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Ape Caves, 2007
First off, major kudos! to Neal Hart for driving, and also providing great additional equipment, snacks, insight and encouragement to the Youth! Neal was blessed as much as he blessed us, however we wouldn't have had near the uneventful success without him!
It was really a very interesting and rewarding day trip for our VCF Youth group. Nine youth and two adults attended. The trip took a little over 10 hours (6+ hours driving) but actually seemed over before we knew it! I hope to see more such as this throughout the summer ahead.
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Arriving to the Ape Caves at 12:40Pm after a 3 hour ride, we broke out the subs and pop for a quick lunch before hitting the sites. The girls were slightly heartbroken as they hid from the guys, who didn't seem to notice their absence. Next time, take the subs with you girls! Actually next time you may realize you can't keep them away...
Our first site was the Tale of Two Forests where we saw remnants of Old Growth Forrest imprinted into lava flow which occurred perhaps 2000 years ago. The trees now being deteriorated, left holes the boys could crawl thru about 200 feet in the hardened lava casts. They had to check themselves as the girls let them know later they could hear them talking from the outside. (Actually not intelligibly however)
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We went onto the main site, the upper and lower lava tubes, which are now huge caves made through the capture of hot volcanic gases entrapped by lava flow from past millennia's eruptions. These enormous caverns slowly become smaller and smaller as one treks to the end of the lower cave, hence the name Ape Cave: one has to slowly hunch over to get all the way in. In the very back the girls can be seen huddling together in the small space at the end.
On our way in, we turned off our lights for a minute and lit candles to sing and celebrate Rachael's 15th BirthDay! It was memorable watching as different youths presented their candles for Rachael to blow out. Then Rachael graciously blessed a couple of weary hikers on there way out with her brownie and candle.
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After reaching the lower caves end, on our way out we used the cave for a small object lesson regarding the testimony of one Dr. Ebbey who wrote several books on his encounter with a life after death experience. During the time he was pronounced clinically dead, (documented 18 hours) Dr. Ebbey, a believer, described the many wonders of heaven he experienced in the Lord's presence but also two minutes of hell the Lord allowed him to witness. The first minute was in an isolated chamber totally black, damp and cold. It was explained to him this was the place for souls awaiting judgment who chose to live without God (and His love). He also went on to tell how he shared this chamber with a thousand small spidery critters he realized were demons who constantly did what they do best, mocked him to make themselves feel better. It was an horribly torturous experience he could not take for more than a minute. As we stood in total darkness for a few minutes, we discussed the scripture: those sitting in darkness have seen a great light, written in Isaiah 40 and repeated by John the Baptist. About this time, another group's light began dimly lighting our area as they were approaching, and there light slowly began illuminating our whole area, dimly at first and then brighter and brighter. We discussed that Jesus' as the light of the world is symbolism to shining the way of life: love. Even in perfect lighting, we can still be standing in total darkness without His love lighting our hearts, but with his love, God desires to share as much light as we can handle!
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After our lower cave experience and with time running short, we tried venturing to the upper caves' exit point which unfortunately time would not allow us to reach. Great news though for those who will return next year, as we have much more to explore! The scenery was amazing and it was the perfect use of a not so sunny Spring Day. Of course the stop at McDonald's was all the more appreciated on our way home - there's just something enormously satisfying about those hot fries after a long hike in chilly weather!
We were also slightly successful mixing our vehicle arrangements around near the end of the trip which actually stimulated some new friendship bonds, despite all the ipods, which was meaningful, and inspires hope towards our next outing to Ocean Shores in June we hope. |
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