Have a good night’s sleep at Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City.
Start: N 37.832505 W 122.480167
End: 3560 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94061
Google Map
Miles traveled this mission: 35
Total miles traveled: 3568
Time for next mission: 9:00 AM PDT
Sorry that there is never enough time to post our backlog of pix. Until then . . .
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate (a narrow, deep strait) connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County. Although close by proximity, the two sides of the strait are separated by significant natural obstacles. Crossing the strait directly by boat is dangerous because of strong currents and lack of suitable landings. Circumnavigating the Bay, however, involves a trip of several hundred miles and crossing several major rivers. From Wikipedia
Practically speaking, bridges connect one place to another. It makes crossing an area much easier, creating closeness between spaces that would otherwise be cut-off.
Symbolically, bridges also connect things and symbolize change and transition, but they can also signify stability.
We build bridges with each other every day. We share time and conversations. We develop friendships. We give and take.
Today we are going to share our thoughts about the object we brought symbolizing love. Then we are going to pass it on to someone else. Just as the many wires connecting the Golden Gate Bridge add to its stability, strength and flexibility, imagine how loving relationships build those types of connections in our lives. Many strings reaching out to those around us, everyone connected.
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85: 10
Is there any one thing that makes love successful? Many things are bound together and it should not be occasional.
Take a walk over Golden Gate Bridge. The password for the next mission is the first name of the first man who died building the bridge.
Start: 2125 North Olive Avenue, Turlock CA 95382
End: N 37.832505 W 122.480167
Google Map
Miles traveled this mission: 112
Total miles traveled: 3533
Time for next mission: 9:00 PM PDT
The residents of the Covenant Village of Turlock are expecting us, so go for an afternoon visit. They’ll be prepared to talk with us about how they have viewed marriage over the years.
Start: 913 Floyd Ave., Modesto CA 95350
End: 2125 North Olive Avenue, Turlock CA 95382
Google Map
Miles traveled this mission: 20
Total miles traveled: 3421
Time for next mission: 4:00 PM PDT
Return Equipment to Modesto Covenant Church.
Start: 20450 Old Highway 120, Groveland CA 95321
End: 913 Floyd Ave., Modesto CA 95350
Google Map
Miles traveled this mission: 57
Total miles traveled: 3505
Time for next mission: 11:30 AM PDT
What is the most remarkable thing you learned from the seniors today?
What are the characteristics of the love these seniors have for one another? (What words would you use to describe their love?)
What are things they did to make their love last this long?
Is it the kind of love you think of when think about falling in love?
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7: 9
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Psalm 117:2
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut. 6: 4-9
What things can we do to make living in love a part of every day life?
In the morning we woke up early, awaiting our next mission. After showers and a quick pack up, Mike told us that we would be hiking through Yosemite National Park to see two waterfalls. So, we packed our backpacks light, strapped on our sneakers and headed out for the park. What awaited us was the most beautiful and strenuous thing in the world.
During the drive up to where we would be hiking, we stopped and took pictures in front of the half dome. Though it was over ten miles away, it was as vivid as ever in the distance. Already we could start to imagine what lay in store for us for the rest of the day. We packed up and moved out to curry village, where the vans would stay for the day.
As we got there, if you looked straight ahead without glancing up, you would have thought a huge rain storm was heading our way. However, with that upward glance, you would see that those clouds were nothing more than a huge rock face that surrounded curry village in almost all four directions. From there, we took a tram car to our trail. Inside the tram, Kim found a quote that she really wanted me to put here. It was “The soul perceives what the eyes can only see”.
As we got to the trail, it was clear that we were in for quite a hike. Though it only went about four miles, there and back, we would be moving up in elevation – over 2,000 feet. As we thought, the climb up was absolutely crazy. Nearing the end of the climb we were faced a long set of stairs that when looking directly at them seemed be at a complete vertical drop off.
After the cliffs of insanity were over, we were treated with the best view of the entire valley below, a rushing waterfall, and the emerald pond. After the long hike the freezing cold water of the emerald pond was the best reward. Stepping out of the refreshing water, we had a packed lunch of peanut butter and jelly. 
All around us, little squirrel like creatures looked up for the food in our hands. The little things had become so used to humans that if you held out a piece of bread, they would come right up to you and take it from your hand.
After lunch, we geared up for the hike back down, which we son found out was just as hard, if not worse the way up. Either way the hike was awsome, and the top was so rewarding that there was and still is absolutely nothing to complain about. When we finally got back to curry village, we stopped in for dinner at their buffet. Stories of the hike were passed on to each other, and soon we were all back in the vans, ready to head back to camp. Within five minuets of the ride, all of us had passed out, asleep, waiting for what was in store for us next.
Hope everything at home is going great as well. Don’t be afraid to reply to the pictures or posts, we would all love to hear from you.
~Jake~
Where we just left off, we had woken up at four thirty in the morning, and were ready to head out to JFK airport in New York. The drive was quick because it was so early in the morning, and the airport was only a third filled. By now it was seven thirty, and our flight was set for nine, or at least the first one was. Due to the compacity of the planes, our group had to split up into two, and go onto different planes, one at nine, and one at eleven.
The flight was six hours long, and when it was done, all of us were dying to stretch out legs. The first group stepped off the plane, grabbed lunch, and waited for the next group. Even though the planes start time was only an hour off, it seemed as if we had waited two or three for them to step onto the west coast. Soon, we were back into vans, with another two and a half hour drive ahead of us.
Our first stop was at Modesto Covenant Church where we had pizza, and picked up equipment for camping that night. After a quick goodbye, we loaded up the vans again for another long drive, this time to the campsite. By the time we got there it was dark, and we had to set up the tents in pick black. After the rustling confusion, we all had time to look up and see the clearest night sky, with multitudes of blazing stars. The day was over, but we were looking forward to the next day.
~Jake~
