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the "two-thirds-of-the-way-through-the-summer" update

this is actually an email I just send to my fraternity brothers

{Disclaimer: I know this is long, and most people will lose interest in emails after only a few lines... but if you don't read anything else, within the last two paragraphs is what my summer has been all about.}

Brothers,

It's been a while since I've talked to any of ya'll. In fact, I think the only people I've heard from are the clowns who started up the reply-alls (God bless you.) and Farrelly, whom I've only seen twice this summer, though we're only about 17 miles from each other.

Yellowstone is amazing. I'm having by far the best summer of my life. Those of you that I have talked to know that I hate my work. Cleaning rooms is awful. I can't stand to work 9 hour shifts where the only interaction that I have with people is "could we get some more decaf?" The only thing that gets me through is when I look out the window and see a bison munching in the shade of the hotel or remember what I'm going to do after I get off.

Actually, last Sunday, I preached about that. I talked about how work this summer has taught me lessons in humility. I preached out of Philippians 2 and 3, where Paul exhorts believers to imitate Christ's humility. Though I felt entirely un-eloquent, people said they appreciated my honesty about my mental struggles at work and were challenged by the scripture, so that's good.

The services are good. They're interesting. Not what I'm used to at school, but similar to the Methodist church that my dad goes to. We have to follow a set order and do set liturgy like the Call to Worship and Confessional responsive readings, along with the Doxology and Affirmation of Faith, all of which are pre-specified in the bulletins that are sent to us by the ACMNP head office. I lead worship for whatever group I'm with each Sunday, which amounts to 3 songs, usually hymns (because that's what people know better) that I try to figure out on my guitar. My minstry team here at Lake is made of 11 college students from all over, and we break in to 3 groups each week. We have 3 different locations to lead services at, and each site has 3 services each Sunday. We made a schedule to rotate us around between different people and locations. It keeps it interesting.

As far as food.....well, it's a couple of steps down the quality ladder from Bon Apetite... It's provided, well, really, it's deducted from our pay-check, as is room and board. The room and food and everything that's provided is pretty crappy....but I figured it out, and if you don't even consider paying for your electricity and water and room, you're only paying about $3 per meal. so I can't complain.

In conclusion, work/food provided by work sucks.
Still, life is GREAT.

I spend most of my afternoons hiking, climbing, or just relaxing in God's amazing creation. I'm currently figuring out my total distance on foot in Yellowstone's immense back-country, but I'm certain it's already in excess of 150 miles--with nearly a month still left in my time here. :) Thanks to the already low prices of Sierra Trading Post Outlet in Cody, WY and Park-employee discounts, I now own my own rock climbing equipment. My buddy Jefferis and I try to go 2-3 times a week, and I try to find somewhere nearby to boulder when we can't make it that often.

Spending this much time in nature has been AWESOME.

Sunrise on the Tetons is perfectly un-imaginable and wholly indescribable, or I would attempt to do so. Watching the sunset across the largest of North America's high altitude lakes from a sea of peaks and alpine terrain is equally breathtaking. Laying back on the sandy shores of Yellowstone Lake to watch the Milky Way Galaxy slide by and counting the shooting stars only to be distracted by a storm rolling in 50 miles to the East is entirely satisfying. Picking a route up a mountain (without aid of trail) that gains nearly 7000' of elevation in 6 miles, then being blasted by 50mph winds as we crest a summit ridge with 12,000+ ft peaks in view is far more motivation than I have ever experienced. And doing all this on a regular basis has made me ALIVE. I have decided: this is me. I was made for this.

And that is why I love it here.

Still, I can't wait to see all of my brothers and get started on what I'm praying will be the most amazing year ever for the Adelphikos Fraternity.

Your Brother,
Bryan Turner

PS: if anyone would like to send me mail, my address is:
Bryan Turner
General Delivery -- Lake
Yellowstone NP, WY, 82190

and if you'd like to receive a post card, I have an endless supply of cards with historic photos of early YNP, just let me know and give me your addy.