2012 In Review

This year has had some pretty big changes in my life.  It was wonderful to see both my brothers and their wives this year.  As well, I had a lot of fun hiking in the Yellowstone and Bozeman areas this year.  I think the most major event I had this year was my mission trip to Angola.

My brother Scott, his wife Amanda, and our friend Josh came to visit me in June.  I hadn't met Amanda since they got married about three years ago.  While they were here, they spent a couple days seeing Yellowstone National Park.  It really is tough to try to pack as much stuff into a two-day trip in Yellowstone as possible.  But next time they come, we'll still have more things to show them.

Amanda's the only one without glow-in-the-dark legs.

For me, one of the most significant events that happened while they were here was when I was driving back to Gardiner after a full day in Yellowstone Park with them, they prayed with me especially regarding my upcoming mission trip.  They more officially prayed for the mission trip before they left, but that impromptu point in time was special to me.

My other brother Kevin and his then fiancée Michaela (now they're married) came from Germany in August to see Montana and the family.  August is a great time of year to come to Montana because of all the activities.  They were able to see pig wrestling, and Kevin, Michaela, and I went to a demolition derby in Livingston.  Kevin and Michaela also came to Gardiner to see Yellowstone for a couple days.  We even hiked to the top of Mount Washburn.  I think one of Michaela's highlights was going to Chico Hot Springs.  Although this was a difficult trip for the two of them because of outside circumstances, I was glad to meet Michaela and see them.

Kevin and Michaela at the top of Mount Washburn

I hiked all over this part of the country this year!

1. I hiked around Rescue Creek March 30 with Mike - 3 miles;
2. I hiked on the ridge on Sepulcher Mountain outside my window April 21 - 3 miles;
3. I hiked to Cache Lake with Adam and Mike May 15 - 10 miles;
4. I hiked to Crevice Lake with Mike May 23 - 12.2 miles;
5. I hiked to Mount Washburn with Kevin and Michaela August 7 - 6.4 miles;
6. I hiked to the Hoodoos with Jared and Kassie August 16 - 3 miles;
7. I camped at Tom Miner Basin with Greg on August 26 and did a short hike the next day - 1 mile;
8. I camped at Rock Creek with Greg on September 7 and hiked along the creek the next day - 10 miles;
9. I hiked to West Boulder Meadow with Jaret September 15 - 6 miles;
10. I hiked to Pioneer Falls with Jaret September 22 - 7.5 miles;
11. I hiked to Lava Lake with Jaret September 29 - 6 miles; and
12. I hiked to Natural Bridge with Jean October 2 - 2 miles.

Mike hikes near the Yellowstone River.

Adam wades through snow on our way to Cache Lake.

Kassie and Jared along the trail through the Hoodoos

Me and Greg near Rock Creek

Jaret along the trail to Lava Lake

I went on a mission trip to Angola (in Africa) at the beginning of July.  We showed the JESUS Film to about 1,400 people in 5 cities on 6 different occasions and saw about 250 people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.  Our team was fairly small—only five people—but we were very blessed during the entire trip.  God protected us and our equipment in a riot.  Our team was interviewed by the national newspaper and radio regarding our mission trip.  Our presence was able to encourage believers there in that country.  Even though we didn't have a translator as we anticipated, most of our encounters went smoothly.  I was able to gain a new perspective on Christian ministry and now I see many things (Christian and secular) from a new point of view.

Our JESUS Film mission team and some members of the church in N'dalatando at Lucala River

A couple sad things did happen this year.  Adam, one of my friends, had to move away from Montana, and Jean also had to move from Montana to the Seattle area.  I'm pretty close to both of them so it's pretty obvious that I miss them both.

Jean sits in the opening of a coke oven near Gardiner.

This year had a lot of major events!  I didn't cover some of them.

My grandaunt Betty passed away March 22, 2012 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease.  She had just turned 88 years old when she died.  I got to see some of Betty's family here in Montana when they came for her memorial service.  Since then I've been trying to handle her affairs.  It's amazing how many things have to be done when a person passes away.  Believe it or not, there's still a couple of lingering items that have to be done—though nothing terribly important.

Betty around 1980

Dad and Bonnie moved into a new house this year and sold the house I grew up in.  Kevin's no longer in the army and was honorably discharged in July.  Kevin and Michaela got married October 5 and live in Hanover, Germany.  Amanda's pregnant, and I'm going to be an uncle in June sometime.  A lot of other family dynamics have also changed this year.

I've started going to church in Bozeman on a regular basis.  I haven't been able to really attend church in many years (in part because I needed to work on weekends because I work at a hotel), so I've greatly appreciated the ability to be around other believers.

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot.  I haven't really said anything publicly about this until now, but I've been looking for suitable work in the Bozeman area for about five months now.  I'm still looking, but nothing's turned up yet.  With my grandmother's house up for sale, I know it's a matter of time before I have to move, so I've been looking for opportunities.  I still take care of the pool at my hotel, but otherwise haven't been working at the front desk since I went to Angola.

I wish all my friends and family a happy New Year!