Ellerslie, Estes, & Denver: Part IV

  

Estes: Day 3

  The last two days in Estes Park were full of adventure and deep spiritual conversation (one of my favourite parts of the trip!). 
   On Thursday morning we arrived at the Rocky Mountain church, ready and expectant for what God had in store for the day. We were all assigned to jobs in Glenhaven, a small town near Estes Park. 
   Glenhaven as a whole has been devastated by the flooding; the roads almost completely gone, no power, many homes destroyed, the centre of the town full of debris and washed out pavement. 
Eight members of our team were chosen to go in two groups of four to take photos, with GPS locators, of the North Fork Rd and Fox Creek Rd just outside of Glenhaven. Two main power lines run along these roads, and our job was to take photos of each main power pole and the road, or lack thereof. This served the purpose of providing an assessment of damage for the Light and Power group in Estes, and photos of the damage for road contractors to see.  

  I was in the North Fork group, (we were told it was the hardest and longest of the two hikes), with three other Ellerslie team members and a line man from the Town of Estes, Light & Power division, to help us identify the damage to the power poles. Our hike was beautiful and devastating. Devastating, because the power of water was fully realized as we found creative ways to hike up a road-turned-to-river, and seeing the homes now inaccessible by vehicle. Beautiful, because of the scenery (gorgeous Colorado autumn!), and the hope we were able to impart to the people we met. 

   My team met this couple, named Gene and Bonnie, who's house is located right on the river and was flooded. They commute back and forth between their home (staying at a place in town while working on their damaged house) and Fort Collins (a good 3 hour drive). We talked briefly with Gene and even got to pray with him. As we were hiking out, we met up with the other half our team at Gene and Bonnie's!
   They had been assigned to go with Nelson (Reach Global leader) to find a house that a tree had fallen upon. They finished that task and hiked down North Fork to find other people to help. Turns out they found Gene and Bonnie's  home, and were able to help them cut up fallen trees and clear a blocked culvert. We stopped to help them and talk with Gene and Bonnie. They were incredibly grateful for the help, the encouragement, and the hope we represented (Jesus Christ and help coming to the people of Glenhaven, though the former was perhaps not recognized as such). They even recognized us as Christians, as did many people. I was amazed at how easily people saw Jesus in us, even when we aren't aware of it. When HE takes over a life it is obvious to the world, because it is set apart and different. 

   The photo taking teams had to meet back at the Estes Town hall after our hike to review pictures and notes with Reuben, the Utilites Director. While some of the guys figured out how to transfer all of the photos from our phones to Reuben's computer, a few of the guys and I walked up to Cafe Collage; the Hartman's coffee shop in Estes. It is a very fun, Christian coffee shop with great drinks! We ordered a very large number of chai's. :) It was marvelous. The shop and the Hartman's home were relatively unaffected by the flooding. 
   We returned to the town hall with drinks in hand (for the team and us), finished the review process, and then Reuben payed for the eight us to eat dinner at Sweet Basilica's, a nice Italian restaurant. The sweet and rich conversations we had during dinner were encouraging. I got to know some of the girls on the team better, and hear some of their stories. When God lovers fellowship together, the experience truly is sweet and unforgettable.
   The rest of our team had dinner back at the cabin with Nelson, Gene, and Jesse (Reach Global team), and were having a time of fellowship when we returned. It was so beautiful to enter the cabin and hear the guitar and singing. Joining our "family" in the living room, we had a wonderful time speaking of our King and worshipping Him. Four of our team members had to return to Ellerslie that night, so it was a good way to end their time in Estes. 
   It was an exhausting day, but a very, very good one. 

 The three in the centre: Reach Global members, Jesse, Gene & Nelson (L-R)

 As indicated by the culvert, a road used to be here

 One of the many creative ways we crossed the North Fork

 A gigantic "glacier" of debris backed up to beams and these culverts.

See Matt up on top?

 The road going through Glenhaven