Ox Lake (Days 6 & 7)

So for context, the men missionaries drove down to a separate camp called Ox Lake about 15 minutes away to bond as a brotherhood, and learn how to treat our fellow missionaries which we call our brothers and sisters. It was two days and one night, so I will combine these two days and give a mini reflection at the end.

Day 6

• Wakeup & Journal

• Mass and P.P.- Recognizing I am a Son of God

• Bfast and Pack for Ox Lake

• Ox Lake arrival -Immediately felt sketch -Beautiful views though

• Brotherhood talk with Fr. Brian Park

• Lunch

• Work Project- Cutting and organizing firewood

• Small Group

• Played Bang! Tomás was happy

• Ate a 175 lb. PIG for dinner!! -Ate pig brain and it was delicious

• ”Christ the Redeemer” -Renewed Baptismal Rites

• Bonfire!! -Beer… Root Beer -Campfire songs

Day 7

• Wakeup N’ Go

• Prayer Lab

• Mass with Bishop Cozzens

• Breakfast

• Sin Talk with Bishop Cozzens- Powerful!!

• Survival Activities: Firemaking and Trailor hitching

• Lunch

• ”Brothers to Sisters”

• “Carry your brothers” Activity

• Clean up and leave

• Return to Wapo

• Dinner and Shower

• Relational Ministry

• Bed

”Only 30 hours”, I repeated to myself, “Just 30”. Even though this place was only 15 minutes away from Wapo, it was nothing like the place I left. There was no electricity, only two bathrooms and two showers, and mainly just a lot of trees and free land. Although it was absolutely gorgeous, we were almost in the full wilderness, and for the first time I was worried about my safety. I didn’t know what to think aside from how much time was left here and being with my brothers. Although I never fully came around to loving ox lake, it took me a little time to love my brothers. The bonding was just something else! Eating a 175 pound pig for dinner, drinking root beer around a bonfire will sing him songs, and listening to some of those powerful, most needed talks this far made my Ox lake experience. The theme of Ox lake was a quote from Lord of the Rings, “I cannot carry it FOR you, but I can carry you”.Our purpose is to support our brothers vulnerability, keep each other in check when we are tempted to do something wrong, and lead each other towards Christ to the best of our abilities. At the end of aux Lake, we literally carried our brothers on our backs 100 m down and back like fireman, our purpose is to support our brothers vulnerability, keep each other in check when we are tempted to do something wrong, and lead each other towards Christ to the best of our abilities. At the end of Ox Lake, we literally carried our brothers on our backs 100 meters down and back like fireman. That meant everything to me, especially as I carried Sam Ellis, a brother that I’ve hung out with a lot and my time here and Wapo, on his 19th birthday. It creates a very strong bond, Cindy be unbreakable the more we carry each other towards Christ. Now I have something else to look forward to this year that I did not expect: Creating a brotherhood with 5 or 6 fellow Sons of God, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for us. St. Joseph, pray for us!