and was so neat! We ended up fitting all 5 student leaders in the hole! (we took many pics of course...to be added to the blog soon!) We played around together and finally drove home! (weird that the word "home" changes so often in the college life!)

                                                  I went inside a tree for the 1st time ever!

                                                          and then....we all went in!

                                                                     Giant Sequoia!

    
     We ate lunch together, filled out paperwork, and had another training session. In this one we learned about planning events!  Me and Caity are in the process of figuring out our hall theme and decorations! :) We then went to one of the professor's (Dave Williams') house...but we met in his...TREEHOUSE. yes...I said treehouse. It was a legit 2 story treehouse. We talked about community and expressed how we were going to create it. Um...I am in love with this treehouse...and...I want one. We then headed back to HS and went to dinner at one of the Emerald Cove (the camp that we use) staff's house located on campus. It's crazy living among staff members...but so fun! We ate burgers and got to hang out with these amazing camp staff! We then played a game where you place a person or character on someone's forehead and you go around asking questions to figure out yours! So fun and so comical! We then walked over to Katie Burn's house, finished our last life story, and headed off to bed! First night sleeping in my room! Here I am now, procrastinating the many things I need to get done to write these lengthy blogs! But finally....CAUGHT UP! Tomorrow me and Jeff get to sleep in...and then we are manning the camp while everyone else runs some errands...apparently there's some list of tasks we must accomplish? Guess we'll see what those are in the AM! I keep thing how incredibly blessed I am to be here, be a student leader, and to have this amazing opportunity. I love love love love it! peace and blessings, dear ones. ;)

Training Day 3

Training Day 3: January 4, 2012
*ps...it's my younger sister, Elise's 17th birthday today! Happy birthday smoochie poochie!*
***also...this is a pretty lengthly post...mostly because it was such an EPIC and meaningful day!***

This morning we awoke and ate breakfast together. Then, our director, Rob Simpson (the one who we ate dinner with at his house) came to our cabin. He taught us a few things about emergency situations that we might potentially face this semester. This could be anything from psychological issues to major medical emergencies. To be honest, this kind of scared me. I really hope I don't have to deal with too many scary situations...but...being out in the woods with so many rigorous activities...it has definitely been known to happen often! Hopefully I won't pass out if someone comes a running bleeding....
Then, we all set off to go rock climb (Rob is a notorious adventure man) He took us to the base of a mountain that we had to climb up. Let me emphasize the word CLIMB. The hike started out pretty mild, but proceeded to get steeper and steeper until the point where we were literally crawling up boulders (keep in mind this is still part of the "hike" not even the "rock climbing") It was definitely the most challenging hike I have ever been on...but I kept up!  it took us probably a little over an hour to reach the top...aka the base of the climb. We ate lunch and then Rob and Jeff set up the ropes.
Let's talk about how...I have NEVER been real rock climbing before...I am terrified of vertical heights (like not when I'm walking horizontally...but when I'm going up...confusing...I know) and for this reason am even scared of man made rock walls. These walls were HUGE and ranked at a 5'8...look it up if you're not familiar with rock climbing terms (no...this does not mean the wall was 5 feet 8 inchs :P) Everyone could tell I was super afraid...so they let me sit and watch as they each proceeded to dominate the wall.
As I was sitting and watching...I decided that I came up to High Sierra on purpose to challenge myself. I decided that I did not scramble my way up this monstrous mountain to just sit and watch. So, I put on my climbing shoes, strapped on my helmet, tightened my harness...and off I went! Robert Hake (the intern) was so gracious with me as my belayer. Instead of saying "On belay" and "Belay on" we were told to used "I am ready to be supported" and "I am ready to support" you for communication as a metaphor for our roles this semester. This was one of the SCARIEST things I have ever done in my ENTIRE life. There were no bright colored hand holds to grasp, and I had to scale my way up finding the tiniest cracks in the rock to just barely balance my foot or hands on...for those of you don't know...rock climbing is all about the legs...not the arms like some assume. whew! what a workout! About half way up...I literally got stuck for about ten minutes...I could find no holds and literally felt hopeless and got really discourages. However, as I looked down (semi-BAD idea) I decided that I was going to conquer this. I slowly made my way up and about 3/4 near the top I scrambled up to finish! I have never felt so proud! And the support from my team could not have been more appreciated. They all expressed how proud they were and gave me big hugs! WHAT?!? I just scaled up a freaking huge rock...already at the top of a huge mountain (the view was SPECTACULAR). I hope this is a metaphor for the coming semester...taking challenges and huge leaps of faith...gaining a new perspective on my fears. Look out world, McKenna is going to conquer you!

After climbing, we all proceeded back down the mountain just in time before it got dark! (We heard some growling from either a bear or mountain lion on our way down....FRIGHTENING!) but we made it safe back to our cabin!
Then...it was girls night to cook! We cooked a BOMB chinese dinner meal with chicken chow main, beef terriyaki, rice, pears, and left over spinach! We also bought martinellis and I made homemade chocolate chip cookies (with the recipe in my head!). Girls being girls, we also bought a table cloth (red and white checkered) and matched all of the cups and plates too it. We also made name cards with some inscription describing each person, keeping it a secret from everyone, even the 2 other ladies kept mine from me! I ended up getting "McKenna the Conqueror"...because of the day's earlier feat. Most of them were funny, but this one meant a lot! We ate dinner, I took a shower! (finally), did life stories, and played games again! Tonight we played "What if" again and then played "He said, she said, they did" We went to bed...but us girls didn't fall asleep until after pillow talk of course!
Such a good day...but let's be real...gonna be sooooo sore tomorrow!