We are officially settled in! This is orientation week, so each day we learned about new rules and tasks. Sunday, we went over the basics and went in depth about our covenant. We have committed ourselves to abstaining from watching any T.V./videos/movies, listening to music, playing video games, and dating. There are many interesting rules as well, such as keeping groups of opposite genders “odd.” For example, two guys and two girls cannot be alone together, but two guys and three girls are allowed. There are exceptions however, such as a group is automatically “odd” if a staff member is present. Another rule is we must dress in formal attire for our Monday-Wednesday dinner meals. Sunday was also the day we were taken around the Hume Lake campground and shown our different job possibilities. Each weekend we will work in the snack shop, kitchen, support services, or activities in order to reduce our tuition. On Monday, we went over more of the rules for the year, as well as HR protocol, and listened to our first speaker of the year: Bob Plouffe. We have been getting to know one another through playing card games such as Mafia and Spoons (with twizzlers), conversations during meal times, and just general socializing in and around this fantastic building we’re privileged to live in. One of the things that make this building so great is the fantastic scenery of the forest behind us atop the mountains, and the starry skies we get to witness at night. Daily chores are given to us as to keep everything running smoothly. Our class isn’t quite at full capacity right now. One of our fellow students is trapped across the Canadian border and we are keeping him in our prayers so that he can get here soon. We are gradually getting used to life here, though it is a slow process. Through all of these changes and this program, we hope to grow closer to Jesus.
