a day of adventuring

Today my (honorary) big sister and I went on an adventure to a local small town. 

We had lunch and coffee at this super cute, super yummy establishment.

Then we walked around the town, took pictures and window shopped. 

We even discovered some hidden gems off the main drag. 

 We waded in the freezing cold water and Miranda climbed a tree.

This town is so full of character and loveliness, it's almost too much to handle.

After we had exhausted the resources of the town, we set out on back country roads. 

And it was the best. 

I came home sunburned, windblown, tired, and with a heart full of gratefulness for this beautiful place I live and this amazing friend who is always up for a crazy adventure. 

fully funded

Seven days ago, I wrote this blog post about how I get to go back to Washington Family Ranch this summer to help provide childcare at a week long camp for single teenage moms. I talked about how I needed to raise $500 which pays for my housing/food and also lowers the cost for these girls who otherwise might not be able to come and hear about how awesome Jesus is. Because of the grace of God, and some really amazing people that He used, I am excited to announce that I am fully funded!!

If you are still interested in being a part of this great adventure, there are a couple ways you can get involved. The first would be to simply pray. Pray for these girls...a lot of whom may have never made a commitment to Jesus, or who may not even really know who He is. Pray for open hearts, great discussions, and changed lives. Pray for all of the staff and volunteers at WaFaRa...for energy, wisdom, grace, and a God-sized love for these girls and their children. The second way to get involved would be to make a donation directly to YoungLife to help one of these moms get to camp. (Click here to be directed to a page where you can do that.) 

Thanks to everyone who has already been a part of this. Whether it has been prayerfully, or financially, it has made a difference. I am so excited about what God is doing here, and can't wait for camp to start in 82 days!

I'm going back.

I open up the countdown app on my iPad and am greeted with a picture of the John Day river winding lazily through hills and fields. The numbers and words which are below said picture read: "127,163 mins until I get to go back to WaFaRa!!!" (And yes, I know. Having it count down the minutes may be a tiny bit excessive.) 89 days from today I will be making my way to the YoungLife camp in Antelope, OR. to provide childcare at a camp for teenage moms. 

This adventure started five weeks ago when I crammed some clothes and a tooth brush into my black duffel bag and set out for this place called Washington Family Ranch. I had no idea what I was in for, but I figured it was a good way to spend part of my Spring Break doing some manual labor with other college students in Central Oregon. However, I wasn't prepared for the way this camp would change my life. When I got there I was shocked at the sheer beauty of the place. When I hear the word “camp”, I think of dirty wooden floors under creaking bunks where you are trying to get settled on a mattress that probably had at least one kid throw up on it in the past thirty years. However this place was more like I would envision a retreat rather than a camp. During the time I was there, I realized how much I value both deep conversations with other people, and time alone out in God's creation. In between the valleys and mountain tops which is Central Oregon, I felt God restoring my soul and healing me. (Side note: my new favorite verse is Psalm 23:3a) Naturally, I couldn't wait to go back and started looking for opportunities to make that 196 mile trek once again. 

As I looked at WaFaRa's website, I found this thing called "YoungLives" which said something about childcare. I immediately thought, "oh hey! There is something that I could do!" (If you know me, you will know that I have gone overseas not once, but twice to provide childcare at missionary conferences and I have absolutely loved it.) As I read more of the details, I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. Each summer YoungLife puts on a special week long camp exclusively for teen moms and their babies, thus giving them a chance to relax and be kids again without neglecting their duties as mothers. Both women and men volunteer to go cuddle and play games with the children (I know, big sacrifice!) while their moms attend the different activities. I put in my application and just four days later received the email saying I had been accepted. 

This year's camp is July 25-31, and I need to raise $500 which pays for my housing/food and also lowers the cost for these girls who may not be able to afford it otherwise. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for this adventure, and also be praying for the girls who will be at this camp. I am so excited about the opportunity to be a part of this amazing ministry, and to then share it with all of you through words and pictures! 

For more information, click here or contact me at rebekahstraw@corban.edu 

sometimes I forget

I forget things all the time. 

I forget that I live in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. 

I forget that my dog is the coolest creature ever. 

I forget how much being outside in the woods recharges my soul. 

I forget that sometimes I can just snap pictures and not worry about being all artsy or whatever.

I forget to stop and take a breath.

I forget that I have a pretty amazingly awesome life.

I forget that I am incredibly blessed.

(Photo credit: my awesome mom)

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." Colossians 3:15

the one with pictures and deep thoughts

I'm gonna be *that* person today. The one who doesn't post on their blog for months and then suddenly posts a mile long post complete with every single detail of their lives. Okay, maybe it won't be a mile long, and I promise it won't contain every detail of my life, but still. You get my point. 

A month ago my beautiful cousin, Jess, came home for her spring break. We went shopping, ate frozen yogurt, and laughed giggled (because that is what you do when you are around Jess) way too much. It was awesome.

I feel like I have been completely lacking in the photography department lately. I have close to zero inspiration, and I can't even remember the last time I actually did a photo shoot (that lasted longer than 10 minutes) with a person. (My dog doesn't count...right?) But I did capture the above image on the way to a country gospel concert in a tiny town south of where I live. 

 Okay. Can we just pause right here to appreciate how amazing these people are?? Grandma recently celebrated her birthday, and my cousin Gretchen wrote a tribute to both her and Grandpa. (Read them here and here. Trust me, you won't want to miss them.) I have thoroughly enjoyed living next to my grandparents. They are two of the strongest, most loving, most respected, most amazing people in the whole world. I could go on and on about them, but I feel like I would just be repeating what Gretchen said. Just go read those two posts and then come back (or don't...either way).

I feel like I have so much to say about this picture, but I have no idea how to say it. (Don't worry, that doesn't make sense to me either.) Recently I have had this new-found love for God's Word. I haven't really been reading through any book in particular, just kinda skipping around each time I open it up. The verse underlined in the picture is Philippians 1:6 which says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." I love this verse for so many reason, but I think a big one is just where I am in life. Freshman in college, just trying to figure out exactly what I want in life, and what direction I am heading. I often forget that God hasn't finished writing my story. He is still working in my life, and yet I don't always act (or think) like that is true. So this verse is a bit of a spiritual punch in the gut, reminding me that He is not done with me and that He still has some pretty legit stuff in store for me.

 Speaking of legit, I got to spend the past weekend at Washington Family Ranch in Antelope, OR. I went with a whole bunch of other college kids (see picture below) to help get the camp ready for summer. I honestly can't remember when I had that much fun. We worked in the mornings and early afternoons, and then had free time for a couple hours before dinner and a speaker in the evenings. Beautiful views + awesome people + no cell phone service + manual labor + no homework = plain old awesomeness. 

 Yeah. These are the peeps I went with. They are all super crazy. (In a good way.) 

 And now for the best part of the whole trip. (Drum roll, please.) I got to spend approx. 18 hours tearing down old fence. (That's me in the middle of the picture, behind the four-wheeler.) And no, I am not being sarcastic about it being the best part. This is the kind of stuff I live for, folks!! The whole thing was made even more fun by the fact that a lot of the people on our work crew didn't really know what they were doing, so I got to feel like I actually did. I didn't know anybody on the crew going into it (which caused the introvert in me to revolt), but I ended up making some friends and just having a blast with everybody. 

 And it didn't hurt anything that this was they type of stuff we got to look at all day. Hashtag best day ever!

(Photo credit goes to the awesome Sarah Gillihan.)

But seriously people, if you get a chance, go there. It is beautiful, awesome, and you'll get to eat some really great food and meet some even greater people.

The day after we got back, my parents and broskie and I headed to the beach for the day. We actually didn't even walk on the beach (which is super sad), but we did get Tillamook Ice Cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. (Ok, what is up with this picture?! As I said...photography slump. Hey, at least Matt is smiling.)

Man, I love where I live. (And that little furry creature in the center of the picture.)

 I love traveling. I love meeting new people. I love getting away from everyday life. But I really love coming home. 

 That's pretty much all the news I can muster up for now. If you have made it this far, congratulations. You obviously have no life. (Just kidding! Maybe...)  

I want to leave you with something that I was thinking about up there on those hills coiling barbed wire for hours. You know the verse in Psalm 23? The one that says, "He restores my soul"? I challenge you to figure out where that spot is...the spot where God restores your soul. I really felt that up there, and while it may not be feasible for me to drive 4 hours every time my soul needs restored, I also get recharged down at both the creek and the river that snake through the property where I live. I found myself asking why I don't walk down there more often...why do I curl up with a TV show after a long day at school instead of grabbing my dog and bolting for the river? My challenge to myself is to make recharging and spending time in God's Word more of a priority than catching up on Once Upon a Time. And I would challenge you to do the same thing. Find that spot where your soul gets restored, and then make it a priority to go there. I don't think we will regret it. 

Five Minute Friday: Choose

(This is my own version of Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday.)

Yesterday my General Psychology class got canceled because of the sunshine. No joke. The professor sent out an email that contained these words: "In light of the current circumstances, meaning sunshine and 60 degrees, I am declaring a psychological mental health day." After jumping up and down with excitement (at least on the inside) I figured I would get some math homework done. But when my friend called me and asked if I wanted to go take some pictures around campus, I was rather quick to say yes. 

I chose to put down my pencil, and pick up my camera. These are the pictures that came from that choice. 

(If you would like to see more of my photography, go check out my Facebook page, and consider giving it a "like"!)