Visiting Woodland Park Zoo

Jean and I went to Woodland Park Zoo Monday, August 3. She normally works a night shift, so she had to get up early so we could see all the animals during business hours. The last time we went to the zoo was last year about this time.

When we got there, we saw a blue heron in the same enclosure with the Humboldt penguins. These large birds are native to Washington and my previous home in Montana, but it's neat to see them in a city environment too.

There were some differences between last year and this. A year ago they had elephants, but they aren't there any longer. As a matter of fact, only 11 days after we went last year, one of their elephants died. Last year we also saw cheetahs, but they weren't there this year.

While we visited the zoo, we saw what we couldn't see last year. We especially liked watching the Asian small-clawed otters and the new ring-tailed lemurs.

Asian small-clawed otters at Woodland Park Zoo

Ring-tailed lemurs at Woodland Park Zoo

It was a hot day so between looking at all the different animals, we had Icees. For dinner, Jean and I went to Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse.

Jean shows her red tongue after eating an Icee.

Camping at Diablo Lake

 

Since Adam was in town, we decided to go camping on my days off. Neither one of us knows that much about the Washington area, so we had to research a place to camp. I really liked the drive through North Cascades National Park when I dropped him off on the Pacific Crest Trail, so we finally decided to camp at Diablo Lake on July 5-6.

Driving to the lake, we first picked up some firewood along the way. Many cars were heading out of the park, presumably because it was Sunday night and they had to go back to work on Monday morning.

When we got to the lake, there were still several campers there. We chose a spot and set up camp. I made a one-match fire and Adam cooked steaks over the campfire. It had been awhile since I had a good steak, and was impressed by his culinary skills. He cooked them to perfection in the dark!

Adam made some amazing steaks during our camping trip.

The next day, we decided to hike on one of the nearby trails. Unfortunately there was a fire that prevented us from traveling along the Thunder Creek Trail very far. We instead to hike on Fourth of July Pass to the Panther Potholes. The trail only had peek-a-boo scenery as it was densely forested. We were able to see a sizable waterfall next to Colonial Peak. Fourth of July Pass campground is easy to ignore if you're not looking for signage. However, Panther Potholes are just beyond it and were a great place for us to turn around.

Adam poses in front of Thunder Creek.

A large waterfall near Colonial Peak is visible from Fourth of July Trail.

If you look closely, you'll see two people hiking over a log at Panther Potholes.

I pose at an overlook at Panther Potholes.

When we got back to Diablo Lake campground, we made some lunch and then drove back to Snohomish. I was surprised that for not hiking at all this summer, I wasn't sore the next day as I had expected, especially considering we hiked so far with a 2,400-foot elevation gain.

It was a great time for Adam and I to talk. We had such a great weekend. Adam had to leave the next day for Oregon, so I said my goodbyes to him Tuesday.

Picking Adam Up from the PCT

 

After being on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) for eight days, Adam asked if I could pick him up in Wenatchee, Washington. He had just completed all 118 miles of Section K of the PCT and decided that just doing a section here and there would be alright for his purpose. He had some great times out on the trail too.

After work on July 2, I drove in the night to Wenatchee and picked him up and then drove back home. I had to work on July 3, but I actually had Independence Day off and we'd be able to spend some time together over the weekend.

I had to work for the morning on Independence Day, but afterward, we went to Gas Works Park in Seattle. We knew that there were going to be a lot of people there, so we parked about a mile away from the park several hours before the fireworks would start. There were already a lot of people there by the time we got there. We got something to eat and hung out at the top of the hill overlooking the park until the fireworks began.

It was a great fireworks show, even though the music messed up.

Afterwards, we watched for a little while as people left the park. There were so many!

Once we decided to work through the crowd, we walked back to our car, but saw that traffic was going to be backed up for awhile. We walked to a nearby restaurant and had a late dinner. By the time we were finished, traffic was much more manageable.

We had a great night. I enjoy hanging out with Adam. I don't get to see him very often.

Dropping Adam Off at the PCT

Wayne and Adam at the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington along Route 20

Adam came from Pennsylvania to Washington state recently so he could hike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Adam arrived in Everett on June 22. I picked him up and we were able to hang out for a few days. I haven't seen Adam since he visited me in Montana March 22-25, 2014. Jean, Bruce, and I were still in the process of unpacking, so while I was at work, he helped us out with the process.

It was great to be able to catch up with him. So much has happened in the past year. I was able to show him where I work, and what I do. He was able to buy a few last-minute supplies and get ready for his trip.

Adam was hoping to go on the entire trail, but was open to other possibilities.

On June 25, I got up early in the morning and drove him through North Cascades National Park on Washington State Route 20. It was such a beautiful drive that I decided that I needed to drive there later to really see what's there.

After fumbling around on the road a bit, we finally found where the PCT met Highway 20. (It wasn't clearly marked, so we were a little confused.) We said our goodbyes, and then I left Adam in the middle of nowhere without even a cell signal.

I figured that he'd be alright and that he'd enjoy his time on the trail. I considered it a great adventure.

Moving to Snohomish

Remember how I moved from Montana to Renton in April 2014? Well, I moved again! On June 2, Jean, Bruce, and I moved from Renton to Snohomish. We were in an apartment, and now we're in a condo.

I've started going to a new church also. Since New Life Church in Renton is a long drive each Sunday, I decided to look for a new church almost immediately. I visited a couple churches before I found one I liked: Gold Creek Community Church. I'm super happy with this church and am already making new friends there.

My commute to work is longer than it used to be, but it's still reasonable.

Outside my bedroom window, there is a walking trail. We have some wildlife in the area too. I've seen a rabbit, but once the bobcat was in the neighborhood, it "disappeared." Just a couple days ago I saw a hummingbird visit the fence by my bedroom window.

Occasionally I still have to drive to Renton because my things are still stored there. Believe it or not, it's cheaper for me to keep the storage unit there and drive to Renton once a month than it is for me to get a new storage unit in this area.

I continue to look forward to new adventures.

Starting a Bible Study

On May 3, something unusual happened. I went to New Life Church as normal that morning. I had to go to work unexpectedly for a brief time, so I left after my duties were finished at church.

By the time I had finished helping at work, church was over. As I drove back toward Renton, I decided to stop in Factoria to get something to eat since there were several fast food restaurants there. I knew that I was going to have the night off with my aunt, and that we'd be spending time together. I also realized that she probably wanted to have Mexican, so I crossed Taco Time off the list, but I went to Taco Bell instead. I don't even know why I did it since it made no sense to me.

I didn't feel comfortable at Taco Bell because I didn't trust some of the people there. I sat in the corner, facing away from the crowd. This was also unusual because I normally face the people in a restaurant, and I already didn't trust some of them.

After I finished eating I realized that some people behind me were talking about the Bible. They were discussing 2 Corinthians 4. One of them was trying to help the other two understand what it meant, and he was doing a pretty good job at it. But there came a point at which he couldn't really explain what 2 Cor. 4:8-9 meant.

I turned around and told them I could help them understand this and asked if they'd like me to help. They invited me, so I explained the whole thing to them.

Weeks later, I asked how they started the Bible study together. Sometime during the week before May 3, a homeless man asked Caleb about the Bible and wanted to understand more of it. To Caleb, this was fairly random, but he knew who this guy was because he'd had some interactions with him. Caleb answered some of his questions, but knew there were too many to be able to answer all at once. He suggested that they meet for a Bible study that following Sunday, May 3 at Taco Bell. That's how they met me.

Since we've started this Bible study, we've seen one man give his heart to Jesus, and another rededicated his life to Him. We started studying the book of John on May 10, and this coming Sunday we're going to be studying John 18. We've also changed locations. By the way, the guy who originally had questions about the Bible is already saved.

God is changing the hearts of the homeless in Factoria, Washington.

God has given me some new friends.

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14 NIV)

RoozenGaarde

It was the last day of the tulip festival, and I still needed to see it. I drove to Mount Vernon on April 20 so I could see the last of the tulips at RoozenGaarde. The fields of flowers had already been taken and so only a little was still there. Even what little was there was pretty spectacular. Hopefully I'll be able to go while the fields are still in bloom next year!

A crab apple tree among the tulips

Catching Up on 2015: Greene County

March 30 was going to be my last adventure in Alabama on this trip. Scott still hadn't taken me turkey hunting, and he really wanted to take me out. I couldn't actually hunt or even touch a gun without a permit, so really I was going to watch Scott hunt turkeys.

Scott made arrangements to go to a relative's house in Greene County to hunt. When we got there that morning, it was raining, so we waited out the weather for a couple hours. Finally things had dried out enough to attempt this adventure. This was my first real exposure to turkey hunting, so Scott basically showed me all the ropes. Scott told me that it was my job to make the tom turkey horny by imitating a hen, and it would be his job to blast him in the face when he came by.

Scott wears camouflage for this turkey-hunting adventure.

You can't tell, but it's actually me!

You get a point if you can find Scott.

Unfortunately we didn't see a turkey much less get one. Regardless, it was a relaxing morning on the property.

Scott walks back to the house next to a pollen-laden pond.

For lunch, we met Amanda and her mother Teresa in Aliceville at Jack's. Of course Amanda brought Naomi with her and we all had a great lunch.

Teresa and Amanda

Afterward, Teresa had to go back to work, but we went to Eutaw to see Amanda's grandparents. Scott and I drove around town, looking at the numerous plantations and historic buildings. There is quite a bit of history in this quaint little town. Amanda cleaned her grandparents' house and we visited for a bit.

Kirkland Plantation in Eutaw, Alabama

It was getting late in the afternoon, so we drove to Akron where Amanda grew up. We went to her father's farm and I was delighted to meet her father's girlfriend, but I was unable to meet her father.

The sun sets behind an old barn on Amanda's father's propery in Akron, Alabama.

The day was quite relaxing and I really enjoyed touring this beautiful part of Alabama. It was a great send-off since I was going to go back to Seattle the next day.

Catching Up on 2015: Reuniting with an Old Friend

After church on March 29, 2015, Scott, Amanda, Naomi and I went to Logan's in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to visit with my friend Corey.

Corey and I were roommates for a time when I lived in Baton Rouge about 12 years ago. He's a good brother and a dependable man.

He recently was married to his beautiful wife, but I couldn't go to his wedding last year.

I was so glad to finally be able to meet her for the first time and to see him for the first time in 10 years since I visited Baton Rouge last. I was encouraged to see such how things have turned out for him over the years with the cards he was dealt.

I wish we were closer together so that these reunions didn't have to have so much time between them!

Scott, Corey, and I are together for the first time in 10 years!

Katy, Corey, and Wayne together for the first time since Katy and Corey were wedded

Catching Up on 2015: The Creation Museum

March 24-27, 2015 Scott, Amanda, Naomi, and I drove from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Cincinnati, Ohio to see the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. Although Scott and I visited the museum in 2005, this was Amanda's and Naomi's first time.

We drove a full day from Tuscaloosa to Cincinnati on March 24 and went to our hotel, TownPlace Suites. I really liked this hotel. Scott and Amanda had a bedroom to themselves, as did I. Naomi slept in the living area in a Pack 'n Play.

Naomi's ready for night-night.

 Amanda was super excited to finally arrive at the Creation Museum on March 25. We looked at the whole museum during the day and had a good lunch. Naomi even rode a camel. Once her turn was over, she cried since she wanted to continue riding.

Scott, Amanda, and Naomi pose in front of the Creation Museum.

When kids start going into school, they're immediately taught the doctrine of evolution and millions of years. It's unfortunate that our society doesn't recognize that the belief in the lack of a god or God is itself a religion, and that the teaching of evolution in schools is the furtherance of this religion by the state.

I think that once kids are in school, this museum is awesome. Even if they can't read, their parents can read to them, and there are a lot of videos there to help explain the exhibits. This museum's main goal is to show that although we're taught about evolution, God's Word explains better what we see today.

For a child of Naomi's age, there was very little to keep her interest.  Being not quite 2 years old, this was probably the first time that she'd seen life-sized dinosaurs and the like. She definitely didn't like the animated dinosaurs. They looked a bit scary. But then again, there was that petting zoo with the camel!

Naomi reacts to the sight of a pterodactyl above the Creation Museum Bookstore.

On March 26 we listened to Ken Ham speak about evangelization in a society quickly becoming secular. Having lived in the Northwest for most of my life, I saw his main point as being quite relevant.

Wayne, Naomi, Amanda, and Scott Dore pose with Ken Ham.

We drove to Scott's and Amanda's home on March 27 exhausted. I was glad to have the next day to recuperate.

Catching Up on 2015: Preaching at Soma of Christ

When I went to Alabama in March this year, it wasn't just to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. I also visited the church that gave me the majority of my support for my Colombia Mission Trip in 2014.

After I had announced my intent to go on this short-term mission trip, Scott asked his pastor if they would be willing to help support me, and he said yes! Considering that Pastor Shaun at Soma of Christ in Tuscaloosa hadn't ever met me, it was quite an opportunity. I made a video requesting their financial and prayerful help for the trip and they gave it to me. It was so unusual for a church to do this sight-unseen, I considered it a miracle. After I got back home from the trip to Colombia, I counted how much money I had spent versus how much I had raised, and they were almost exactly equal. I took this as another indication that the support I received was heavenly.

In the process of my support, Pastor Shaun had invited me to speak at his church after I came back from Colombia to report how God had worked through this trip.

On Friday, March 20, I met with people from Soma of Christ for the first time. They were having a men's fellowship that night at the local bowling alley. They first had a devotional, and then we drove to the bowling alley. We played a couple games and had pizza. From these men, I could start seeing the church's character, one that was filled with Christ's love.

I'm bowling with the Soma Men's Fellowship. Here's Scott making a toss!

Afterward, I talked to Scott about what I had observed and he added that when Tuscaloosa had suffered the April 25-28, 2011 Tornado Outbreak, Soma of Christ was one of the few locations that hadn't been damaged by tornadoes. The members of the church helped each other and the community out with their building and with the care that they gave each other. I could tell that the people in this church were tight.

I don't preach very often, and I would say that outside of my college days, Sunday, March 22 was the third time I've ever delivered a message. I used my experience in Colombia to explain what the practice of prayer is. When I went to Colombia, I literally prayed for between 100-200 people. In some cases I saw immediate results, even healings, and in other cases, entire families were saved. I think that one way that we show Christ's love is through prayer for people at large. Oftentimes in the United States we feel as if our prayers are unheard or ignored since we don't usually see immediate, obvious results.

Wayne speaks about prayer at Soma of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I found myself right at home in Soma of Christ and could plainly see that Jesus was with this family of believers. Their prayerful and financial support was such a blessing in my life. I'll be excited to see this church next time I visit Scott and Amanda.

Catching up on 2015: Visiting Scott, Amanda, and Naomi

Photo by Amanda

I had just been hired at a luxury apartment community in Bellevue. I was able to complete two days of training before I went on a planned trip to Alabama to see my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. I spent two weeks from March 18-31 on this trip.

The first day was a bit of a disaster. I was scheduled to fly from SeaTac, Washington to Birmingham, Alabama. My first flight from SeaTac to Houston was delayed at take-off for a mechanical reason. Once we landed on the ground in Houston we were delayed again because another plane was in our gate still, and then we had to be towed to the gate. As a result I missed my connecting flight by minutes.

My airline provided free accommodations that evening at a local hotel. The shuttle that picked us up seemed to go in circles about five times around the gates, picking up more people, before it actually went to the hotel. An hour later, we finally made it and I was able to relax a little.

The following day, I flew from Houston to Birmingham. Fortunately this flight was uneventful and I arrived in Birmingham in the morning. As I waited for my brother Scott to pick me up, I noticed that most of the cars were reasonably new. I saw Scott's old red pickup truck in the distance and I waved at him so he could see me. In response, I heard a very loud, "Awooga!" Scott's such a redneck!

I had lunch with Scott, Amanda, Naomi, and our good friend Josh at a local barbecue restaurant. That afternoon, Scott showed me around his property.

Funny enough, I found out that Scott doesn't react to poison ivy. I wonder what my reaction to it would be. It's funny though that if Scott touches poison ivy, and then someone else touches him, they're in trouble! Apparently only 15% of the population in the United States is not allergic to poison ivy, sumac, or oak (American Skin Association).

Over the next couple of days, I learned how Naomi, being not quite two years old at the time, needed to have a regular routine.

Naomi is ready for night-night.

When she woke up on March 20, she wanted a hug from me. It was the first hug she and I had since she was born.

Catching Up on 2015: A New Career Path

This year has been different for me in that I haven't been writing in my blog... at all! It's not that I haven't had any adventures, but that I haven't bothered to write about them yet. I think it's time to get caught up on all the events that have led up to now, since I anticipate that the future is going to be eventful too.

When I first moved to Renton, Washington in April 2014, I immediately looked for work in the hotel industry, and soon found a position as a guest service representative at a local hotel. Well, in December 2014, I quit that position in search for a new career. I felt, and still do, that I am finished working in the hotel industry.

After my trip to Colombia in November, I believed that it was time to start something new. At first, my sights were set toward Christian ministry since that is where I have wanted to go from childhood. As is often the case, ministry positions do not normally come without having some sort of support from outside. For example, missionaries need to have regular supporters that help them live in another nation. Although I received enormous, gracious support for my trip to Colombia this year, I believed it would take a wide range of support to get the money I wanted for what I wanted to do, and I didn't have that.

As well, I recognized that for ministry I need to have some sort of companion. In the book of Acts, the apostles traveled through the Roman world in pairs. If they could avoid it, they didn't go anywhere alone. I felt it was important that I have some support in what I did, and that it shouldn't be attempted by myself. I have had to do many things by myself in the past few years, and so I have been praying that God would provide a ministry partner.

Between December 2014 and March 2015, my ideals of what I needed for a career changed. During this time, I had acquired part-time work with a car-rental company, but was still searching for a new career path until God would make the way open to work in ministry full-time. I came to a point where I decided that it was more important to build myself up. Then I could take care of my other endeavors.

One day, a friend at church told me, "You know, you should work as a concierge where I work. You would do great, and they have openings!" I submitted my resume for them, but I didn't hear back for awhile, so I didn't put much stock in the hope of a position. Then I received a request for a phone interview, and soon after, a request to have an in-person interview with the senior concierge at the apartment community. Finally, after performing some qualifying tests, I was hired at that apartment community in Bellevue, Washington on March 16.

I have high hopes with this company. The property has a lot of potential, and has allowed me to shine in the areas where I can do best. The work environment is really good, better than I've experienced before. I see a lot of promise in building a career here. At first I was hired part-time, but now I'm working full-time hours. Since we're short-staffed at the moment I'm not officially full-time, but I'm sure that will come in time. If I become an official full-time employee, I receive a pretty nice benefits package too.

When I look at how getting a new career path has transpired, I think I can explain it in a few sentences. At first, I felt sidetracked from my main goals when I went on board with this apartment community company. All things considered, this has become a step in the right direction. Sometimes the most direct path is not the best path. I am grateful that I have a God who watches over me, loves me, and is in control of all things, both good and bad.

I didn't create this path for myself; it was something that was offered to me because of the relationships I had created. This really is a gift from God.