Hi Friends and Family!
I’m grateful to share another update from this past week at the Joshua
Wilderness Institute. Yet again, it’s been a full and lively week as
we settled back into our routine after returning from our LA
Evangelism trip. Even in the busyness, it’s been one of those weeks
that reminds me why I’m grateful to be here.
Our speaker for the week was Dr. Joanne Jung, who teaches our class of
Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation at Biola University.
She walked us through a variety of topics, but one of the most
impactful for me was her teaching on identity—what it means to
understand who we are in Christ and how that shapes the way we live.
One question she posed has really stayed with me: “Do you have green
hair?” While most of us don’t, it’s a great analogy reminding us not
to believe things about ourselves that aren’t true. Let me encourage
you with Jung’s reminder that you are completely loved, and you are
completely forgiven. Her wisdom and gentleness made the sessions both
challenging and refreshing.
Outside of class, we jumped back into all the usual Joshua rhythms. We
continued working on our class quilt, which has been such a fun
creative project to do together. Tuesday night was Girls Night—always
a sweet time of connection and laughter. On Wednesday, we enjoyed
lunch with our small groups, and Thursday’s time with our Pause
families gave us a chance to slow down and reflect. Since coming back
from Los Angeles, the weather at Hume has been absolutely beautiful,
making everything feel even more enjoyable.
The staff was incredibly kind to give us Monday as a recovery day
after our week-long trip. Several of us took advantage of the sunshine
and walked down to main camp for a community-wide lake day. It was the
perfect way to rest, reset, and enjoy being together.
A real highlight of my week was recording this week’s podcast episode
on Wilderness Survival with Dr. Jung. Interviewing her felt like such
a gift—especially because when I first visited Joshua for Preview, she
was the speaker. Sitting across from her now as a student felt like a
full-circle moment I’ll always treasure.
Overall, it’s been a week full of learning, community, and sweet
reminders of God’s kindness. Thanks for following us along and
supporting us on our journey!
– Taylor Gestl (Current Student)