Nothing worth achieving comes easy… This was definitely a challenging, but rewarding week for the new team. The first couple of days were spent sitting in a circle discussing where we envision Tree of Life going, some ideas on how to achieve those goals, and going over the policy and procedure manual. Though these discussions are crucial to the business end of any organization, you could imagine the challenge for a group of people whose hearts on fire for the Lord and crave the outdoor wilderness…

The second two days found the four guides in the Chemult Ranger’s District. Only David and Brett had been exposed to the beauty and the challenges of the territory. Currently, this is the only land that Tree of Life has a permit to run wilderness treks. It is a goal to get permits in at least two other wilderness areas; however, the process can be long, tedious, and expensive.

This region of the Winema National Forest contains mostly Lodge Pole Pine and Ponderosa trees. Because of the high desert location, the ground consists of mostly pumice, which basically becomes a dust that sneaks into every crevice of clothing and existing cracks. This was only one of the challenges… Another challenge of the Chemult is the lack of water supply in the area, as well as the winding roads that can exist and not be on the map, be mislabeled, or be overgrown and difficult to navigate. Also, temperature can vary 40 to 60 degrees from day to night. It’s important to be prepared for all of this – spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Scouting is something that needs to take place in order to plan the 21 day trek so that when clients arrive, the route is set ahead of time. Brett spent the days driving the terrain and marking camps with the GPS while David, Kelsey and Kristine hiked out the day treks to gauge their navigability for difficulty, timeliness, and water sources. The group would gather for lunch and set up camp at night while discussing the day’s challenges and victories. One thing was for sure, they were grateful to have gotten a taste of the Chemult before the clients arrived.

Though it’s Saturday, the work does not stop – even if no one is getting paid during this pioneering time. Our team is setting out to help another local wilderness program to take down their camp for the summer. This opportunity will provide some great networking, help to establish solid partnerships with other organizations, and provide more sources for the questions that are sure to arise as we continue to build the organization. Please be in prayer for us as we continue to build the mission we believe that God is guiding us be a part of. Many blessings to you!