Mark Evans, President

Latest Reflections article from me

Page Photo Sore shoulders, bug bites and eternity


I was fourteen years old and weighed all of 95 pounds. I was even styling a trendy bowl haircut. As a fairly quiet kid, and a late bloomer I desperately wanted to fit in. Now put a 55 pound backpack on my back for five days. I experienced sore shoulders, bugs, and switchback trails that made me wonder if would ever see flat land again. I extended so much energy that meals like top ramen were a culinary masterpiece.

This particular backpack trip was an open enrollment which meant there was a whole mix of teens. In other words, there were kids from the other side of the tracks. Towards the end of the trip we were sent on a solo. Basically we were going to spend almost 24 hours alone. For me that seemed like eternity. The solo time was to be to spent journaling, reflecting on Christ and all that He may want to do with our lives. I was shown where to go and the time of anguish (or reflection) began. I doodled in my journal, found wild blueberries to eat and prayed that somehow the clock would move faster. It began getting dark and I heard another kid from his solo spot. He was one of the rough kids and I could hear him crying. I finally decided to leave my location and see what was wrong. It ends up that he was afraid of the dark. I figured that I wouldn't get in too much trouble so I decided to spend the rest of the solo time with him.

Over the next few hours that young man and I talked about life and about Christ. He told me about his family, about struggles and what kind of things he liked. I began to feel like I was being given an open door to share my faith with him. I asked if he wanted to invite Christ into his heart and to my amazement he said YES. What an experience.

I wish I knew where that man is today. Sore shoulders, bug bites and eternity. I finished that trip with a great sense of accomplishment. Not only did I persevere through the pain, but learned that God could use my life if I was willing to be courageous and follow His call.