A Long Week

So, it's been awhile.  welcome back Caleb. 

Orientation is now over.  Which is why I have time to write another post.  Orientation was lengthy, but it was a great chance to meet some other interns headed around Montana, and to learn some valuable information about the culture of Montana, and more specifically Missoula.  We had a chance to hear from some of the awesome guys doing ministry around town, and help out the city by cleaning up the park after a thursday night get-together. 

The culture in Missoula is diametrically opposed to that of the south.  In Texas, church is what everyone does socially.  Here, no one cares.  If people don't have to do something, they won't.  They are very individualistic, pride themselves on being self-sufficient, and aren't as generally polite as people in the south. 

That being said, they are amazing people.  They are in love with the outdoors, even to the point that they were willing to move into a town where property is more expensive and incomes were lower than most of the U.S.  The people here work hard, in order to be able to play hard.  Hiking, biking, backpacking, running, fishing, kayaking, camping, and especially hunting are not just hobbies or even obsessions, they are ways of life here.  Those activites are necessary parts of most Montanans' lives.  They are real, honest people.  They don't beat around the bush, but instead they tell you what they think, a trait many southerners lack.  They are very liberal, and love doing what they want.   I love the people here, and am beginning to build some relationships with some of the locals, with the hope of being able to minister to them in the near future.

Alcohol is a huge problem in Montana, and especially in Missoula.  The bars are everywhere and are always packed, much more than anywhere in the South.  Marijuana is a major issue right now in Montana, and is hotly debated.  Medical Marijuana is legal, and prescriptions are easy to get.  there are entire warehouses of the drug downtown.


I moved into the church where I'll be working this summer.  It's called Outdoorsmen Church, and it's an amazing church to be able to serve.  I love the pastor and his wife, Mark and Sacha, and their commitment to the community of outdoorsmen out here.  We've got some awesome plans for the summer, including camping, fishing, hiking, shooting, and a lot of other montanan activities.  I'm looking forward to being here.

I say being here because Daniel and I are living in a cabin behind the church building.  We have a pretty sick setup in here, with all donated furniture, and access to the church kitchen.  It's going to be a lot of fun. 

We're going to Glacier National Park tomorrow to do some sightseeing before we plunge into hardcore ministry.  I'm pumped.

Thanks for checking up.

First Impressions

       Today's been a long one, and it's not over yet.  I woke up early, hit the airport around 430 am, and flew into denver.  After rendezvousing with my team and what I found out later were four other NAMB (North American Mission Board) students, I finally made it to missoula after a two hour flight.  The airport alone brought encouraging sights.  The stuffed grizzly and mountain lion were interesting, as was the timber, wooden feel of the airport itself.  We then drove to the church where we will be staying for orientation, Convergence Church. Having settled in, my team of four decided to take a stroll to discover more of this land we all were so unfamiliar with. 
       The climate here is a different kind of cool.  The cool in Texas always carries extra baggage, such as humidity, wind, or precipitation.  The cool up here in Montana is simple, it doesn't need anything to support it.  It is just cool.  a slight breeze was all that was needed to create the perfect mixture of temperature and air flow.  I enjoy the weather, but I am told to expect snow in the coming weeks, something that I am looking forward to with great anticipation. 

       The city is located at the divergence of five valleys, and as such is surrounded completely by mountains.  The mountains create a beautiful wreath around the city, and are a rare sight for these flatlander's eyes.  There is a vast diversity of flora here, ranging from trees to interesting flowers, and the forests spread out from the valley like a virus.  Our nature walk exposed us to just a small portion of the beauty which I am expecting to see much more of in the coming months.  I am looking forward to it. 

We are going to be here for a week, with twelve other summer missionaries, and then we will move down the road a few miles to Frenchtown, where our field service will begin.  Until then, I'll keep you posted.  I still have to get my bearings, and acclimate myself to this mile-high climate. 

Peace, Brethren.

The Journey Begins

Hey guys and gals!  This is my first post!  I just got back from Guadalupe Peak, the tallest point in Texas, and tomorrow morning I will be on my way to Montana. 

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me in the past few months, and to all of you who have helped or encouraged me in other ways. 


I'm incredibly excited about leaving, and have been since orientation last weekend.  I've been blessed with this opportunity to share the truth in a new, unique way.  Keep me in your prayers as I do this. 

Finally, I think this verse has summed up my thoughts leading into this trip: 


Ephesians 3:8: Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.