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| So, here we are on the way home already! I had the kids (and sponsors too) jot for you some of their memories from I.S.C. 08. Here is what they said... Mr. Nate Hochstetler – Watching the students mingle at International Night and watching the students compete, Kenny Baldwin preaching Mr. Sean Hochstetler – mealtimes(group hugs, etc.:) Johnny Pope, Mennonite Quartet command performance, watching the character the kids displayed all week. Way to go guys!! Schrockie – Hanging out with the students and meeting students and sponsors from other places, such as Gladys from Haiti, Raquel & Madelina from Mexico, Melody from Colorado. Of course it was also fun to whoop and hollar for Julian, Alex & Aaron as they walked the stage (my apologies to Aaron for beating on him when I saw his name appear on screen - I was just soooo excited!  Megan- Meeting students from other countries – especially Mexico. J.T- Being involved in the Opening Ceremonies and Canadian pizza night. Cody- Playing with the inflatable’s with Julian and international night. Julian-the rallies(Kenny Baldwin)competing in checkers, international night and pizza night. I can’t forget the command performances either Abi-meeting new people and international night, trading Canadian stuff (hugging almost random people whom we sort of know!!) eating at the mess halls going through dress check!! and eating ice cream from the cursed ice cream machine!! And seeing new people. Aaron- The rallies (worship music, preaching, command performances) ALEX-THE FOOD,THE RALLES, COMPETING IN SOCCER KICK, COMMAND PERFORMANCE, AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES. Elmo (Elaine)-The rallies and looking at the exhibits, the international night was fun. It was fun meeting new people and people from Regional Convention. I liked watching the girl with the cups of water, command performance. Lee (Everett)- lets just say I love it all and all was fun at the time and I love the preaching and gave my life to GOD again. Chimelle-My favorite time was the international night and seeing lots of different people from different places and I really enjoyed the command performances and playing the piano for Lonnie Shipman. JesseB- The rallies(preaching, music and worship, command performances), walking and running around the campus to events, activities, and meals, the friendly people that ran the convention, meeting and talking with new people, my competition, and watching others compete. | |
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| So, I promised you that we would post. Our travels weren't as extended as last year, thus, the experiences were a little less dramatic. we managed to pull out of the ranch only 1/2 hour late...but pulled into I.S.C. right at our proposed time. Hmm...Mr. H & H, just WHAT is the speed limit?
The border crossing went well, we were through in about 30 minutes after they had looked through our papers and asked us questions such as, "Do you have any citrus?" To which Abby nervously responded from the back seat, "I have an orange...do you want my orange?" (He didn't respond, so she tried again) "I have an orange...here, you can have my orange."  He just smiled...and she kept her orange.
The rest of our travels were spent sleeping, reading aloud, playing apples to apples, pictionary and just generally occupying ourselves (and others around us). I personally was entertained with Abby singing random made up songs in my one ear, while Chisel told me extended stories of his travels in Pittsburgh in the other. The conclusion? They definitely are not getting away without doing dramatics of some kind next year!
We arrived at our motel in Des Moines, Iowa at 10...very tired and very ready to escape from our giant mobile marshmellow. We had eaten at the "Happy Chef", which had made us very happy. This is also where Everett acquired "Flounder" and another little creature from a machine. Yes! We have a mascott! Megan also informed us here that pepper on corn puts hair on your chest! I thought you might find that information helpful!
We left the next morning at 8 and arrived at ISC at 2:00. We travelled all morning through Tornado country, Kansas City having experienced one about a week ago. We came to the brilliant decision that should we see one approaching we would hasten to an overpass and park the van as close to the wall as possible. Thankfully, we had no need to test that theory.
So...here we are experiencing International Student Convention 2008!  
Do not fear! Mr. Hochstetler says, he's got it taken care of! Chisel and company....happy about his Baconator!  
Cody...doesn't look to enthused! Elaine...please do not disturb!  
Julian...ever entertaining! Schrockie...today I shall wear the happy hat! | |
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|   Here we are at evening rallies  
Andrew & Alex - Mr. Canada I & II  
Chris - Loyal to two; Alex & J.T. dorm watchmen  
Performances        
International Night  
Pizza Hut night with Lighthouse  
Chris & Aaron walking the stage | | |
| Alrighty friends, family, and other guests...I've discovered that sitting in the sky dome is the only place I can get online. so while the van is being repacked I'm going to quickly attempt to catch up on our posting! Hang on for a long wild post! Friday – Day 5 Posting Faith here. Day 5 was by far the best day yet. We started by leaving our hotel and going to the Royal Gorge, where we crossed the world’s highest drawbridge and went to a petting zoo. The thing that was the greatest, though, was the swing ride that would go swing right over the gorge which was around 1300 ft. to the bottom. Only six of us were insane enough to do it, Jesse, Cody, Aaron, Elaine, me, and Miss Schrock. After the first swing, me and Elaine were enjoying ourselves, well Elaine was. I was just trying to make Miss Schrock stop screaming and digging her nails into my arm. Finally, after the third swing, she stopped screaming, but still was gripping my arm. She only let go when we had to grab a loop that would stop our momentum. I so wish I could do it again! It was the highlight of the entire trip. I’d better go before no one else has something to talk about. Hi gangstas, Chris here again. How is life up in the north? We had the best day of the trip on Friday. We went to the Royal Gorge and had a great time. We went on the Royal Gorge bridge which is 1052 feet above the bottom. I felt a little sick from the altitude. We went down into the gorge on a little train at a 45 degree angle. It was so swweeet looking up at the bridge from over 1000 feet below. Jesse Cody and Aaron were crazy enough to go on a giant swing that swung you out over the gorge it was awesome to watch. We got to the hotel around 10:00 pm. It was a little bit of a long day but we survived. Hope you guys are having fun in the boring world, just joking. Thanks for reading. Just a note from Miss Schrock: Believe it or not, folks, I did the swing. You know it’s said, “If you’re not living life on the edge you’re taking up to much space”, and then there’s the thing that life is too short not to take risks. LOL! Guess I decided at 31 I have to prove I can still do those crazy things! Ha! So sorry for Faith and Elaine though who had to put up with my wild screaming the ENTIRE ride! There was a moment when we swung over the gorge, with beauty for miles below us that I just stopped and said, “Cool!” And then I kept screaming…for the pure joy of it all! ( : Oh, the other "first" for me was riding the carasol. The kids thought I was a deprived child to having never in my 31 years of life ridden a carasol. I guess now that I've done it that makes me a whole person...FINALLY! heh heh heh! A good day in my life!     
Saturday, Day 6 Sup everyone? Today was awesome! Except for the fact that we had to have our baggage at the vans by 6:40 (I woke up at 6:35 ).We drove for a little while then we stopped at Four Corners where you can stand on 4 states at the same time – New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. At 4 corners most of us bought souvenirs and took a lot of pictures. Then we went to the Grand Canyon. There we hiked around and bought more souvenirs and took LOTS of pictures. After that we kept on going to Flagstaff Arizona and got there a little after four. Peace out, Andrew        
FINALLY AT I.S.C.! The following questions were asked of the students on Wednesday. The names that you do not recognize are students from Lighthouse in Portage La Prairie… What have been your memorable moments at ISC so far?
Jordan – International night
Travis – hanging out with Chris Chris – Watching Julian fall down the stairs! J.T. – International night, Aussie Aaron Evans aka “Shorty” Elaine – Making friends Chimelle – Laughing at Schrock Faith – Running the 100 meter dash & teasing Schrock about her “man” Samuel – Food & Friends Chisel – Food & talking to people from other countries, riding the shuttle, volleyball and playing soccer against the Mexico people. I liked hanging out with my “brothers” (Andrew, Chris, and Cody).The international night was awesome as well. The food is SO good and there is so much. Julian – Getting lost while “exploring” campus, playing soccer and volleyball Drew – Food, “socializing”, riding shuttles with Everett, hanging out with Puerto Ricans Josh – Riding the shuttles, “socializing” with people (aka girls) Daniel – Food & Rallies Cody – Riding the shuttles, International night, volleyball Aaron – International night Leander – Riding the bus with Everett Miss Schrock – crazy things in the dorm at night, watching the students perform, meeting people from other countries Mr. H – seeing Aaron do 4 times as many sit-ups as Regionals Mr. Buswa – getting a truly disgusting drink (coffee with ice cubes) at Starbucks Moments remembered: Everett started “violining”, and playing the guitar, in the midst of a packed bus! Chris hitting the bulls-eye of the girl’s target beside him! (Chris are you trying something?) The guy sitting in front of us when we were watching volleyball he and his “crew” started chanting and the team we were cheering for started to win the game. The team we weren’t cheering for only got a burst of energy because the guys of the same school showed up! Post from Miss Schrock: So the week is almost over…we’ll be home in less than a week. I realize there’s way too many memories for us to log here. I’m sure you’ll hear many more memorable moments upon our return. I’m sorry we have not been posting…finding internet access has been a great difficulty. It’s been fun to watch the students mingle, especially during International night. It’s been a little interesting attempting to keep track of everyone. Monday was our big event day and it was tricky to get everyone to their events at the right time.The rallies have been very good and inspiring. Have you been watching the live streaming? The vans are packed and ready to go…we’re headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico! Watch for pictures of ISC week on our next post... | | |
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