Way overdue Update: We had a baby!

Ruby Leigh Halbach was born April 14, 2016 at 3:11pm. She weighed 7lbs and 3 oz. and measured 19 inches.

We absolutely love our little girl! Hard to believe she is now 5 months and 1 week old! 

"Unstable joint injury, due to direct force trauma".

So I work at Discovery Ministries right? Yes.
We are taught how to rock climb right? Yes.
I'm a WFR right? Yes.
We know accidents happen right? Yes.
Have I ever broken a bone? No.

     Monday, April 16, 12:45pm at the base of an Ozark Mountain rock face I yelled up to my co-worker on the rock above me, "It hurts and it's broken. I'm positive," my voice shook as I looked up and met his worried expression.
     "I'll be right there! Glad I wore my harness up!"
     As he self rappelled down the rock I thought through what just happened and quickly loosened my Chaco strap. We discussed that it wasn't a hard climb. We discussed that it was okay to not rope in unless we needed it. We discussed that it'd be okay to climb with Chacos, after all I've bouldered with them before. We discussed where the crux was. He climbed up, more experienced and swift. I climbed only 10 feet up, hit a patch of wet friction (I guess--still don't know how I slipped!) and fell down the rock and landed directly on my right foot. I felt it snap and swell as I rolled about 5 feet from the rock, my mind swimming with pain.

Oh and did I mention that we were 30 minutes from basecamp, 2 miles from our van, up on an Ozark mountain with a flooded creek in between us? Umm...no.

      I stared at my foot. The foot went awkwardly to the left and there was a huge lump on the right...where no huge lump should be. "Unstable joint injury, due to direct force trauma" from a WFR lecture echoed in my memory as I stared at my obviously broken ankle. What am I supposed to do now? Not only was I not on the wilderness trip, I just ruined my whole summer! How could this seriously have happened? What if....
     My co-worker swallowed as he looked at my ankle and agreed it was broken. My eyes filled with tears as I told him I was sorry and I didn't want to cause problems and be a burden.
      He shook his head understanding, "Accidents happen to us all. Sorry we didn't rope in. Can you walk? We'll get this worked out."
      He's always so reassuring and knows what to do! Unfortunately, I couldn't walk. It hurt too much. I sat back down and swallowed some more water and watched him hurry down the steep trail. He was going to look for the group we were running logistics for.
        After an unsuccessful search and a return trip to check on me. My co-worker looked at me and said he was calling the office. He hiked down the trail again.

       4 miles later he returned. He had finally received signal back at our van and called for a backboard, padding, tether and people to help carry me.

       At 4pm, another co-worker who was out with the group showed up and as I was telling him what happened, Robert and six friends arrived with the evacuation gear and 6 ibuprofen. With a message to bring the group backpacking to help, co-worker 2 scampered down the trail. Robert helped me onto the backboard and he, and two other WFRs (original co-worker and a friend) strapped me in and started carrying me down the steep mountain. The group met up and they began rotating in and out.
       After stopping by the camp to grab insurance papers, we pulled into OMC hospital in West Plains, MO at 7:30pm.
       After xrays, catscans and pain medicine, they discovered I had broken my talus bone in two places and dislocated it.
        At 2:30am, Tuesday morning, Robert climbed into the front of an ambulance and I was rolled into the back and we were taken to Cox in Springfield. After an unsuccessful reduction in the ER, they admitted me and around 11am I had a little surgery and received an external fixater.

In the hospital

 At home that weekend...

Lovely flowers from my parents, in-loves, and Robert. :)

So now I'm waiting for surgery. I was supposed to get in yesterday, but they had some cases come in and I was bumped. So now it's supposed to be Thursday. Then I'll get a splint and be off of it for two months. 

    Robert has been amazing during this time and has the biggest servant's heart. I have been really blessed by him and don't know what I'd do without him. My friends and family have been great as well and offer much encouragement. 

Anniversary Weekend: St. Louis

So I'm starting off with a frustrated mind toward my email. I've been trying for three weeks to get into my account and it keeps telling me account doesn't exist. I try today, voila! I get right in. ANNOYING!

Now.

Robert and I went to St. Louis for an early anniversary weekend the first weekend in March. We stayed with some dear friends, who blessed our socks off, and got to fulfill one of my long time dreams and one of Robert's. My dream, we went to see Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theatre. It was Broadway's travelling tour. It was AMAZING! Most incredible moment ever. Robert loved it as well and was excited he got to see the entire show.

Robert's dream, we went saw live red pandas at the St. Louis Zoo. They were adorable!!

They are absolutely beautiful!! We also saw monkeys, lions, tigers, and penguins, and had a lovely time at the park with the McFaddens. 

While in St. Louis, we had some car trouble but our friends were awesome and helped us out. We also stopped by a great coffee shop at midnight. 

It was a great weekend! Happy anniversary to the best man alive and may we have many more years together!

Winter 2015 Update Letter

     We hope that the New Year is starting off well for y'all! We are excited to announce that we reached our goal for Robert to become full-time staff! He's official start date was January 1 and he is diving into his duties and learning the ropes of a full-time staff member at Discovery Ministries. Thank you all so much for partnering with us! We are thankful for each one of you and are excited that God has brought you along side us in serving Him at Discovery Ministries. Raising support was stressful at times and definitely stretching for us both. We really thought God was leading Robert here and upon reaching our goal, well it was just confirmation for us! Now, we continue to maintain the 50% of Robert's salary and serving the Lord at the ministry. We are excited to be in ministry where God calls and leads and getting to do that together is a wonderful adventure and blessing.

    Other exciting news: Robert and I are certified Wilderness First Responders (WFRs)! The two of us and Logan—another intern—traveled to Carbondale, IL the first week of January for an intensive 10-day course taught by Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA). We had class from 8am-6pm; after class, practice drills, tests and a couple full blown simulations, we passed. DM requires senior instructors to receive this certification and it is highly recommended for more advanced interns. DM always has at least one WFR with every group. Our certification expires every three years, and it is fortunate we took it this year as DM just did a three day re-certification. So we'll get to re-certify with the ministry in 2018! With our certification, that makes six WFRs here at DM.

    The beginning of the year is a busy time in the office at DM! The calendar year ends, well... when it ends, and our fiscal year closes at the end of January. With both the calendar and fiscal years ending so close together means report after report after report! The reports also make it an educational time for me (Robert), as I get a greater understanding of some of the office systems I spent last year getting familiar with. I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to troubleshoot and have input into a new software system that a friend of the ministry has offered to design for us. At home, I’ve been honing my marksmanship skills so I can keep the squirrels off our bird feeder. I’ve also had some time to do a little woodworking, which has been quite relaxing.

     I (Emma) am wrapping up my work with an elderly neighbor, Carl and am glad for the experience and work that God provided over the off-season. I have continued to work with DM throughout the off-season, doing some office work, the newsletter and of course, taking the WFR. I loved the WFR. I'm continuing to work on the newsletter and really am loving it as it is a creative outlet for me. I am looking forward to what God has for me this year and am already excited for this summer. The Lord has taught me much this past year about his provision and guidance. I naturally tend to worry about the unknowns in life and I think personally He used this path of support raising to teach me that He is faithful and will finish the work He has begun. As the Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”.

       As something fun for 2015, we want to float the Current River. We don't have to be on our own, but we do have to both be present to count mileage (105 miles). We love love LOVE canoeing! We started Super Bowl weekend and floated Baptist Camp to Akers Ferry, about 13-15 miles. It was cold, but beautiful! We camped at Baptist Camp, ate some chicken stir fry for dinner and then tried to sleep. I was cold but more alert and anxious for some reason so I barely slept at all. Poor Robert was anxious too. We ate some oatmeal for breakfast and hit the river around 9am, later than we had planned, but totally okay with just enjoying the day. We got to see lots of wildlife; a groundhog, 6 bald eagles, 4 deer and of course, lots of birds.

     We have been going to Summersville Christian Church, which is about a 20 minute drive from our house. We really like the church, people and mission of the church. We are excited to get more involved with the church and the community there. They have opportunities in music, youth, small groups, and general service that we are hoping to get involved with as we get to be part of the church. We are truly excited about going to church and while it took awhile, we are very glad to have a place where we connect and already have begun to grow.

     Once again, we are thankful for your continued love, financial support and prayers. We hope to have the opportunity to see you this year, and would love to have you see Discovery Ministries, our home, and the beautiful country down here in the Ozark Mountains. Our hope and prayer for you this year is the God blesses you beyond measure and that He continues to “do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph.3:20). We look forward to sharing more adventures and stories from Discovery Ministries this year.

Grace and Peace,

Robert and Emma

“God be with you til we meet again. By His counsels guide, uphold you, with His sheep securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again.”

Praises:                                                 Prayers:

God's provision and faithfulness.              Prayers for us and marriage.

Robert's full-time job.                              Community at church.

Passing/certification as WFRs.                Groups to come to DM.

                                                             Interns for this coming summer.

Halbach Goals for 2015: Full Support, WFR, Current River and Ultimate Frisbee

    So Robert and I decided to have some goals/things we'd like to do together this year. We've been discussing the different things we could do, and finally decided on a few. :)

    First, WE ARE FULLY SUPPORTED! Thank you all that have been supporting us and we appreciate you're continued support! This has been a huge weight off and God has continued to bless us through revealing his love and faithfulness to us, time and again. That has been some of the most exciting news for us and we are excited to share it. :)

    In October, we decided we would take Wilderness Medical Associates' Wilderness First Responder Course (WFR). Robert had been a WFR before, but had to take the full course again, rather than recertify, based on bad timing. So we signed up, and January 4, we packed ourselves into Sarah Lee (our car) along with Logan (another intern) and headed for Carbondale, IL for a 10-day class. Discovery Ministries requires their staff to become WFRs at a certain point as we don't send groups out unless there is a WFR with them.
    You might be thinking, what is a WFR? haha, let me sum it up. AWESOME and a first responder in the wilderness context only we can do some things they can't. :)
     "The definitive wilderness course in medical training, leadership, and critical thinking for outdoor, low-resource, and remote professionals and leaders.The Wilderness First Responder program is the ideal medical training for leaders in remote areas including outdoor educators, guides, military, professional search and rescue teams, researchers, and those involved in disaster relief. The curriculum is comprehensive and practical. It includes the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary" (wildmed.com).
     And so after intensive days of studying (8-6), drills, tests, and major simulations, we passed and are now certified WFRs! Super stressful, but most awesome class ever! Checkout the website for more information: http://www.wildmed.com/wilderness-medical-courses/first-response/wilderness-first-responder/.


   Third, Robert and I want to float the Current River. We don't have to be on our own, but we do have to both be present to count mileage (105 miles). We love love LOVE canoeing! We started this weekend ad floated Baptist Camp to Akers Ferry, about 13-15 miles. It was cold, but beautiful! We camped at Baptist Camp, ate some chicken stir fry for dinner and then tried to sleep. I was cold but more alert and anxious for some reason so I barely slept at all. Poor Robert was anxious too. We ate some oatmeal for breakfast and hit the river around 9am, later than we had planned, but totally ok with just enjoying the day. We got to see lots of wildlife; a groundhog, 6 bald eagles, 4 deer and of course, lots of birds. 
Mr. groundhog apparently can climb trees! 

One of the bald eagles. They were beautiful!

 

Along the Current River is Welch Spring Health Resort...ruins. It is actually really awesome!
"Back in 1913, an Illinois doctor named C.H. Diehl bought Welch Spring for eight hundred dollars. Dr Diehl believed that the spring water had healing properties and that cool, pollen free air coming from the adjacent cave would be beneficial for people with asthma, emphysema, and tuberculosis, which together were called "consumption" at the time. He said that it worked for him, helping him with a chronic case of hayfever. To tap this clean air resource, Dr Diehl built a hospital over the mouth of the cave. Welch Spring, which flowed from the cave, was dammed up so that water would close off the entrance. This was to force more air out through the cave opening into the hospital. In today's terms, it might be better called a "health spa" since there wasn't much in the way of formal medical treatment, just an invitation to breathe the fresh air of the cave.
Dr Diehl was not blind to the scenic values of the region either. He hoped to run a thriving campground resort to supplement his medical fees with tourist dollars. In time his healing resort expanded to a few small cabins, a campground, a show cave and he even had an electric generator running off the spring. Visitors came from the local area and from as far off as Oklahoma and Illinois, but times were hard and travel to such remote places still difficult. Unfortunately, the hospital and resort were not a big success. Roads in the Ozarks were rough and unpaved, making it difficult to get into the Current River Country. Few tourists were willing to make the trip. The good doctor died in 1940, and his family did not have much interest in keeping up the resort afterwards, which soon fell into ruin" (nps.gov).

With this  picture, the cave mentioned in the article, is located at the very back. It is now the home to endangered gray bats. :) 

Tiniest nest EVER!

We thoroughly enjoyed the day and look forward to our next adventure!

   Fourth, I have decided once weather gets warmer, I want to organize playing Ultimate Frisbee once a week with friends. I love the game and enjoy the exercise that comes with it. :) I played throughout high school with my brother and friends and was on a team in college for a year. So I am anticipating getting to start it!

   What about you? What are some things you are planning to do this year?

Seasons of Change

      Change. One word, with so many meanings, feelings, and thoughts. The change I’m talking about can’t be bought or sold, borrowed or bargained. No, this change is the type that finds itself smack in the middle of our everyday lives when life shifts, whether for better or for worse. Often times, people either embrace or resist change. Why is that? Is it because we lose some sort of control? Or perhaps some inner rule that “this is the way it should be”? Or is it simply because we fear what “change” may mean for us, personally?

       When I think about change, I think a lot of the Biblical stories, especially King Solomon. He was a rich, wise old man who made mistakes and still sought the Lord.

      “A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.”

        Talk about change! With that whole list, Solomon’s life must have been constantly changing. And...it probably was. You see, change is not bad or something to be feared. It is part of life, something to be embraced. If we are resistant to change, how can we step into the next place God wants us to take? Or say, sorry, I’m good where I am? Think of what we could--would--be missing if “I can’t deal with anymore change” came to fruition. I think life would lost some of its luster and excitement, and we’d grow complacent, perhaps even comfortable with where we are. Would life as even keeled, routine and unchanging really be desired?
         Jesus himself, didn’t have that. His life was a constant change. One day he’s loved, the next hated. One moment Peter would die for him, hours later, he didn’t know him. He changes the lives of people each day. Their life becomes different from how it had been. Jesus reached out and changed the social standing of a woman by healing her and a man by curing his leprosy. Jesus met them where they were, they were open to change, and he used the circumstances they were in to radically turn their lives around. He did that for me, and God can definitely do it for you.
         God changes the hearts, minds, careers, and lives of people every day and it is our hope that some of these people will be changed while at Discovery Minsitries this year. It can be scary up on a climb, on the zipline, backpacking through woods, laying under the stars listening to “creepy” sounds that seem right next to your tent, or being away from everything “comfortable”.  In those moments, God speaks. God can take those moments to refine and define who you are, where you need to go, and who He wants you to be. He asks us to say “Yes” to being changed.

         “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Are you willing to let God change you this year? The choice is yours.

Fall 2014 Update Letter

       This summer was a crazy and fun summer! It was over well before I knew it! During the summer, we were busy and rarely had time to do consistent follow-up; however, we have been praying earnestly together each day for God’s provision and guidance in our work at Discovery Ministries. He has proven Himself faithful time and again as we are at 80.6% in regular support!! We literally only need $178.00 a month now to be fully supported before January 1^st! 

We are confident that God will provide, as He has been, in His time.We had many groups and we both got to work with groups at different times, even getting the opportunity to do group initiatives together! That was a really awesome moment and experience. I (Emma) got to co-lead a six day recreation expedition for a group from Indiana with Joel (picture at left, Joel’s in red and I’m in blue). A recreation expedition is a trip that is mostly led by the instructors. This group, age 11 to 18, actually wanted more challenge so we led what Joel and I called a hybrid trip. We taught all the skills and the group was in charge of getting to destinations, making camp and dinners. I was encouraged on this trip as I had a year of programming and a recreation expedition under my belt. I really felt like I had skills, insight and confidence in co-leading to offer the students and Joel. God blessed Joel and I with spiritually hungry students who were eager to learn and really wanted to grow, even when they didn’t enjoy all the benefits of being in the wilderness.

          I (Robert) feel like I held down the fort pretty well this summer, and I was even able to update and improve some of the processes here!  I have been gearing up to learn more about the office now that the summer craziness is over.  Gearing up has included participating in a series of meetings in part to help redistribute office responsibilities amongst the staff, trying to match up responsibilities and giftedness.  Some of the prospects we’ve talked about so far have been really exciting!

          All-in-all, we are settling in to the off-season well and are enjoying the changing of the seasons.  I am working in the office full-time, thanks in part to the one time gifts!  Emma has been moved to Staff Trainee and works part-time for DM learning Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, so she can work on DM’s newsletter.

          We went on a scouting trip with the ministry’s staff to Colorado and enjoyed hiking, camping, and rock climbing in the beautiful land out there. We also traveled to Iowa on a support raising trip and to see Robert’s family. It was wonderful to spend time with family and friends.

          Please stop in and see us some time! We would love to hear from you!

                Grace and Peace,

                Robert and Emma Halbach

Praises:

·         A house that feels like home.

·         Good people to live and work with.

Prayers:

·         God to keep providing supporters.

·         For us to build relationships within the community.

·         Patience for us as we continue to learn to be married and work together.

·         God’s vision for the new year at DM.