An Unforgetable Trip

This entry is a bit difficult for me to write. I am not really sure exactly how I should describe our spring break trip, as it is unforgetable in different ways. It started out with nine people who decided not to go to Bali or Thailand with the other groups but wanted to stay and explore Australia instead. I didn't know most of the other people in the group very well at first, but the most awesome part of the trip was getting to know everyone. Sometimes in a group like that you get a few people who don't get along with each other, at least that was my expectation. To my surprise, however, it soon felt like we'd all been friends for a long time.

That is partly what makes this entry so difficult for me. Two of my friends did not come back to Perth the way in which we had planned. Instead, they suffered a horrible accident and they are currently in the trauma ward of the Royal Perth hospital. I don't know exactly what is appropriate for me to say on here. I have never experienced anything like this before. I will say that it was an accident that occurred while Mike and JC were rock climbing, and I will say that it is a miracle that they are alive and without an injured head or spine. They made it through with only broken bones, which will heal and which will be normal again. The recovery time will be long, and I hope that you will keep Mike and JC in your prayers.

The other reason this is difficult is because before the accident happened, the whole trip had been going so well. I don't want to downplay the tragedy that occurred, but at the same time I don't want that to be the only thing that is remembered from our trip because it truly was an amazing trip and I know that my friends feel the same way. So let's take a moment to reflect on the severity and sadness of the situation, and then let's prepare to also accept the joy that surrounded this trip as well. We must reminisce on the good as well as the bad. Before I start to talk about the rest of the trip, I recommend that you come back and read about it later. I myself needed a few days after the trip before I was ready to publish all of the pictures and share about the many good memories we had.







I decided to do it differently this time.
The whole trip is in one big photo album on Picasa.
Click the link to hear about the trip. I say everything you could possibly need to know in the captions, so be sure to read those.