February 1st

The week started out with a cold and windy forecast. Praying for a break in the weather the Lord Blessed us with 2 of the nicest days we can remember. Just 3 days before it was 8 degrees in Springfield with record setting temps of the century. Yup we were blessed by our Lord and Savior.

The days leading up are always filled with calls and e-mails and texts of those that had something come up. it's always saddens my heart when they can't show up. Yet there is always hope for next year. This place is awesome. The 26 years I have been camping in this cave have always been filled with the harshness of cave living. The bat guano and the damp and Smokey air from the campfire yet in all that there is the Challenge and the over coming of these conditions that bring the Royal Ranger Spirit into being what "Living the Adventure" is actually all about. While the stuff we teach in the classroom is very necessary and foundational to what we do outside. It's the going and doing that makes "Living the Adventure" real and life changing with memories that last for decades. These events change lives.

Mike Herman shared a testimony with me that started from one of our Backpacks 10 years ago where we had 3 Ranger Kids and their Dads and Dave Yonke and I. The entry level backpack and camp was a 10 miler and I was amazed at the Ranger Kids that went the distance. A Dad's life was changed at that event. He went on to being a Pastor and he told Mike that that event was a turning point. Right place at the God ordained time.

This weekend I saw 17 Servant Leaders go down early to clear the path and cut firewood and haul it to the face of the cave. Also constructed a Jerky smoking fire and setup for Rappelling where we all witnessed over 30 people rappel the 47 foot cave face as other like minded Christian folk cheered them on and encouraged and instructed them as they made their way past FEAR, ANXIETY and the many other things that are in their mind as they go down a rope building Character and Courage and Skills.

We enjoyed a 8:30 candle light service and Pastor Kaylor from Ozark AOG delivered a message of being Strong and Courageous in the back of that cave. Yes we did turn off the lights and talked about separation from God. Everyone was challenged to take the message of Jesus to our world.

So much to talk about it would take pages to write it all down and you would get tired of reading. So click on a picture it's worth a 1000 words each.