Brian is home! 
Everything is perfect again. 
3-Jun-2007
2-Jun-2007
It started as a quiet evening……
The girls were watching a missionary video, little suspecting that they would soon be caught up in an intense game of strategy and stealth. Suddenly, the screen blacked out and a few seconds later whistles were blowing and spotlights swirled around the room. I ran up on stage and announced that we were going to play a little “game.” We synchronized watches and I gave them 15 min to run to the dorms, change clothes, grab a flashlight and meet me at another location.
They were all there at the appointed time and I started explaining the rules. They were to use plastic bags to transfer dirt from a location on one side of the campgrounds to the other (a distance of about a mile). Halfway to their destination they would enter enemy territory patrolled by guards with spotlights. If they were spotted, they had to dump out all their dirt and start over. However, the guards could be neutralized for 30 seconds if the girls flash-lighted them first.
The girls ran themselves into the ground trying to fill a bucket at their destination; many strategies were tried and as they worked, the buckets stared to fill.
Halfway through the game, the teams had to regroup, build a fire, roast and eat two bags of marshmallows before continuing. This was a time to go over strategies and try to improve tactics.
At the end, we tallied points for teams arriving on time, number of bags still in possession, and how much dirt was in the buckets. It was a great night and I think most of them had a blast.
1-Jun-2007
Well, STEP is in full swing – they just finished their first week of classes and did a lot of “field” exercises yesterday. Bekah showed up to keep me company and helped photograph things. She met me at rivercrossing…
A leader helps hook her girl on the line.
I’m the video person this year so I get to see all the action (hopefully).
Next we swung by Search and Rescue class in time to see them line out for a lost person search.
The funny thing was that the “victims” didn’t hide to well so they were found two minutes after the search started!
Last stop was auto class. Here a girl fills the car with oil after they let out the old oil and changed the filter.
That’s STEP so far, but they have no idea of what’s coming tonight! I’ll post about it tomorrow.
Until then – wonder.
29-May-2007
Our Garden is growing!!!
Just in the last few days great changes have come over everything.
Flowers have turned into beans;
Green tomatoes are turning red;
Peppers are getting bigger, and we’ve proudly staked our claim on this plot of earth.
This is our garden!!!
28-May-2007
STEP has started.
My first interaction with the girls came Sunday night with a little “fashion show”. This was an impromptu deal I got to head up in an effort to help the girls understand what their clothes can do to guys. I had the leaders find something in their wardrobe (or borrow from those who had more than one item) that could be worn immodestly. There are no pictures of this event due to death threats from those modeling and a seven day confiscation of any camera that had the audacity to appear. 
First thing this morning I ran all the girls through a P.T. test so I could get an idea of where we were with physical ability and what we need to work on. I think running will be our big area of training.
I get back to the house and find a message that I need to pick up the girls from the lake with the bus at 11:20. I worked several hours on my Nutrition power point (to be given tomorrow) and picked up the cameras (video and regular) from AV – these will be my charges for the duration of STEP.
Yeah, I think I have enough to do. 
