Good evening! We just got back from Sweden. It was such fun! Brian-from Canada- gave out snowboard instruction to me and another guy. The first day I fell so many times! I was aching by lunch break...ugggg The rest of the day was followed by more falling on my face and backside, adding yet more bruises to the collection.
 
I have particular trouble getting up the lift since they do not have chair lifts - you actually have to hang onto the rope and pull yourself all the way up the mountain!!! ugg I tried the first time and fell.  I was not even half way up. So I went back to the bunny hill.
 
After a bit of practicing, Brian came back and asked if I wanted to try the bigger hill. I was like....uh...sure. He said he would help me up the hill. Once to the top I fell...:) I got up and looked at everything....it was so high. I gulped. okay Brian, now what? Do I fall all the way down? He told me it was okay to snowplow all the way if I was not comfortable. And that was what I did most of the way. Until I was almost down. He suggested I try to go diagonal. So I did, picking up speed, I came to my first turn and  failed giving myself a whiplash on the snow. I hit my head and I laid there for a while.

DONT WORRY I RENTED A HELMET! Brain came up infront of me and asked if I was all right. I said I would be in a sec. I stood back up and eventually went made it down. Brian then asked if I wanted to go one more time before they closed. uh....okay. I was really exhausted! It took me about 15 min. to get down the first time. I went back up and this time Brian told me to do a trick where you spin yourself and the board! I looked at him like he was crazy! But I did it and I did pretty well until I fell and hit my shoulder doing a couple flips. I laid there for yet another while. (lol) Oh, that one hurt really bad.
 
Brian again came up and asked if I was okay. I replied, "Ow, and that hurt." but then got back up. (lol) Brain didnt only show me how to do crazy stuff, but he also tried to teach me to have correct form too. :) That trip took longer than the first. I took breaks from snowplowing all the way down because my legs hurt so bad! The lift was closed by the time I was down and everyone was ready to leave, as was I. I got back around four and so exhuasted. I fell asleep almost immediately. My head really felt weird. I might have had a slight concussion, or just exhaustion?

The next day I was very tired as well. I tried to snowboard in the morning and I got so frustrated I just sat there. I didn't want to fall anymore!!!! So I stopped and went to the cafe and read my Bible. It was quite relaxing. I had some hot chocolate and for lunch I bought some pancakes. After lunch I let Michel borrow my snowboard (Who was about as bad as I). About two hours later she gave it back. SO, since I was then tired of sitting around, I went out to the bunny hill. I fell about two times - then something clicked!!
 
I was like yea! SO I went to find Brian who told me to find him when I was ready to go up. I waited for him by the lift till he came down and he was excited to teach me again. This time I had so much fun! I fell about three times all together that half of the day!! I cant wait to go again. I went off the hill about five or six times that night! Carving the hill, back and forth picking up speed feeling like if I do something wrong I and going to break something or die! But nope, it felt like flying down such a freaky steep mountain. I really can't wait to go again! (My family...lets go next winter!! YEA YEA YEA!)
 
okay I have to go have a DIVE preparation. Talk to you soon!

I CAN NOW SAY THAT I LEARNED SNOWBOARDING IN SWEDEN! :D
LOVE YOU!
SHalisha
 
 
Mary Beth BraceSeptember 17 at 7:34am I do hope we can talk this weekend. I will be at camp until about 3 then will be home for awhile. I wonder how to get skype on my cell phone. Is that possible? I will check it out. I am praying for you a lot. Lots of people ask about you.

I worked at the horses a lot yesterday and cleaned the field. The old entrance pasture is ready but the Watts have some electrical problems right now.

I pray for safety for you.

Take care of yourself.

Love you !

Shalisha BraceSeptember 17 at 9:57am mom mom mom mom. blug...fewf. I am taking a brake from working around the base. Today we had practical work instead of teaching. My job today was to pick berries - Currents to be exact. After about three hours we took a lunch break.

After lunch everyone was getting ready to head out to their local outreaches. My group is not leaving till about 5.30 So I had extra jobs....including cleaning out three vans (vacuming and washing windows), mopping the hall way and the stairs at each end of the house, I also had to finish packing for this weekend, and I just put in a load of laundry. blug... fewf... im tired. It has been a busy day but I'm glad for the work. All the extra stuff as well. I was thinking this is why I am here to serve with a joyful heart unto my Creator.
 
lets see it is probably about 12 over there right now and I can guess you are eating some delicous camp food. yum.
I miss out-door ed. Is mellyisa working this year? Please tell everyone I said hello and miss them dearly.
 
I finished my book! I think I will start on The Name of the Rose by Roberto Eco. It looks quite interesting. Right now I think I will take a nap.
 
Thank you for all the prayers. I do pray that everything is going well. I thank God for you and Dad and the rest of the family. I miss you all dearly. I will try to take care of my self. :) Have a great and fun day!
LOVE¨

Mary Beth BraceSeptember 17 at 11:43pm It sounds like you are a bit homesick...and I know you know the best thing to do is what we do with the campers. Fight it, serve God, and be busy with helping others. Well, I am homesick for you too. Just so you know. Can't help it, but we both have to do our work and trust God for the rest. :)

Angel is here with Melyssa. They are spending the night tonight. We went to black Gold and walked through it. We had a bloomin onion and a funnel cake. We all ate it.

I don't miss doing horses at the festival. I keep saying yea I don't have to walk in circles and listen to lots of noises in the night. We went home and watched a movie. I was working on a scarf as I watched.

The girls are going to watch ladyhawk. I think I will go to bed and pray and go to sleep. Everytime I get on the internet,  I check skype to see if your on.  

I am glad you have some books to read. I was wondering if you have been using your debit card. Take care of that thing. Do not lose it.
I love you. I'm going to bed now. It's late....11:41 here.

Mom

Shalisha Brace  September 19 at 4:56pm Hey Mom and Dad!! I love you both! thanks for getting the skype working!

Sooo this is my schedule for next week. I'm am leaving tomorrow for Sweden around eight in the morning. The school and I will be sleeping in tents this week and hanging out at the base...where ever the place is.

The next week we will be coming back to norway and taking another outdoor advnture trip. This time it is island jumping! I am excited.

Thank you for all the prayers. I ask that you would pray for safety for myself and the team as we travel and do all our crazy out-door adventure stuff and just traveling. All is going well.  Miss you guys. 

I will talk to you again in about a week.

lovelove love!!

Shalisha Brace September 26 at 5:46pm Back from Sweden for YWAMs 50th. I met so many people made so many friends and saw how God has worked in so many lives.

The land was beautiful and a little bit warmer than Nordtun...sooo nice! The train ride there and back was about 48 hours. On the way we stopped in Oslo, which is the capital of Norway, and walked throughout the city. To my surprise the King was in the palace! We would have loved to stop and chat but we were on a tight schedule.  Too bad. Maybe another day.:)
 
Luaren and Darlene Cunningham came to Restanas (name of the base)- and spoke at the conference about how God is stretching Ywam's borders to the ends of the earth.  The base reminded me a lot of MI. There were cows in the middle of the base. which gave the base the sweet smell of manure. Oh yes, memories from the farm. Hehehe.

I wish that you all could be with me as I go through this adventure God has brought me. I miss all of you desperatly but I know God has a perfect plan for all of you. May your day be bright with Hope from the Father. Psalm 27-read it!! Cha!
Tahnk you for all the prayers! LOVE!