What a day! We woke up and got ready for our bittersweet last day of Vacation Bible School. We did track and relay races with the kids, which went far better than anyone expected (except for Logan, who fell, and Ben, who lost every race despite his cross country skills). We were all sad to see the kids go at the end of the day, but some people exchanged contact info so it was more of a ttyl than a g2g. After the kids drove off, mesmerized by Avatar, we started a couple work projects. Some of us got the privilege of cleaning the bathrooms and the kitchen, while others weeded the graveyard and helped cement the old medical clinic. Rachel and Jenna were disappointed to find that the caramel-looking substance in the fridge was actually 5 year old grease (none was consumed) and Sidney snapped a gardening tool in half with her super weeding prowess. We reconnected with Gene, our former geologist guide/potential coolest grandpa ever, as he regaled us with his stories from World War II. Then, due to the heat, we headed to the river of ever increasing speed and cow poop (seriously, there were cows...pooping). There was a mud war between the boys and the girls, in which Mae was punished for being a traitor and Charlie Tamm was massacred with mud (and cow poop). The girls initially refused to step on a log for fear that it was a dead cow’s rib cage, but eventually conquered the cage with colossal courage. When we returned to the house, the guys discovered that their shoes were missing, which probably had absolutely nothing to do with retaliation for them trying to scare the girls the night before. Probably. Everyone was forced to shower due to extreme stankiness and we packed up to go tent-free camping, which almost everyone (cough cough...Jamie Burns) managed to complete without wussing out and sleeping in the car. Unfortunately, pre-bedtime, we fought the law and the law won. Turns out that the wood in the campground…er, national monument...isn’t legally allowed to be collected or burned for s'more making. Oops. Luckily we got off with a warning. But we paid the price when Ranger Neal and his park ranger buddy did set us city folk straight with a friendly talk about protecting the environment, especially cryptobiotic soil. The kids had a nice little gossip sesh (like wth was Ranger Neal wearing?!) before the leaders sent the boys and girls off to their respective campsites at midnight. Everyone conked out rather quickly under the most beautiful stars one could imagine, but not before some saw shooting stars and made wishes! A perfect ending to an almost perfect day (thanks, Ranger Neal).

See you all soon!

Ben, Christina, Jenna, and Margaret