Many middle school kids might spend their summer hiding from the heat and playing video games, but not the HFO Adventure Crew. Our sights were set on the Firey Gizzard Trail in Tracy City, TN, but first we had to survive training!

Training Stats:
2.5 weeks of training
40+ miles of hiking
180 lbs. of gear carried
10 days of swim training
1,000 spiders dodged at Acadiana Park

On Friday July 24th at 3am we pointed our 15 passenger van towards Memphis. Our first stop was the National Civil Rights Museum. Next we hit Beale St. but nobody had the blues because we were too busy enjoying the souvenir shops. Later that day we drove to Nashville and had just enough time to have some Jack’s BBQ before the free benefit concert featuring Sandra McCracken. We arrived late at Momma E’s ranch and set up tarps and our first campfire.

The kids were up with the sun at 5:30–with 13 acres of farm animals, the kids wanted an early start. Our day consisted of home cookin’, fishin’, horse back ridin’, pond swimmin’, and llama chasin’. It was a day of many firsts for our kids, and made us consider things from our childhood we take for granted. We stayed up late, and sang songs around a campfire long after the stars appeared.

Blueberry pancakes and maple syrup started our day. An hour-and-a-half later, we made it to the trailhead, unpacking our gear and throwing last-minute items into our packs. We had 4.2 miles ahead of us to Raven’s Point. The last mile or so was the toughest part of the trip, but the unexplainable high we had when we made the ascent to camp was well worth it. We made camp with the cow ants and cooked up a little freeze-dried chicken enchilada and some mashed ‘tatoes.

Day 2 was long, but steady. It really pushed the kids to see what they were made of. We had to go 6 miles, and at times it was a little tough. The biggest obstacle of the day was about 6 feet long and had a rattle. No it wasn’t a tall baby it was a giant rattle snake! Johnny carefully relocated the snake off the trail and we pressed on with a revived sense of alertness. We faced the feeling of overwhelm with teamwork, and made it to camp together. At this point, we decided to hike out the next day instead of staying another night on the trail at Foster Falls. Around the campfire, we talked with the kids about what the trip had meant to them, getting deep thoughts, and genuine thankfulness.

The walk out was a cake walk, but bittersweet. We were all glad to be “out of the woods”, so to say, but were going to miss the trials and new environment that were bringing us together. We swam at the icy Foster Falls lake and then packed up the van.

From Tracy City we quickly found a Western Sizzler Buffet and then headed out to Bryan College in Dayton, TN. What a surprise when we learned we would have an entire, empty, dorm to ourselves. We chased the kids with ShamWows and played Sardines. This was also an opportunity to have some one-on-one time with the kids and talk about thankfulness and respect again. The next morning, we packed up the van for the last time, and headed home.

But the work wasn’t over yet, the following morning we picked all the kids up again and cleaned out our gear, teaching the kids respect for property, and responsibility. They also cleaned and vacuumed the van, with great attitudes!

When we set out to do this trip, we had no idea what we were in for. Looking back now, we can see how the trip brought us all together as a group and gave us an opportunity to enrich our relationships with the kids on a personal basis, allowing us to influence them in a positive way. God showed up in our adventure and made it one we will never forget.

Special thanks to Momma E, Julie, Bobby, and Bruce Morgan with Bryan College, this trip wouldn’t have been the same without your assistance.

Also, special thanks to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Nekoosa, WI and First Presbyterian Church of Riverforest for the donation from their VBS offerings. We used the money to purchase a bible for everyone who came on the trip and plan to use the extra money to buy bibles for every new student in our program this fall!

Blessings,
Loren & Tory

This summer we were anxious to reach out to more of the kids that live around the Hill House, so we hosted a two week Skills Camp that focused on math and reading and of course a few fun parties. Through this camp we were able to make connections with 15 new kids that will be involved in our HFO after-school program this Fall.

Special thanks to our new volunteers and the Woodson’s and Bassets’ for hosting our parties.

Peace,

Loren

To celebrate the completion of our first year of tutoring, we wanted to bring our hardest working students on a special trip. Loren, Tory, and Ivy Carriere, the interns, and Derrick Carriere went on down to the Audubon Zoo with the kids from HFO: Tavian, Trevon, Matthew, Megan, Amber, and Tyriana.

After riding the ferry across the Mississippi River (a first for most of the kids), we got our tickets and entered the aquarium. We saw eels, sharks, whales, jellyfish of all sorts, and encouraged the kids to read the information tags at each exhibit. I am sure they learned many things they hadn’t known before about aquatic life. The kids got a kick out of the white alligator, and all took crazy pictures putting themselves on magazine covers.

After the kids were done exploring the waters, we walked to the iMax theater and saw a 3D movie about dinosaurs and new discoveries about their origins, prompting a good discussion by the kids about “why information changes about the origin of the earth” as we headed to the Insectarium. This museum was entertaining, colorful, and informative, and was definitely good preparation for our upcoming camping trip!

When the kids were completely exhausted, we drove to Bradley and Crystal Dunn’s house to eat some delicious boiled crawfish with corn, onions, sweet potatoes, and garlic (mmmm)–but not before a heated water balloon fight! That night, the boys slept out under the open sky and saw shooting stars, after a time of worship and Bible study.

The next morning, we made pancakes and headed to the Zoo to smell the flamingos and watch elephants roam. The Cajun exhibit was especially interesting to the kids because it was unique to our area. Later that afternoon, we walked the French Quarter and some brave kids even tried raw oysters!

This trip was a great time with our kids, and a fruitful time of teaching them things–not just about God’s creation, but about staying together as a group, and being respectful of each other.

-~Tory