A Final Word from Medora

Well, our summer of ministry at Theodore Roosevelt National Park has come to a close.  The last month of the season was tough.  We both worked long hours and had very little time for rest.  The Medora Musical came to a close on September 10, and it was a very happy day!  While we greatly enjoyed our jobs and time in Medora, we were happy to be done with the season.  I (Susan) spent a few days working into the postseason helping with inventory and Lane continued with his regular duties at the golf course.  Our work contracts ended on September 15.   

Our last worship service was the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  After months of worship services in beautiful weather, we finally had our first experience hosting worship in the cold rain.  The weather changed very quickly in Medora.  It was summer one day, and the next day it was fall.  Despite the cold and rain, we continued on with our worship service.  We sat chairs up under a covered patio area, put on layers, brought our warm beverages, and had a meaningful worship service.  There was a small crowd of about 10 (the size of the crowd shrunk as the season came to a close.)  The people that were at our last service came to almost every service. We are so thankful for the people that encouraged and supported us to the very end, despite the cold and rain!

Each of us also made friendships that will last well beyond our time in Medora.  We were blessed to walk alongside so many people on their faith journeys.  Mostly, the relationships we made were with our awesome co-workers.  I would not have made it through this summer without my amazing supervisors and co-workers.  God certainly puts the right people in your life when you desperately need a friend or when someone else desperately needs a friend in you.  One of the greatest joys of this summer was being able to be a friend to someone feeling low or alone.  This truly is one of the greatest aspects of ministry.  God created us to live in community and we were able to create community in our seasonal work environment this summer.  So, if you’re feeling low or alone, know that God is with you and will send the right people into your life.  And, if you are lucky enough to have a strong Christian community, say a special prayer of thanks for these wonderful people in your lives.   

After we wrapped things up in Medora, we took a trip to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.  The day after we ended our jobs, we headed out to Montana and spent the night in a hotel.  It was amazing!  After a summer in the camper, sleeping in a real bed and having a real shower were indescribable!  The next day we travelled across the Canadian border to Waterton Lakes National Park, which is part of the Wateron-Glacier International Peace Park.  Crossing the border produced a little bit of anxiety and I had to abandon my pepper spray at the crossing.  The park was beautiful!  We were so happy to see great mountains, tall trees, lakes, and rivers.  We did some hiking and explored the little town of Wateron Lakes.  It was a cute little place and we enjoyed some homemade pie. 

After exploring the Canadian side of the park, we headed back to Montana.  The next few days we explored and hiked Glacier National Park.  The weather wasn’t great, but we managed to have a good time despite the rain and clouds.  We drove the Going to the Sun Road, hiked to Hidden Lake, Avalanche Lake, and explored Lake McDonald.  We also drove around nearby Flathead Lake, ate at a delicious BBQ joint, tasted Huckleberry Wine, and enjoyed relaxing at the hotel.  Glacier is our favorite National Park that we have visited so far!   

Once we had explored Glacier, we made the drive to Yellowstone National Park.  We drove the scenic Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways from Red Lodge, MT to Cody, WY.  After a day of driving, we were excited to explore Yellowstone National Park.  However, our first day in Yellowstone was less than delightful.  The weather was not great and we were both exhausted, not a good combination for a day spent in the great outdoors.  We ended up driving the Southern Loop, exploring the West Thumb Geyser Basin, and going to Old Faithful.  Thanks to the rain and our less than great moods, we headed back to the hotel a little early and indulged in Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (they make dairy free!) The next day in Yellowstone was much better.  After indulging in Ben & Jerry’s, a good night of sleep, and better weather, we explored the Northern Loop of Yellowstone.  We really enjoyed the Northern Loop…less geysers, and more trees, water, and animals.  We walked around the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.  We also toured the Mud Volcano and Mammoth Springs areas.  We headed back to Cody via the Lamar Valley and Chief Joseph Scenic Highway…and on the way we saw a ton of wildlife.  We saw elk, bison, moose, and wolves.  It was a very nice day. 

At the moment, we are headed back to Medora to get our camper.  That means we officially have one more night before we are headed back to North Carolina.  Tomorrow morning we are excitedly headed back to the Land of the Pines!     

Bloom Where You Are Planted

As promised, I (Susan) am finally writing a blog post.  It has been about three and a half weeks since we last posted, and as Lane said, at this rate we will only have a few more posts.  Our jobs and ministry commitments are keeping us extremely busy.  Things are starting to get even busier because a lot of the seasonal staff are starting to leave.  Many of our co-workers are college students or work in school systems, and with classes resuming they are heading home to their normal lives. As the summer draws to a close, attendance at the Medora Musical is increasing and town is extremely busy on the weekends.  It seems that people are trying to get one last bit of vacation in before the end of the summer.  With increased crowds and fewer employees our work hours are about to increase drastically.  I expect my hours to increase about ten hours a week, so the last three weeks of the season are going to be exhausting.  Lane will probably pick up some extra hours at the golf course as well.

Luckily, we were able to get in our own mini-vacation before the chaos begins.  By some random chance, I was scheduled two days off back to back last week.  Lane was able to work it out with his boss and work some extra hours each day in order to have the same days off.  We took the chance to travel back to the Black Hills and explore some areas we missed on our last trip.  We got up early Thursday morning and made the 5 hour drive to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Over the next two days we visited Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave National Park.  Lane was like a kid in the candy store!  As someone who loves to climb on rocks and see trees, he loved every minute of our journey.  I also enjoyed the chance to get out of Medora and see natural bodies of water.  We explored caves, took a few short hikes, climbed on rocks, and enjoyed God’s creation.  Custer State Park is absolutely amazing!  There are so many trees (very unlike the North Dakota Badlands), the nation’s largest bison herd, the Needles Scenic Drive, beautiful lakes, and captivating rock formations.  Our journey refreshed us and invigorated us to finish the season!  Yesterday, I also got a massage at the local spa.  My body has been aching a lot lately, and it was one of the best massages of my life!   

With the summer drawing to a close, we are also faced with saying goodbye to many of our new friends.  This has been one of the hardest parts of our summer.  One friend, who I became extremely close to, left last week and Medora has not been the same since.  Earlier this week, a large group of students from a college ministry left and many others are leaving each day.  The rest of our ministry team will be leaving Saturday, and we will be tasked with hosting the worship services on our own.  It is very sad and we will miss all of our new friends.  It is also hard because we are a bit jealous.  While this summer has been awesome and God has been doing amazing things, we are ready to come home.  We miss all of our family and friends, and the comfort of being home in NC.  Our moms did make it out for a visit back in July, which was amazing, but made us miss home.  It is difficult to see our friends excited about going home, while we still have three weeks left in Medora. 

One thing my longing for North Carolina reminds me of is my longing for Christ's return to earth.  While I wish that I could leave and head back to NC, I know that God has called us to be in Medora until the end of the season.  Through the chaos of the end of the season, we have been called to serve as God’s light in this place.  As we look at the state of our world, it is easy to lose hope in the future.  There is so much sadness and corruption, that we can easily find ourselves selfishly praying for Jesus’ return.  I often find myself praying for Jesus’ return because I am tired of living in this world.  However, there is still so much work left to do in Jesus’ name.  Of course, the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom on earth is a wonderful thing, and Jesus commanded us to pray for it!  But, there are still people in the world who have never heard the name of Jesus, felt the love and peace offered by our one, triune God, or experienced the comfort and strength of being surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ.  So, while we long to go home (whether it is our earthly or heavenly home) God has called us to be in specific places at specific times to do God’s will.  As one of our CUDS professors, Dr. Mike Cogdill says, "Bloom where you are planted."  Today, I challenge you to reach out to someone and show the love of Christ to them as you eagerly await Christ’s return.   

A Long Time Coming

It has been far too long since we wrote last. Luckily, however, for those of you who aren’t interested in reading a painfully thorough account of our (relatively) mundane lives, this post will touch just the highlights. All is pretty much routine at our jobs, more so in mine than in Susan’s, though. A typical day at the golf course, which is quite understaffed, begins with course setup. This means that the first four hours of my day often consist of either mowing the greens or preparing the tee boxes for that day’s play. The remainder of my day if filled with, you guessed it, mowing. Fairways, tees, approaches, and rough are all mowed twice weekly, which is all a staff of six people can accomplish. Although I do really like being out on the mower, I am also thankful when other projects, such as sodding a tee or raking bunkers, present themselves. Susan, similarly, has fallen into a nice routine at work – three afternoons each week at the historical Von Hoffman house, where she informs guests about the house and leads a daily walking tour of the town, and five nights a week at the musical gift shop.

 One of the most fruitful aspects of our work is the relationships that we are beginning to build. We have each gotten a chance to connect with coworkers and to have meaningful and impactful conversations. For several reasons, Susan is able to have more of these than I am. For one, she is naturally more conversational and outgoing. Further, her job allows her to interact more frequently and more substantially with coworkers (there really isn’t anybody to talk to on a lawn mower and I couldn’t be heard if there was). Finally, men aren’t nearly as open to deep talks as women. Even so, I can tell that the conversations I am having are growing deeper. I am confident that, by the time we are through here, they will have grown deeper still.

As a ministry team, we are finally beginning to take on some projects. This year, the TRMF has a brand new building that houses a host of resources for employees, including a lounge, classrooms, prayer space, music rehearsal rooms, and a cafeteria. One thing this building lacks, however, is recycling; thus, we placed a recycling bin in the lounge. Also in the lounge, we have placed a prayer box for people to anonymously and confidentially place prayer requests, which we pray for at our weekly team meetings. Further, we have begun an adult Bible study, for there are a number of people working here who are past college age. Finally, we are going to bake cookies for the National Park Service staff this week.

As far as RV life goes, this week has seemed unending. We first had an AC compressor sticking on, which meant that we were running it all the time to keep it from burning up. In case you were curious, non-stop AC in a small bedroom on a 60° evening is waaay too much cooling. But, after cycling the power through the control module things seem to be working fine. Second, we had a leaky toilet (just the intake water, thankfully). This fix was not quite as simple as the AC – we ended up just replacing the whole thing. Finally, last Saturday saw the fiercest storm we’ve seen yet. Unfortunately, we did not know it was coming. Thus, at 11:30 the RV began rocking and before we knew what was happening the awning had been torn down. I was able to salvage most of structure, but the fabric is a total loss. Luckily, awnings are unnecessary to the proper function of an RV, so this is a fix that will have to wait until we are back home.

Despite being busy and dealing with a host of RV complications, we have managed to find time for adventures. A few weeks ago we made the nearly 300 mile drive to Keystone, SD to see Mount Rushmore. Although it was awesome to see and I am glad that we did it, I was ultimately under impressed. While I would definitely recommend going to see it, I don’t feel that it is something that I need to see again. The best part of that trip, though, was driving back through South Dakota’s Black Hills. The two lane highway curving through densely spruce covered, yet jagged hillsides led to stunningly beautiful views around each bend. Words really do fail to describe that place, but the one I keep coming back to is enchantment. As soon as we left the hills and crossed onto the plains I longed to be back. Even now as I write about them, my heart longs to return to the Black Hills to hike and play and camp and climb until I am absolutely worn out with contentment.

 

Last Tuesday, we took the slightly shorter, though much less scenic drive to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. In fact, we drove from North Dakota to Montana to Wyoming to South Dakota and back to north Dakota that day, which means that we were in nearly 10% of the states that day. I was far more impressed with the enormous cluster of rock that explodes dramatically out of the surrounding ground. What I really liked most was the fact that is allowed me the opportunity to play on some rocks. If one wants to reach the base of the tower (which I obviously did) he or she has to navigate through a boulder field several hundred feet wide. I did this, several times, so I can report with the utmost certainty that Devils Tower is, indeed, a 360° tower and not a cliff.

Finally, I spent this past Saturday in our own Theodore Roosevelt National Park. For as long as we’ve been here (over 2 months!) I had not yet done any serious hiking there. So, with a belly full of pancakes, a half-gallon of water, and a map and my trusty compass, I set out on a 12 mile trek through the Badlands. I was, at the same time, in awe and in want. One cannot go into the Badlands without feeling a sense of awe, for they are incredibly and indescribably oppressive; how, one wonders, can such a place exist on the same planet with soft sandy beaches and gentle rolling hills. Nevertheless, as I walk through the Badlands, I cannot help but want more. I want the trickle of a mountain stream and the beauty of unruly Appalachian rhododendron. I want trees, pines and oaks and hickories. And flowers; I long for the beauty of wildflowers along a Carolina trail. Even so, I am learning to appreciate the rugged beauty of the Badlands’ barrenness.

In that, I think, is a worthwhile lesson. Growing up, I had but one definition and one example of a beautiful wilderness. Had I only ever seen that, however, I would have been missing out big time. Having had the opportunity to see Alaska, the Caribbean, the Rocky Mountains, and now the Badlands, my horizons have been expanded and I have come to recognize and appreciate the multifaceted beauty of Creation. The same sort of things can be said of how we understand God. Growing up, we may have a single, basic definition and understanding of God. As we grow in the faith, though, we should come to recognize that God is far larger than a single role. In the same way that I’ve come to know that beauty is not limited to North Carolina, so too have I come to know that God is more than one thing. God is Savior, but God is also Creator, Convicter, Encourager, Helper, Judge, Giver, and so much more. So, as you look for beauty in the new places you might find yourself, look also for the new ways that God might be present in your life.

We've Been Here A Month!

Well, so much for writing a new blog post each week. After 40+ hours of work, campground walks, two worship services, and team meetings each week, my ability to put pen to paper (or, rather, fingers to keys, though that doesn’t sound nearly as nice) and form coherent thoughts is severely hindered. This past week especially presented unique challenges, both expected and unforeseen, that further limited my desire to write. But, finally, after a restful Saturday spent meandering the little shops of Medora and a good pair of worship services this morning, I’m feeling up to the task. Plus, what else is one to do while he is waiting for laundry.

Perhaps the most exciting news we have to share is that we now have (spotty) wifi at the RV. This is quite helpful, because it means we no longer have to plan a trip into town to use the internet. Also exciting is the fact that it looks like we will both have Mondays off, which will allow us to do some exploring of some more distant places. Last Monday, we decided to take the sixtyish mile drive to the North Unit of TRNP. It was beautiful. With higher, greener buttes, and narrower, more constricted valleys, the smaller North Unit offers a perspective of the North Dakota Badlands that is both the same yet oh so different. We picnicked at picturesque panorama of the Little Missouri River and then drove to the end of the scenic road where we had planned to take a short hike to another overlook. Unfortunately, however, it rained, and I’m not about hiking in the rain. Even so, it was still a worthwhile day, for it was a day spent together. Oh, and the speed limit on two lane roads in North Dakota is 65. Way to go North Dakota!

After two weeks of leading worship services in the park and in town, we earned a well-deserved week off (does sarcasm come through in print?). But seriously, we did have a week off. Last weekend, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF; aka our employer) held its yearly appreciation weekend for those who have donated to the Foundation. A part of this weekend is a worship service at the Burning Hills Amphitheater, which is the nearly 3000 seat venue for the Medora Musical. Though we didn’t have nearly that many (only about 300), it was still an awesome experience to be on that stage. I told our team that it was enough to make Joel Osteen jealous. Additionally, we got to spend some time with Spencer, the executive director of ACMNP. I, for one, am thankful that they allow each team the freedom to do ministry in the unique ways for which they are best suited. I love knowing that they are behind us for support, but also that they don’t micromanage our efforts.

Personally, and this is something of a non-sequitur, I have been reading C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia this summer, and you should too. I loved these books as a child, as is evidenced by the well-work covers and dog-eared pages, but as an adult who has grown in the faith, these books are incredible. On page after page, the images and metaphors of Christianity burst forth. The descriptions of Aslan’s golden radiance and the warmth of his mane make one ready to embrace the first lion he or she meets (but don’t). I am currently in the middle of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and as I read about the Dufflepuds desire to live invisibly so as not to have to look upon their (perceived) ugliness, I was struck by a realization that was difficult for me, a sometimes individualist, to swallow: The community of ugly humanity is better than the loneliness of self-sanctified individualism.

Finally, and speaking of ugly humanity, we have had to deal with a difficult and unexpected issue this week. Without going into much detail, I can say that our whole team is struggling through issues of social justice (or injustice?) and that we are learning to work from a new normal. However, as we try to move forward, I cannot help but think of the metaphor of a refiner’s fire that stretches throughout scripture. It is tough and uncomfortable in the present, but through perseverance and continued faithfulness, I am convinced that we will come out of this situation in a way that will help us to serve the Kingdom more effectively. It is my prayer that you, too, may be strengthened and refined by whatever challenge you face. May the power of Christ help us all to live increasingly faithful lives in the face of increasingly difficult circumstances.

May yours be the peace of Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God forever,

Lane & Susan

Our First Real Week (We Both Worked)

Anybody who has ever complained that the weather in North Carolina is too temperamental has obviously never been to North Dakota. This week began with days full of cold air, blustery winds, and incessant rain. I informed my coworkers, most of whom are from Montana and North Dakota and thus described such weather as a wet spring day, that this was, in fact, a cold winter’s day and had no place in late May. By the weekend, however, the skies had shed the layers upon layers of clouds and turned a brilliant shade of blue that is just shy of being as gorgeous as the cloudless sky that sometimes sits above the land of the pines.

The weather, though, has not been the only thing to change dramatically this week. Susan began her job (which is really two jobs) at the historic Von Hoffman house in town and the gift shop at the Medora Musical, the latter of which requires her to work until 11:00 a few nights a week. For a woman who needs much sleep, and for the husband that lives in a 32’ RV with her, this will require some adjustment, and your prayers are appreciated. However, this has been the only hiccup of our whole adventure to this point. Everything else, from the flawless trip to our excellent team to the kindness of everyone we have met, has shown us clearly that this is where God wants us to be, and it is here that we will stay, and work, and be faithful.

In spite of the fact that we are both now working 40+ hours each week, we have found time to spend together. Last Sunday, we drove to Wind Canyon, a place along the scenic loop through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, to watch the sunset. Although we missed it by a few minutes, the sun, which had just crept below the high buttes that jut against the horizon, was still casting magnificent colors across the whole sky. In those moments of sheer, unadulterated beauty, God’s presence is palpable, and, for me anyway, it is a refreshment that confirms that rightness of our work here this summer.

Aside from our adventures as a couple, our team has begun to have deep and intimate conversations with each other about the real issues that are confronting the church today. If there is one thing that I can already say for sure, it is that we are all different. Even among the five member of our team, we hold different interpretations of scripture regarding the role of women, spirituality, homosexuality, and, as I’m sure we’ll discover later, many other things. Nevertheless, this has not hindered us in the slightest. If anything, it has brought us closer together. Personally, I find it exceptionally encouraging that a group of people with such different interpretations of scripture are able to work together to faithfully represent and live out the multifaceted love of Christ in a place that is in such desperate need of it.

Finally, I played my first round of golf this past week. Three of us played a round of best ball, which, I learned, is where each player hits their next shot from the ball that landed closest to the pin after the last shot. Despite the several balls that I sent rocketing off into the native grass, I managed to have a couple of good shots. However, if I had been playing based on my shots alone, I would probably still be chasing a ball around the seventh fairway. In the end, the three of us managed to shoot a respectable seven over par. As I reflect on this, I cannot help but think of the words of Ecclesiastes: A three-stranded cord is not easily broken. I needed the good shots of my coworkers, and, though rarely, they needed mine. Together, we are much stronger than we are apart. May we all seek out friends to carry us through those places where we cannot carry ourselves, and may we carry our friends through those places where they cannot carry themselves.

 

May the peace of Christ reign among us all,

Lane & Susan

Getting to Know the Area

Life in Medora has continued to meet and exceed our expectations. Or, at least my expectations; Susan doesn’t start working until this week. Life as a golf course groundskeeper is pretty nice. My job offers a satisfying mix of hard work and easy tasks, time alone and time with others. For an introvert like me, the hours that I get to spend alone on the equipment serve as fuel for those times that I have the opportunity to work alongside another to complete a project. This job is a near-perfect fit for who I am, and you couldn’t convince me that God didn’t have a role to play in it.

Aside from work, we have gotten to see a little more of the town. We walked around, reading the information signs that are scattered along the streets, and learned a good deal about the history of the town’s founding and of Theodore Roosevelt’s time here as a rancher. Although most stores and shops haven’t opened yet, the few we did get to explore had some very neat things to offer. After I had worked an 11 hour shift, we went out for dinner at one of the locally owned restaurants and I got to have my very first North Dakota beer – a decent stout from Fargo Brewing Company. We look forward to getting to know the rest of the town as things get into the swing for peak season.

Additionally, we have done some more exploration of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. All along and scenic loop are places to pull off and enjoy the view, and a few have short hikes. We have done them all. For my birthday, we took a walk through a prairie dog town to visit the original entrance station into the park. In case you were wondering, prairie dogs emit quite an annoying chirp when they think they are in danger. Friendly though we were, we could not communicate this to the prairie dogs; thus, we endured twenty minutes of incessant chirping, but it was worth it to reach the old stone structure. In addition to prairie dogs, we’ve seen mule deer, buffalo, feral horses, and numerous species of brightly colored birds.

Added to our work and our play, we have been busy getting to the business of ACMNP. We obtained our permits and did our first campground walk on Saturday. It was, admittedly, a little awkward. As I mentioned above, I am an introvert to the max, so talking to strangers is not my forte. Nevertheless, I pushed through and spoke to a fair number of people, almost all of whom were receptive. On Sunday, we held our first worship services of the summer, which the whole team agrees went swimmingly. Although there were only two ladies at our Cottonwood Campground service, they were eager to worship. Afterwards, they shared with us that they were both carrying some pretty heavy burdens, and it was apparent to us all that God brought our paths together. We are all excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store.

As our previous pictures have shown, the Badlands are an imposing place. From our perspective on a cliff side, the colors of brown, gray, and earth green dominate; it seems as if there is no room for color. Along our hikes, however, we regularly notice tiny, colorful flowers that bring joy to an otherwise angry landscape. I think, if we make ourselves pay attention, we can find the tiny, bright flowers in our lives. Although it is far easier to get overwhelmed by the darkness, it is far more important to find those places where God is present in our lives, those places where he is working to shed light into the dark.

 

Peace be with you all,

Lane & Susan

Our First Few Days

Well, we’ve been in Medora for almost a week now, and it still doesn’t seem quite real that we are going to be living here until the middle of September. After driving across over 300 miles of nothingness that is punctuated only by a few small cities, the first glimpse of North Dakota’s badlands makes it immediately obvious why it was deemed worthy of being a National Park. They are difficult to describe, and “Badlands” truly is the most adequate word. We find ourselves in landscape that is a strange mixture of harsh and dry, delicate and beautiful.

We’ve ventured into the park a few times, stopping at a few of the vistas. We’ve been by the Cottonwood Campground and begun to develop a strategy for campground walking. We’ve seen the amphitheater where we will weekly offer up our worship to the Lord. It is an exciting thing to know that we have months in this place to grow closer to God and to let his love flow through us into the lives of others.

I (Lane) have started my job as a member of the Bully Pulpit Golf Course grounds crew, and I can already tell a few things for certain. First, I will have a most excellent farmer’s tan and raccoon eyes by the end of the summer, for the North Dakota sun seems far closer than the one over North Carolina. Second, there is a lot of alcohol abuse; after only three days of work I’ve learned that being hungover is a common morning affliction. Third, and I think most important, I have learned that these are some very good people. Riding around a golf course together offers plenty of time to talk, and several good conversations have already been had. I expect that, as the springtime turns into summer, these conversations and relationships will only grow.

As I have been at work, Susan has been busy turning our RV into a home, and if you ask me, she’s done a fantastic job. All of the things that littered the floor as we were driving have been put away, decorations have been hung on the wall, and most things have been cleaned. Living in an RV is certainly a transition from living in a full-sized home, however. For example, clean dishes must be put away before one can use the stove. Also, we shouldn’t buy so much food the next time we go to the grocery store; the refrigerator and freezer are deceptively small. Nevertheless, it is just one more piece of excitement for our summer.

Finally, we will try to close our posts with something of the devotional nature. The other morning, I had to be at work at 5:00 (yes, AM) because the course was hosting a tournament. For those of you not fortunate enough to be in the North Dakota badlands at that hour, that is the time of day when the sun and the moon share the same sky. Off to the west, the nearly full moon, though it was setting, was still quite visible. To the east, the powerful sun was rising and casting brilliant hues of gold and orange on the rugged cliff sides. As I noticed these two heavenly bodies, I realized that they will never catch each other; they will always be as far from each other as the East is from the West. In the same way God has cast our sin so far from us that it shall never meet us again. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Grace & Peace,

Lane and Susan

ACMNP Training Conference

A few weeks ago, Susan and I took the first steps in our summer’s journey to North Dakota. We flew to Denver and then headed up the mountains that stood just to the West, to YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. I arrived two days early, on Wednesday, to participate in the Advanced Leadership Development Program (ALDP), which is a new addition to the ACMNP program. I was one of twelve seminarians selected to go through additional training in leadership, pastoral care, and preaching. In return, I will lead our team in the park and be responsible for ensuring that things are done.

It was not all classroom work, though; we also had the opportunity to explore the campus of the camp and even to take a little hike. On Wednesday and Thursday, the weather was incredible – the skies were sunny and the air was warm. From our perspective atop Bible Point, we could see for miles all around, and we were greeted on every side by snow covered mountain peaks that soared to over 10,000 feet. As beautiful and impressive as our Appalachians are, the Rockies were far more imposing.

By Friday, when Susan and the rest of the nearly 300 participants arrived, the skies had turned gray, the wind began to blow, and snow had begun to drift slowly down. Nevertheless, ACMNP Training Conference went on as scheduled, for Colorado is far more prepared for snow than North Carolina. That evening, we worshipped in the same way that we will lead worship this summer, and we began to learn about how ACMNP’s ministry is needed in our country’s national parks.

Susan and I knew that seasonal national park employees would be an eclectic group of people, but we had no idea the levels of hurt and pain that pervaded the dormitories and bunkhouses. Many are young people who feel that they are welcome nowhere else in the world – college students whose parents either cannot or will not have them home for the summer, twenty-somethings who took the only job they could find, and people who simply have no place else to go. As a result, alcohol and drug use have the potential to run rampant as these hurting people chase after anything they can to ease the pain.

Our jobs, then, are to build relationships with these people and to be witnesses to the ways that our faith has enabled us to come through the hurt and pain that we have experienced. Our goal is not a “turn or burn” evangelism; rather, it is to love them as Christ loves them, to listen to their stories, to share in laughter and in tears, to be a friend. Although we both came away with the realization that ministry to employees will be our main focus, we will also lead two worship services each Sunday – one in the Cottonwood Campground inside the park, and a second in the town of Medora.

The ACMNP Training Conference also allowed us the chance to meet the other members of the Theodore Roosevelt team. We will be doing ministry alongside three other people – Kileab & Amanda Ammons and Cade Blush, who are all students at John Brown University in Arkansas. We had the chance to plan a quick worship service, and despite the fact that our team is comprised of two liturgical Baptists, two nondenominational Christians, and one Eastern Orthodox believer, we were able to work together to lead a unified and meaningful service. One of our biggest anxieties about the summer had been put to rest.

Our time in Estes Park, however, was not all work and no play. On Saturday afternoon, with a foot of snow on the ground and more still falling from the skies, we hopped aboard a bus that would take us high into Rocky Mountain National Park. As we passed 8,000 feet of elevation, and then 9,000, the snow outside of the windows grew deeper and the road surface was at least partially covered. Finally, we reached the end of the road, an overlook at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, the spectacular views were veiled by the clouds. However, for a brief moment, the sun poked through and we were able to glance on the snow-covered valley below. It was stunning.

Even though it snowed more than we’d seen in several years, which should not be understood as a good thing, our time in Colorado was a success. We greatly appreciated the singular focus of ACMNP; they have not waded into the divisive controversies that are tearing the church apart. Instead, they have set their eyes on the Apostles’ Creed and they keep their eyes on it as a way to unify the different faith traditions of those that are going out to the parks this summer. We hope that you will keep us, our team, and all of ACMNP in your prayers this week and this whole summer.

Grace & Peace,

Susan & Lane

Preparing for ACMNP in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

After four years of advanced theological education, we are graduating from Campbell University Divinity School in May. At the beginning of the year, we started praying about where God would lead us after graduation. During the discernment process, we discovered a ministry opportunity that combines three of our great passions! We love God and are dedicating our lives to Christian ministry. We also love nature and appreciate it as part of God’s wonderful creation. This first post is to tell you about an amazing ministry opportunity that we have committed to work with this summer and how you can help us as we serve others in Jesus’ name.

We have accepted calls to volunteer with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, ND. It sounds amazing and we are really looking forward to spending the summer living, working, and serving in a national park. We will have paying jobs in the park and will volunteer with ACMNP to provide worship services and relational ministry to our co-workers and park visitors. We will also be looking for other ways to serve. There may be opportunities to start Bible studies in the campground or interact with people from other countries. We are also looking forward to seeing how God will develop our leadership abilities and ministry skills. Please check out the website at www.acmnp.com.

As we prepare for this opportunity we are reaching out to our friends and family to see if they would like to support us in this effort. Mostly, we will need your prayers and encouragement as we embark on this adventure. It would be great to receive a letter or two while in Medora. Maybe you would like to visit us at the park this summer! We will also need to raise about $4500 to cover our ACMNP training in the Rocky Mountain National Park, transportation costs and other ministry expenses. A gift of any amount would be helpful and greatly appreciated. You can donate by using our PayPal button on the right of the page. You can also send us a check made out to Delane Bass.  Let us know if  you need our address.  If you are not able to help financially, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Please let us know if you have any questions!