Hello! If you are reading this, you probably know that I spent the past three weeks in Hawaii. You may be wondering what I did during that time and how it could possibly qualify as a college course. Well, I'm glad you asked.
Messiah has a January-term during which students take one course in order to lighten the load of the rest of the spring semester. I took Wilderness Encounter, a three-week backpacking course. The course occurs every J-term and alternates location between Big Bend National Park in Texas and the island of Kauai. It is required for Adventure Education students, though other students outside of the Adventure Ed program can apply as well. I chose to go to Texas last year because I had never experienced the desert before. Students cannot go to both Texas and Hawaii because it is the same course, just in a different location.
But a few weeks before the end of the fall semester, I received a text in the Loft Team group message expressing that Dave, my Adventure Education professor, still had a spot to fill and would even take Texas people. I immediately texted Dave and asked if he was in his office so that I could inquire more. He was, so we talked about the possibility of me repeating Wilderness Encounter and all of the challenges associated with that. The next day, I decided that I wasn't going to go. The day after, I did not feel content with my decision. I am not one to pass up learning opportunities, and this would certainly be one. So I asked Dave if it was too late to change my mind, and a month later, I found myself on the island of Kauai.
Wilderness Encounter is designed to facilitate opportunities for in-depth encounters with God, others, self, and creation in order for participants to grow in each of these relationships. This is achieved through an extended wilderness experience. Backpacking and hiking are the primary activities in Hawaii. We spent about eight days in Waimea Canyon and another eight days in Kokee. The course curriculum is intended to cultivate encounters in each of the four relationships mentioned above.
To encounter God, we begin each day with a 45 minute Selah (pause, devotional time) and morning prayers. We engage in discussion surrounding Abba's Child by Brennan Manning and Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll. We do a 40-hour solo and fast. We end each day with evening prayers. We also encounter God throughout our daily interactions with each other and His Creation.
To encounter others, we consider what it means to "practice the presence of people" by studying Practicing the Presence of People by Mike Mason. Practicing the presence of one another occurs naturally as we spend most moments of the day together - hiking together, exploring together, cooking together, eating together, worshiping together, praying together, camping together, conversing together, and doing just about everything else together.
To encounter self, we spend a lot of time in self-reflection. We consider what it means to live out of our belovedness, rather than our impostor (a concept explored in Abba's Child). We give each other feedback, which facilitates greater understanding of ourselves. We take turns leading each day in pairs, which helps us grow in our leadership abilities.
To encounter Creation, well, that occurs as we experience the spectacular beauty of Kauai. We enhance this through studying the plants and culture with "Professor of the Day" lessons.
So that is what I have been doing for the past month. It was an incredible experience, and the growth that came out of it certainly made the trip worthwhile.
There is so much that I could say about the experience. I thought it may be most helpful to answer questions that I am frequently asked about Wilderness Encounter. If you have any additional questions that you would like me to answer, please comment below.
What did you eat?
This is probably what I am most frequently asked. For the most part:
Breakfast: dry cereal, bagels, oatmeal, pancakes, breakfast burritos (we use egg powder for the eggs), dehydrated apples
Lunch: tortillas, cheese, more tortillas, more cheese, crackers, dried fruit, peanut butter, sausage
Dinner: Spam melts (always my favorite meal of the trip), pizza, mashed potatoes from powder, stuffing, dehydrated vegetables, curry, quinoa, burritos, rice and beans, Mac and cheese, stir fry, spaghetti
And lots of GORP (good old raisins and peanuts, basically trail mix)
Where do you sleep?
We sleep in tents at different campsites along the trails. We carry our tents with us. The tents have a rain fly to keep us dry when it rains.
What was the best part?
It is hard to pick a "best part" because the entire experience is amazing. However, a clear highlight from Hawaii was that we had a two-hour hula lesson from a hula teacher who happened to be camping next to us at one of the beach parks. It was an engaging experience that bonded the group together and that we will never forget.
What was your favorite location on the trip?
A path off of one of the trails led to a lookout that was right in the middle of the canyon. Imagine a tourist lookout over a canyon (one that you drive to that leads to a platform with a railing). Now imagine that view surrounding you 360 degrees and being right in the middle of it.
Which was better - Texas or Hawaii?
The trips are very different and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is impossible to call one better than the other. Both Big Bend and Kauai are spectacular places.
What was the most significant thing you learned on the trip?
The most significant piece of learning for me, both years actually, has been seeing the need to deal with the "waste" we generate as we interact with one another. That is, conflict, which occurs naturally during interaction. We focus a lot on dealing with frustrations we have with one another during Wilderness Encounter, confessing how we have wronged others and addressing how others have wronged us. I have grown in my understanding of the importance of reconciliation with others and how to actually do this.
Messiah has a January-term during which students take one course in order to lighten the load of the rest of the spring semester. I took Wilderness Encounter, a three-week backpacking course. The course occurs every J-term and alternates location between Big Bend National Park in Texas and the island of Kauai. It is required for Adventure Education students, though other students outside of the Adventure Ed program can apply as well. I chose to go to Texas last year because I had never experienced the desert before. Students cannot go to both Texas and Hawaii because it is the same course, just in a different location.
But a few weeks before the end of the fall semester, I received a text in the Loft Team group message expressing that Dave, my Adventure Education professor, still had a spot to fill and would even take Texas people. I immediately texted Dave and asked if he was in his office so that I could inquire more. He was, so we talked about the possibility of me repeating Wilderness Encounter and all of the challenges associated with that. The next day, I decided that I wasn't going to go. The day after, I did not feel content with my decision. I am not one to pass up learning opportunities, and this would certainly be one. So I asked Dave if it was too late to change my mind, and a month later, I found myself on the island of Kauai.
Wilderness Encounter is designed to facilitate opportunities for in-depth encounters with God, others, self, and creation in order for participants to grow in each of these relationships. This is achieved through an extended wilderness experience. Backpacking and hiking are the primary activities in Hawaii. We spent about eight days in Waimea Canyon and another eight days in Kokee. The course curriculum is intended to cultivate encounters in each of the four relationships mentioned above.
To encounter God, we begin each day with a 45 minute Selah (pause, devotional time) and morning prayers. We engage in discussion surrounding Abba's Child by Brennan Manning and Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll. We do a 40-hour solo and fast. We end each day with evening prayers. We also encounter God throughout our daily interactions with each other and His Creation.
To encounter others, we consider what it means to "practice the presence of people" by studying Practicing the Presence of People by Mike Mason. Practicing the presence of one another occurs naturally as we spend most moments of the day together - hiking together, exploring together, cooking together, eating together, worshiping together, praying together, camping together, conversing together, and doing just about everything else together.
To encounter self, we spend a lot of time in self-reflection. We consider what it means to live out of our belovedness, rather than our impostor (a concept explored in Abba's Child). We give each other feedback, which facilitates greater understanding of ourselves. We take turns leading each day in pairs, which helps us grow in our leadership abilities.
To encounter Creation, well, that occurs as we experience the spectacular beauty of Kauai. We enhance this through studying the plants and culture with "Professor of the Day" lessons.
So that is what I have been doing for the past month. It was an incredible experience, and the growth that came out of it certainly made the trip worthwhile.
There is so much that I could say about the experience. I thought it may be most helpful to answer questions that I am frequently asked about Wilderness Encounter. If you have any additional questions that you would like me to answer, please comment below.
What did you eat?
This is probably what I am most frequently asked. For the most part:
Breakfast: dry cereal, bagels, oatmeal, pancakes, breakfast burritos (we use egg powder for the eggs), dehydrated apples
Lunch: tortillas, cheese, more tortillas, more cheese, crackers, dried fruit, peanut butter, sausage
Dinner: Spam melts (always my favorite meal of the trip), pizza, mashed potatoes from powder, stuffing, dehydrated vegetables, curry, quinoa, burritos, rice and beans, Mac and cheese, stir fry, spaghetti
And lots of GORP (good old raisins and peanuts, basically trail mix)
Where do you sleep?
We sleep in tents at different campsites along the trails. We carry our tents with us. The tents have a rain fly to keep us dry when it rains.
What was the best part?
It is hard to pick a "best part" because the entire experience is amazing. However, a clear highlight from Hawaii was that we had a two-hour hula lesson from a hula teacher who happened to be camping next to us at one of the beach parks. It was an engaging experience that bonded the group together and that we will never forget.
What was your favorite location on the trip?
A path off of one of the trails led to a lookout that was right in the middle of the canyon. Imagine a tourist lookout over a canyon (one that you drive to that leads to a platform with a railing). Now imagine that view surrounding you 360 degrees and being right in the middle of it.
Which was better - Texas or Hawaii?
The trips are very different and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is impossible to call one better than the other. Both Big Bend and Kauai are spectacular places.
What was the most significant thing you learned on the trip?
The most significant piece of learning for me, both years actually, has been seeing the need to deal with the "waste" we generate as we interact with one another. That is, conflict, which occurs naturally during interaction. We focus a lot on dealing with frustrations we have with one another during Wilderness Encounter, confessing how we have wronged others and addressing how others have wronged us. I have grown in my understanding of the importance of reconciliation with others and how to actually do this.
Our hiking group; Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
Glass Beach; the glass was created through the ocean breaking up pieces of glass from what was a nearby dump; a beautiful illustration of God's redemptive work; Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
The canyon we hiked in; Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
Our hiking group before our final (our hike out of the canyon without instructors); Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
One of the beaches where we camped; the photos don't really capture the beauty; Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
A lookout during our final; Photo Credit: Ashlyn Stonge
Comments
God Bless.
Mr Zearley