Entry Thirty Nine: The band of my brothers.

I took a venture with a group of my best friends on a five day camping trip, it has come to a close. Before going on this trip I remember having some irrational fears, worries, and small concerns. I brought these things to the council of my father and his reasurqnxe that they were unlikely to happen was enough to put them away.

We all left on Friday for Arizona, me, my friend - Austin, Jamie, Timmy, Jordan, Kieth, and Chrisopher. I am so overjoyed that this great group of guys invited me in the first place. At one point I remember wondering if I would ever earn or gain their trust. I so badley have wanted good friendships like these. My heart has been giving thanks to God for such a gift every day!

Our trip first started with touring the grand canyon. It was gorgeous and eye opening to the Lords power and artistic creation. It really opened my paradigm, made me come to peace with a few of lifes biggest questions, it obliterated some of the misconceptions I periodically had about creation, but it secured the truth - this world was created and not just "made", or grown together, there is order and there is time and these processes did in fact time awhile to form such a wonderful thing. which to me is much more meanifful then believing it magically appeared.

We  spent the night at lake powl on the boarder of Arizona and Utah. This first night is where one of my fears arose. We went swimming in the lake bellow, I was embarrassed to change in front of the others, just because of some bad experiences that I had as a child. But this small thing was concqoured like many others which have left me bound by the ankles. It was a great campground though and the view around us was so vast, so surreal, I have never seen such openness, especially coming from a place like Los Anagles.

On the Second day we set out for Zion national park on, but before reaching that destination a few pit stops were taken. The first was at Antelope Canyon, the most intricially carved cave I have ever bared witness too. It was like walking through something painted by Salvador Dali. Our second stop was at horseshoe bend, a large curve in the Calorado river. We spent a few hours there looking out into the distance admiring its beauty, playing on the rocks, and creating a new confidence in eachother.

When we reached Zion national Park the first thing we did was scale a mountain, only after being in the park for thirty minutes. It was absolutely amazing. It was so exciting, the first little glimpse of adventure, of danger. I took some videos and pictures as well so to never forget the beauty and emotion that place brought. We all got to the top about forty five minutes later, it was one of the coolest accomplishments I have ever physically done.

Finally I would have to say the hike which made Zion a trip to remember was the eighteen mile hike through what was called "The narrows". We expected it to be an easy twelve miles, half on land and half in water. But in reality it turned out to be almost all in water, and very strenuous. There was a point that all of us reached wondering it we would make it, with six more miles to go and only two hours of day light available, hope began to sink. It was either push has hard as we can and keep going or possibly die...

On this trip my manhood took root at a rapid pace, my confidence grew and a littl respect for myself was gained. For the first time I have had real adventure, real danger, and real fun without any hold backs. I don't know what kind of person I have become now that I am back. I wonder what changes have taken place that others may notice. I feel like there have been plenty, but I will only know when people see and tell me.