Today we went white water rafting! It was AWESOME!!! We watched this video that explained how to float down a river in the (sometimes likely) event that we fall out of the raft. Then this dude explained some more river rules and made us feel comfortable about getting in a raft and shooting down class 3 & 4 rapids.
Let me back up… I need to talk about the bus a little here. Pulling up to our destinations in a huge coach bus is usually quite challenging for our driver as well as an abnormality for most of the people waiting to greet us. The rafting base camp was no different. We had to turn off of the normal road and down a steep gravel decline. Ray (the bus driver) hesitant but decided, probably against his better judgment, to go for it. He ended up having to back up it in order to get out!
Okay… so that was entertaining. Anyways… we went rafting and that was amazingly cool! My raft was in the front of the pack and we took all the rapids like pros. We went down one of the two class 4’s with ease… you know… because we’re pros J. As we looked back at the rest of the rafts we saw one raft suddenly sans its riders! We laughed at first and then were informed that we needed to paddle upstream and perform a river rescue situation. John Beed was in that boat! We safely rescued all the rafters, including their guide, and all was well. According to the guide in my raft… who was kinda the leader of the guides… very rarely does an entire raft buck it’s rafters off! It was one of those incidents that will be talked about for the rest of the season at base camp!
After rafting we hopped back in the bus for a quick 45 minute ride into Asheville, NC. We found Emmanuel Lutheran Church and plopped our stuff in their gym, which would be our bedroom for the night, then headed into town to find the Asheville Pizza & Brewery Co. They had some SERIOUSLY good pizza!!! After that we walked around downtown Asheville for a little bit. We soon learned that there is a Phish concert happening later tonight and there were a bunch of loopy character walking around. Quite the experience… we headed back to the church’s gym pretty quickly to hang out, play Frisbee and basketball.
So as of this post… that’s where we’re at! Now here’s a slideshow of pictures for you to look at! Check them out!
[Image by: OSLCmedia]
Hey all! Sounds like you had a crazy/fun day! Hope you are enjoying choir tour to the max whether it's your first or your last. haha that kind of rhymes
Anyway- just a lil reminder that the message you give to people- is truly awe-inspiring. Know that what you bring to the people you're singing/puppet-ting to can change people's outlooks on their day, week, or even life. So sing well! Speak well! and have TONS of fun 
p.s. does anyone still do "Like a Prayer" anymore for no-talent? And…remember if there are any siblings….SIBLING DANCE! (I don't know if there are any siblings…but with a group that big…I'm guessing there might be??) kk peace out homies!
Word on the street is Signe is planning on doing "Like a Prayer" but I don't think we have any takers on the sibling dance… tear…
Yeah Signe!!
p.s. my sibling dance with Graham was awesome!! Absolutely a tear-jerker!
true story!
Just remind everyone about the three most important rules:
-don't buy crack
-don't get caught in gang crossfire
-and no whining
Matt has made everyone around him aware that these are the ONLY rules he lives by…
Hey there Eagle's Wings and Hearts in Puppetry! Sounds like you're having an awesome trip so far! John Beed – I'm so proud of you for taking on the rapids with the group! Wow! You amaze me! You can just ask any of the kids who were on the Colorado WorkCamp trip last summer how scared I was of White Water Rafting!
I'm praying that you'll all have a super fun and safe trip!
The other day when I was lounging in my apartment, I suddenly realized that I was wearing my OSLC sweatpants, t-shirt, hoodie and fleece blanket! HA! Then I thought of all of you on choir tour and it made me smile!
God's love, peace and joy to you all!
Beth Wojahn ><>
Thanks Beth! Glad those clothes are still comin' in handy for ya. Thanks for checkin up on us and keep us in your prayers as we continue our eastern adventure!
So glad you are all having an awesome time !!! Graham…thanks for the cool blog and pics !! Blessings to you all !
Jessie's Mom !
You're welcome!
Oh I'm so jealous – North Carolina! My aunt and uncle live in Huntersville, NC, and they took me white-water rafting when I visited – I'm assuming you guys went to the Olympic training facility? So much fun!
Have fun, you guys! Choir tour is probably what I miss the most about high school – enjoy it while it lasts! (Your weather is definitely better than ours was today anyway…)
We went to NOC for rafting… there's a link to it in the "Itinerary" page of this blog. Ministry Tour is definitely a great time for everyone involved. I'm glad that we're able to help you out with a little nostalgia via the blog now!
Wow! White water rafting looks like a blast! Like Lis said, choir tour and choir is what I miss the most about high school. Everyone looks so happy! Have an amazing trip (you all will) and God Bless!
p.s. i hope the bus doesn't break down
Bus is doing just fine so far! [knock on wood]
Thanks Arie!
Ryan you forgot the most important rule…
No number 2 on the bus!
Oh I didn't forget it! We've made that known plenty-o-times!
And I've also sang Bryna's song… "drink the water till your pee runs clear!" hehe 
sara, first off… you're lame, and second… i think not dying in gang crossfire or getting involved in drugs is much more important than a bit of a smell
stayin out of this one! haha… but I would lean towards not dying…
Loving the blog and all the pictures…thanks for doing it Graham! I am a bit concerned about the ratio of Alex Maysak pictures versus the rest of the gang (ok, maybe not the rest, but just Griffin!)! Does Alex stalk the photographer??? I'm just saying! JK. ANYWAY, glad to hear you are having a blast! Janet Piv
Alex is a camera stalker… he's just so dang photogenic! I've got a couple good ones of Griffin from today that should be up soon!
# 2 what?
Pencils?
Brucepiv
#2 means no taking a poopy on the bus… only #1 (pee)
Pens?
Marty and I are thinking about you all and loving the blog – thanks Graham! Too bad no video feed of John's raft upending – oh my!! Any dueling banjos? God Bless to all and have fun!!! (Hang in there Lynn and Kim:)!!!)
Thanks Judy! We're havin a blasty as you can tell. I didn't take my video camera on the raft with me because I like it and wanted to be able to continue using it… so only pictures of the events surrounding the actual rafting down the river.
Thanks for checkin up on us!
Great Blog Graham
It sounds like you are all having a blast.
Give Patrick a hug from his Mom.
Nicole
I'll have to snag him while he's dozing off on the bus. haha
Is that my legacy?
It's your legacy with me… haha