16. November 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Did you know that it the rocky mountains are cold? I do, I woke up this moring with my throat of fire and cold, unable to sleep or get my through to stop hurting. I found myself at 3:45ish pacing in the cabin, wondering what to do with myself. I found myself sleeping on the couch coming in  and out of trying to sleep and trying to swallow. I After some of my cabianmates got up, and mom evaluated my illness as strep throat.

Later I left half way through Pres Hannors Keynote and  I was shipped into town called Estis Park  to an urgent care clinic, to see what was so wrong with me. Apparently its that I am forgettable, The nurse for got to come get me and then the doctor for got to come in. Never the less I was finally seen and informed of my strep. I made it back to camp just in time for lunch and a nap. After my nap and some meds in me I was feeling much better. I decided to go to my workshop that I had been scheduled for.

“The presence of God, it’s the real deal” taught by Jack Haberer, the editor of Presbyterian Outlook. He spoke of his work and of is disertaninatl work of the main theme in the bible Not being Covenant, but the theme of the whole bible is ‘the presence of God’. The trased the theme all the way through scripture, and focused on the idea that the Spirit is free in the world, God has been let lose. And that the fire of God’s presence is now upon the people. Gods very resting within us.

I was fascinated and overjoyed to meet someone who thinks in this way, I tend to agree. I was empowered and moved by the way he spoke of the Spirit. I found it wonderful the way he described moments with the Spirit with us and with camp/conference work. He described the beautiful “campfire moments” that ourselves, and our youth feel while in these spectacular ‘thin spaces’ and in close relationship to God. He spoke of empowering our retreat and camp/conference people to learn to recognize the sprit at all times, helping them to take their ideas of mountain top and recognize that life can be spent in communion with the triune God in the everyday work and presence of the Spirit.

We ended up in another hour-ish long conversation after his class was over and I was so moved that I went home to journal. Instead I wrote another psalm. Dinner came and I had “rocky mountain oysters (bull testacies), Which I only found out after eating one. The buffalo stakes for dinner. The Buffalo was amazing and we went back to the cabin.

My cabin mates and I made a fire, sat around laughed, did a liturgical dance to ‘Oh Canada’. And A friend of mine and I kept falling in and out of the group conversation. Every time we returned to the comminutes conversation it was a new subject. Blueberry Farming, Hotdogs, camp, Canada, camp, lobotomies, laws, camp…. It gone on and on.

It was hysterical, and we loaded up and went off to bed.

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16. November 2010 by Rose Southwell.

I arrived at the airport today ready and excited about my trip to the PCCCA conference. Here I am ready to go and meet all kinds of ministers and camp directors who have the same interest as me. Yesterday I became a candidate for the ministry of the word and sacrament! And Now I am off to meet with folks who are doing that ministry that I love. So I stroll into the airport only to discover the ticket booths are closed, I have to check my bag full of heavy winter clothes and then security. Oh DWF… you would think this close to holiday travel season they would have this down already… Alas. After a fun and long conversation with my fellow trailers in the security line, I arrive at my gate to again discover, not one there. Really? I think? But that minor panic attack ended very quickly. (Its amazing how one missed flight, ages ago can still bring back fear)

            Off to the Rockies I flew, In that half asleep half awake space you only find on an airplane. After arriving in Denver, I ran the poor woman over to get off the plain, apparently I was worried I would be late. As I rushed past her and she commented on my not-so- nice-to- others-ness. I thought to myself, God I hope she is not going to this conference and make it awkward all week. I did some wondering around the airport until I found people who literally said

“you look campy, are you with us?”

“P-triple C-A?” I ask, in a desperate voice.

“yep! You found us”

I had been found and wondering  and worries melted away. We tracked out to the van and I clearly had the LARGEST bag. I got some serious looks from some of the others riding with me.  I told them my Texan senses were tingling, and I was afraid of the cold. Needless to say the Northerners laughed at me. The other person from the southwest had a big bag too; I told her I was very afraid of the cold. She was too. The drive up the mountain end the life of one deer and brought us to the retreat center. We stepped out of the van and ….

OHHHHH NOOOOO, I thought it was cold before. I found myself shivering inside only to Bump straight into some people from Mo Ranch. YEAH!! I was home. Dinner was full of wonderful conversations and lots of fun. After settling into the bunk, and unpacking I wound up in a wonderful conversation with David Florence, (Anna-carter Florence’s husband) about his ideas for his camp and the education of children on how to live on the land. Then it was off to bed.

It was a lovely and blessed day.

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