Ski Trip 2010!

We have just returned from our annual ski trip to Salida, Colorado!

Every year on Spring Break, Austin Agape travels to Salida, Colorado for some fun, some service, and some community building. We stay at First Presbyterian Church in

Salida, where we lead worship and work with youth and children. And during the week, we ski and snowshoe at Monarch Mountain. It's a blast every year.

We always begin and end with a 18-19 hour road trip. Thanks to all our drivers who got us safely to and from Salida! The road trip is always filled with great music, conversation, and laughter. Lots of fun!

We always see snow on Monarch Mountain, but this year, we had an added bonus. It snowed in town! That led to lots of snowball fights and sledding! Several of our students had never gone sledding or seen accumulated snow!

We enjoyed spending time with the middle school and high school youth from First Presbyterian Church. . .

We also enjoyed the elementary school children from Kidz Club.

We had three beautiful days for skiing and snowshoeing. . .

And unfortunately. . .yes. . .two injuries! Hang in there, Lauron and Marco!

What did you enjoy about the ski trip this year?

"What did I enjoy about the ski trip? The Texans, the Coloradans, Colorado, the snow, the car rides (yes, the car rides). . . and oh yeah, Ian fainted."

-Patrick Garvin

"I enjoyed everything about the ski trip! From the children's sermon of awesome to skiing to Kidz Club to the Hot Springs to "Halt. . .MUSH!" and the drives there and back, every moment was a blast and fun of fun and laughter! I absolutely cannot wait for next year already, and am pumped to share this awesome trip with the people who are new to it next year."

-Alyssa Nipp

"Most meaningful was the fellowship of our group with the members of the First Pres Church of Salida, their youth, the soup kitchen and helping to lead their worship services. I went to Colorado, snow-shoed, had a snowball fight and sled down a hill for the first time. But my favorite part was getting to know everyone."

-Walter Idol

"There is a lot that I enjoyed about the ski trip. The weather was almost perfectly planned for us. It snowed the day we arrived which led to hours of snow ball fights and sledding using various means, including bean bag chairs! After that it was clear skies and beautiful weather!

However, the best part for me was experiencing how the group came together for each other when they needed it. It is a bond and friendship that is unique and special to this group. I would like to sincerely thank everyone in the group for helping me when I was injured. I can't think of any other time in my life when I was surrounded by such wonderful and caring people. It made the ski trip one of the best trips I've ever taken."

-Marco Gutierrez