Nov. 11, 2011
Hello,
Thought I'd send a little bit of an update if you're wondering how life is at Washington Family Ranch in Oregon...

I'm loving it out here at the Young LIfe camp in the middle of nowhere.  It'll be three weeks on Sunday.  I've been meeting a ton of people and just learning the job and way of life.  There are about 100 people total out here (kids included), there's a handful of single 20 yr olds, a handful of young married couples, a bunch of families with tons of kids from new borns to college age kids.  They actually have a one room school house out here.  I'm learning a ton of all the intricate details of housekeeping and realizing how big a task it is especially now that the camp has two camps on it's property.  I enjoy the active work and time to share in relationships with those working along side you or listening to praise music while changing over the laundry.  I was taught how to drive a stick shift Japanese car the other day.  Not only have I never really drove a stick shift car before but you drive on the right side of the vehicle and shift with the left hand.  I absolutely loved it and cant wait to take it out again!  As a new single gal out here I get invited over for dinner a lot to meet people and get to know each other on a deeper level.  It's been exciting that way of seeing how different each family is out here and from all different walks of life.  Tonight I was at a family's house who hunt wild bore and made a egg caserole from the eggs from their chicken coup and cut up pieces of bore in it, yum!  They're also young earth believers so we shared some creation stories together.
 I havent really connected to one particular person yet but see potential in many and continue to pray for close relationships.  I think what I fear is the surface Christian relationships of people not wanting to be real or broken or those that want to continue in complacency or not want to grow or think they dont even need to.  Not that I'm thinking that of anyone in particular but it's a sad truth of the Christian world today it seems like.  I really am liking it out here.  It's absolutely gorgeous living in a canyon and surrounded by God's creation without distractions of city life stuff.  It's also great just to be able to talk about Christ in the work place and whenever and it be aloud, there are those times people are still uncomfortable if scripture is brought up in certain situations or if they feel rebuked but that's why I think a lot of people like it out here is b/c they are challenged in ways they dont expect and helps them grow.  I want the same for me and dont want to have expectations but have accountability and encouragement so that it doesnt go the other way. 
Well I'm excited to sleep in tomorrow b/c we have off for Veterans Day.  I also just want to sit on my porch and look out at the mountain across the way searching for cayotes and cougers while I soak up some scripture.  Thank you for your prayers.  Hope you enjoyed this short updated email.  Love to hear from you too!

In His love and grace,
Nicole